Diversification is key

SIMIAN, the UK’s largest privately owned scaffolding training provider firmly believe that if you want to be the best, diversification is what you need

❖ There is one word many firms and organisations are aware of as we go deeper into the 21st century. It’s ‘diversification’: crucial to success in a fast-moving modern world. When it comes to training in scaffolding, SIMIAN, the UK’s largest privately owned scaffolding training provider, have shown just how dynamic they can be by teaming up with the BIM Academy to offer a service to the masses. By spreading their wings away from a single area of expertise, they’ve succeeded in creating a centre of excellence at Waltham Forest in north-east London.

So why the ambitious change? Because the future of construction and the built environment is digital and to meet the demands for efficiency in the sector, all elements of the industry must embrace technology and innovation. In short, we are linked to everyone in some way. It makes perfect business sense, therefore, to spread training courses wherever they can help.

MD Simon Hughes explained: “At the end of 2020 SIMIAN were successful in securing the contract to operate the former CITB National Construction College in Leytonstone, east London, and have repurposed the centre as the London Academy of Sustainable Construction (LASC). Managing the whole centre brings new challenges for SIMIAN in expanding our curriculum into other construction disciplines.

“Our ethos as a business is to be industry-responsive and to meet the skills needs of employers. The new programmes are carefully chosen through market intelligence and listening to employers and trade bodies, specifically targeted to where there are skills shortages and a lack of provision, locally in our Waltham Forest community, and the wider Greater London Authority and southeast regions.

“The areas we have identified for new programmes include: specialist tier two contractors allied to scaffolding such as roofers, steelfixers and formworkers; digital construction skills; modern methods of construction; and green energy skills.

“Scaffolding remains a major part of the portfolio and we are expanding and enhancing our access provision. This includes the integration of digital skills and modern methods into our existing programmes, to reflect the needs of the modern construction industry and to respond to the skills requirements of scaffolding contractors, as a key part of the construction and civil engineering supply chain.

“The Construction Playbook1sets out the UK Government’s vision for reforming construction. It will meet local government objectives for efficient housing, so the entire supply chain will need to adapt and embrace digitisation. Simian are pleased to be supporting employers by providing digital awareness and skills training to upskill the existing workforce and integrating digital skills into their curriculum for the next generation of construction professionals.”

In fact, the playbook sets out 14 key policies for how the government should assess, procure and deliver public works projects and programmes which all central government departments and their arm’s-length bodies are expected to follow on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. It’s all part of the dynamic future laid out for specialist training, and it’s very much the way forward as we begin to settle into a new normal.

With the Simian approach to training in mind, Dave Randles added: “We have invested in a new digital construction facility with support of the Greater London Authority at the centre and are

pleased to be launching our first digital programmes in partnership with the BIM Academy. Our BIM Fundamentals course is aimed at providing awareness of digital planning, design and management for construction professionals throughout the supply chain from principal contractors and designers, to the army of specialist sub-contract trades.”

In terms of the BIM Academy, founded in 2010 by Northumbria University and Ryder Architecture, it’s regarded as a leading global provider of digital solutions and consulting for strategic information management, operating in 19 countries on four continents.

Simian’s first BIM course, ‘BIM Fundamentals’ will take place on 16 June and is bookable via its website. SIMIAN says the course is aimed at construction and infrastructure professionals, designers, manufacturers, contractors, facilities management, engineers and essentially anyone who wishes to increase their understanding of BIM.

Simon told us: “Scaffolding remains a major part of the portfolio and we are expanding and enhancing our access provision all the time.”

Building information modelling, commonly known as ‘BIM’, is the use of intelligent 3D-modelling software to help architecture, engineering and construction professionals with project planning, design, construction management and ongoing building operations. It offers fantastic benefits to those involved in all aspects of construction, throughout the whole life cycle of a construction project, from inception right through to completion and beyond.

Established in 2005 by a team of scaffoldingindustry expertswith unsurpassed knowledge, expertise and experience, SIMIAN has rapidly grown to become one of theUK’s leading training and consultancy organisations. And remember, SIMIAN enjoy long-term relationships with all clients by providing dependable, pragmatic advice and support.

There’s a priceless buzzword now on the block – diversification.

WE HAVE INVESTED IN A NEW DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION FACILITY WITH SUPPORT OF THE GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY AT THE CENTRE AND ARE PLEASED TO BE LAUNCHING OUR FIRST DIGITAL PROGRAMMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIM ACADEMY

To find out more, visit simian-risk.com