TRAINING
Re-skilling for the upturn
As the water industry’s skill shortage
moves up the agenda, Cranfield
University’s re-skilling programme
stands out as a beacon of hope
A
t present the water industry is plagued
by talk of a brain drain, deskilling and
a lack of young blood. The worst
Postgraduate training helps
people to re-skill and gain employment
recession since water privatisation and the end
in industries with skills shortages
of the five-year AMP cycle have presented the
industry with a major headache. So can the
water industry maintain the skills it needs to experience and business relations to focus Sir Alan Langlands, HEFCE’s Chief Executive,
cope with the increase in demand that will on filling the skills shortages in Science, added: “This shows that higher education can
inevitably come with the implementation of Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)- respond swiftly to the needs of the local
AMP5 and the eventual economic up-turn? based sectors such as manufacturing and communities it serves. Initially we set
Earlier this year the Higher Education Funding utilities. This enables qualified individuals made universities and colleges a tough task, giving
Council for England (HEFCE) announced that redundant in one sector to become employable them just four weeks to develop and submit
Cranfield University near Milton Keynes is one and productive in others, such as the water their proposals, but they responded with
of 70 universities and colleges to win a share of industry, where there is an ongoing shortage. enthusiasm and imagination. Bids came in from
£27 million from the Economic Challenge To achieve this the University will use its all types of higher education institution, bringing
Investment Fund (ECIF). The funding is tailored experience with its Queen’s Award-winning together the efforts of teaching, research and
to support individuals directly impacted by the Fellowship in Manufacturing Management business staff across many departments in a
current economic climate through redundancy (FMM) programmes and its water-sector response to evident local needs. New
or short-term working, along with businesses expertise. Cranfield’s School of Management opportunities and courses will be on offer
requiring re-skilling to ensure they are well will help individuals and businesses improve almost immediately, building up to a very full
placed for the economic up-turn. management skills. and busy programme into next year.”
Cranfield University is a postgraduate Professor Sir John O’Reilly said: “We are Clearly the skills shortage facing the water
institution specialising in science, technology, pleased to have received the £480,000 funding industry is a major issue that will not be solved
engineering, the environment and water, and it that will enable us to address simultaneously overnight, but it is encouraging that universities
is offering skilled individuals facing redundancy both the re-skilling needs of individuals and of like Cranfield are not only aware of the problem
in the downturn a much needed boost thanks business via bespoke offerings, encouraging but are taking positive steps to redress the
to a funding pot of nearly £500,000. businesses to keep up with current trends balance and get qualified individuals back into
Cranfield draws on its extensive sector throughout the recession.” the water industry. ■■■
Creating a space for training
D
evelop Training Ltd has opened a new manager for Develop's Confined Spaces make it more demanding. Specialist equipment
Confined Spaces Training facility, Division, the new training facility will help give such as harnesses, tripods, winches, fall
which has been built on the site of people an awareness of confined spaces, arresters, gas monitors and breathing apparatus
Northumbrian Water Plc in Thornaby, near enabling them to work safely in a variety of can also be used, while levels of difficulty can
Middlesbrough. The custom-built facility enclosed spaces such as plant rooms, drains be adapted by changing entry routes and
replicates typical confined space environments and sewers, fuel tanks, lift shafts and sounding audible alarms.
usually found in industrial and commercial ductwork. It can also be used to train Andy Richford goes on to state: “We are
applications, as well as UK water premises. emergency rescue teams to help them delighted to be launching this facility as it will
Every year, UK workers are killed or seriously undertake their specialist roles in a realistic help raise awareness of the need for this type
injured in a wide range of occupations and setting that mirrors the challenging of training. We have spent a considerable
industries as a result of being exposed to environments in which they find themselves. amount of time ensuring the unit will deliver a
dangerous atmospheres and conditions in Navigating by torchlight, students transit a first class training experience that will help
confined working spaces. Deaths and injuries cleverly designed maze of interconnected reduce risk and save lives. The low operating
are not just limited to the workers themselves tunnels and enclosed areas. The facility can be costs of the facility mean we can transfer
but also to those who have tried to rescue adapted to suit the skills required by different savings back to our clients so that they receive
them without proper training or equipment. trainees with the option to add smoke, noise the most efficient, value-for-money training
Designed by Andy Richford, training delivery and rescue dummies to the training scenario to available in this field". ■■■
28 Water & Wastewater Treatment November 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56