Supporting contract workers in the Wind industry

from North East Lincolnshire Guide 2023

NORTHERN LOG CABINS

GPLwind Ltd, based in Grimsby, Humberside, the renewable energy capital of UK, oﬀer skilled personnel and bespoke training allied to the wind, renewable energy, petrochemical power station, and construction sectors.

Specialising in the recruitment, training, and supplying short and long-term skilled manpower to businesses anywhere in the UK, the GPLwind Team manage personnel, skilled in oﬀ shore wind technologies including technicians who are fully trained, certiﬁcated and ready to take up work placements.

This fast-growing business also oﬀer training / certiﬁcation for individuals looking to work and will provide quality accredited training anywhere in the UK to suit individual or business requirements.

1200 skilled and accredited personnel are currently on their books, and are working with the GPLwind Management Team, to identify companies in need of their services. They also offer their many business clients a bespoke finding service and will work fast and efficiently to fill a specialist vacancy.

GPLwind have built a reputation of quality and reliability, supporting the wind, renewable energy, petrochemical power station, and construction sectors in their eﬀorts to decarbonize the place we live, work, and play in.

And as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, business development plans,

GPLwind has also committed to support a local “Humber Renewables 2022” award winning “not for proﬁ t” organisation www. PAD-CIC.org and will donate a fee to their cause, each time a recruit is placed on contract.

GPLwind boss Gary Leshone says, “we want to grow our business in line with the ever-growing renewable energy sector in the Humber region and as our business grows, we don’t want to forget to support organisations like PAD-CIC who are working so hard to make the community we live in a better place for our families to engage in healthy activities, conservation projects and learn about small scale renewable energy technologies”.

Spencer Group, which is one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, has employed 42 apprentices from Hull’s employer-led school in just three years.

The relationship between the school and one of Hull’s leading businesses has created a productive pipeline of fresh talent for the engineering industry as well as opening up exciting and rewarding opportunities for dozens of young people.

Former Ron Dearing UTC students now make up a significant proportion of the company’s workforce of more than 300 directly-employed staff.

The latest entry-level roles include nine Engineering Apprentices, one Mechanical Apprentice, one Electrical Apprentice, two Marketing Apprentices and one Scheduling Apprentice.

Charlie Spencer OBE, Executive Chairman and founder of Spencer Group, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to take on so many apprentices from Ron Dearing again this year.

“As a growing business, it’s essential we bring in and develop young talent and that’s exactly what we’re doing with these exceptional young apprentices.

“They’ve had an outstanding experience at Ron Dearing, which has prepared them for the world of work with its employer-led model of education, and now they’ll learn from excellent mentors at Spencer Group during the next stage of their development.

“It’s very exciting for them – and for us.”

Spencer Group, which has its headquarters at Humber Quays on Hull Marina, is a privately-owned, multi-disciplinary engineering business delivering innovative engineering and construction solutions across the UK in the rail, bridges, transport, infrastructure, materials handling, energy and industrial sectors.

The business employed 14 apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC three years ago, followed by a further five two years ago and nine last year, with many more planned for future intakes.

Yvonne Moir, HR Director at Spencer Group, said: “We’re very excited to welcome 14 new apprentices and we’re so impressed with them already.

“Our previous apprentices have proven to be of a really high standard and we have no doubt the latest intake will also become valuable additions to Spencer Group.

“We became involved with the UTC at the beginning because we wanted access to a pipeline of talented young people who would develop their careers with us. Those hopes have come to fruition and our original apprentices are now excelling in permanent roles.

“There’s no doubt that the education and employability skills instilled in students from the moment they join Ron Dearing UTC help them to hit the ground running with us as work-ready employees.”

Existing apprentices and former Ron Dearing

UTC students who have completed their apprenticeships with Spencer Group help mentor the new intake each year.

This year’s Engineering Apprentices will rotate around various departments before heading out on site to work on projects across the UK, while the Mechanical and Electrical Apprentices have already started work on site.

Every apprentice who secures a permanent position with Spencer Group is offered the chance to further their studies to degree level and possibly complete a master’s degree.

Harrison Ryan is looking forward to developing his skills and knowledge after joining Spencer Group as an Engineering Apprentice.

He said: “It’s amazing to be here. Spencer Group is a brilliant company to work for and I can’t wait to get going.”

Ellen White, who has joined as a Marketing Apprentice, said: “I’m so excited to start. They look after you at Spencer Group and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Luke Blackwood has also joined as an Engineering Apprentice.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” he said. “Ron Dearing was a brilliant experience. All the teachers push you to be the best you can and they treat you like an adult, which really helps the transition to the world of work.”

Fellow Engineering Apprentice Declan Longley added: “I’m really excited to be starting and to learn more about the business and the industry.”

Sarah Pashley, Principal of Ofsted “Outstanding”rated Ron Dearing UTC, said: “It’s fantastic to see another 14 of our students embarking on such brilliant apprenticeships with Spencer Group.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our Founding and Employer Partners who continue to offer these exciting career opportunities.”

Ian Pashley comments “Grayton were engaged as the main contractor showing a positive intent from the outset. Challenging conditions were prevalent from the beginning due to pipework being in short supply. Grayton Group, working alongside British Steel assisted in the planning of both off site and onsite work, working as a team to resolve any issues. Resulting in an outage that was completed ahead of schedule. High levels of safety methods and standards were achieved which resulted in a zero-harm project with no accidents or incidents.”

Grayton also worked closely with Singleton Birch on their recent zero carbon project. Providing both design and build services, Grayton fabricated new structures, processing equipment and a new kiln to enable Singleton Birch to burn lime more efficiently. This will ultimately save their business money and allow the client to capture carbon in the pursuit of zero carbon emissions and a more sustainable future.

To enhance the design department of the business, Grayton recently invested £135,000 in equipment including utilising a £25,000 technology grant from Grants for Growth.

Richard Southee again comments: “Investing in modern technology has allowed us to offer our clients the most sophisticated and advanced engineering solutions. We can assess the state of their current equipment and ultimately plan for future maintenance and repairs. By offering a Design, Build and Installation service, our clients are confident that we can provide them with a complete engineering solution to meet their exacting requirements.”

Carl Meale Engineering Director adds “ The investment into 3D laser scanning technology linked to specialised Tom-Tom Tools software, will enable the group to offer innovative kiln alignment surveys which are not offered currently by any other UK company.”

The cutting-edge technology of the scanner allows measurements to be taken during operation of the kiln rotating, eliminating the need for downtime.

Today, the Group employs ten design engineers and over 120 employees in total, including apprentices.

The Group has taken on eight apprentices this year, including an apprentice designer who recently joined the business through an engineering apprenticeship with HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association).

Grayton also works closely with NLC in Scunthorpe, to provide apprenticeships combining practical training in a job alongside study. These apprenticeships align directly with industry requirements and will provide young people with a pathway to fantastic career opportunities in exciting innovative companies.

Amy Cook Training Manager says, “As well as our apprenticeship scheme we are investing in upskilling existing staff and have several on University degree courses continuing our commitment to invest in our people of the future.”

Carl Meale adds “Since 2019, the Group has invested in over fifteen apprenticeships and this long-term commitment is now paying dividends. The next generation of Grayton employees are undertaking detailed, on the job, experience to ensure continued expertise with clients aging plant and processes. This will ensure that the most up to date solutions will be offered, delivering constant improvement to our ongoing support of clients and their infrastructure.

As the company expands its workforce, so too must it invest in technology and equipment to ensure that it offers its clients the most innovative and progressive solutions.”

Professional Tree Specialists

Efﬁcient and safe site clearance, tree surgery and felling (Tele-handler Merlo & Roto), Council approved contractors, stump grinding, hedge work, works carried out to BS3998, £10 million public liability, tree reports and woodland management plans, logs & woodchip.

NPTC qualiﬁed staff, also certiﬁed in Professional Tree Inspection and Tree Risk Assessment, with £10m public liability insurance.

Forestry Mulchers / Flails & Whole Tree Chippers Vegetation Management & Site

Whether youʼre a utility or construction company, land agent, farming estate, shooting syndicate or land/property developer Abeko is able to offer you a total site clearance package.

Abeko undertakes site clearance projects throughout the UK, including works on SSSI sites, major commercial construction projects, clearance of vegetation beneath HV power lines and highways/motorway embankments.

In conjunction with a team of highly skilled staff, Abeko operates a modern ﬂeet of arboriculture equipment including multi terrain tracked mulchers, excavator ﬂails, whole tree chippers, forestry harvesters and forwarders.