PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS


Andy Tudor (left) Business Line manager – UK Sales, at the Medical Gas Solutions Division of BeaconMedaes, and Bender UK MD, Gareth Brunton (right), both received awards from Ian Hinitt marking their companies’ contribution and commitment to IHEEM as two of the Institute’s 10 longest-serving Company Affiliate Members.


attendee at the 2018 AGM in Manchester had asked whether the Institute should ‘consider investing its surplus cash in training and development for future generations’. Ian Hinitt said he had already ‘aired several potential opportunities’ with the Management and Finance Committee, but was yet to fully discuss them with Council. He said: “I would like to share these with you now. The first idea is investment in a training officer position at Head Office to support Trusts in developing their training needs.


Subsidised bursaries


“Secondly,” he continued, “the scope for an offer of full or subsided bursaries for degree or degree apprenticeships, and, thirdly, an investment in developing one of the exemplar regional apprentice schemes to a national programme.” Ian Hinitt explained that through IHEEM’s collaboration with HefmA, he had already discussed with the association’s national chair, Jonathan Stewart, how the two bodies might work together to develop and support apprentice training schemes, and was delighted that the latter had expressed a willingness for HefmA to match fund IHEEM in supporting an IHEEM/HefmA-sponsored national apprentice training scheme. He said: “NHSI has also recognised the need to develop such schemes, and, subject to Council agreement, I will be working to develop the opportunity to re-establish an NHS national apprenticeship programme. I wonder,” he asked, “would NHSI be interested in collaborating with IHEEM and HefmA with a funded contribution for such a scheme?”


Developing membership Ian Hinitt’s seventh ‘focus’ would be developing membership at apprentice and tradesperson level. He said: “The ageing profile of the estates and facilities and allied professions is well-known. Unless the balance is addressed, there will be a reduction in quality of service, and an increase in risk, with the costs reflected


22 Health Estate Journal January 2019


back to the industry, ultimately impacting on the quality of care provided through our health and social care systems. I believe IHEEM can have a great impact in the transition required to reduce the age profile, while balancing career inequalities to support the NHS in raising young people’s awareness of the fine career opportunities available in our industry, irrespective of background, gender, or ethnicity, which are currently not being taken up at a sustainable rate. I believe the industry’s future lies with our young people, and that it is incumbent on us to go out and ensure that everyone is afforded an opportunity.”


The IHEEM President noted that the August 2018 HEJ had reported on an IHEEM Apprentice roundtable event, held last June at Hospital Innovations 2018. Ian Hinitt said: “At the Council meeting in October it was agreed that each Council representative would work with their Branch and nominate a Branch Apprentice Champion, a process that has already begun. Our IHEEM and HefmA joint venture Corporate NHS Trust Affiliate Membership scheme is also a significant opportunity for trade staff, technicians, and apprentices, to take up free Affiliate Membership of IHEEM, and we have written to all Trusts with an invitation to nominate affiliates, with no limit on the number of trade staff nominations.


Diversity and inclusion


“Finally,” Ian Hinitt told the audience, “my eighth focal point is diversity and inclusion in encouraging a stronger involvement and better membership balance within the Institute. Woking to bridge the skills gap was one of the Past-President’s Five Key Themes, and my ambition is to address the imbalance in equality and diversity in the workforce. IHEEM has recognised that there is a need to drive diversity and inclusion within the healthcare estates and facilities profession, and indeed an IHEEM Diversity and Inclusion Working Group (HEJ –


September 2018) was formed in 2017, its initial key goal being to encourage more women to engage with the Institute.” Ian Hinitt said he had always personally ‘been mindful of inequalities in life and employment’. He said: “Currently, the imbalance in equality, gender, and ethnicity, in our industry persists – despite the national educational standards increasing, women’s upward mobility, and the very welcome increase in ethnic diversity in society. My vision for IHEEM in its 75th anniversary year and beyond is thus to challenge and address the obvious gap in diversity and equality – not only within IHEEM, but also in the wider industry and the membership that the Institute exists to serve. My message tonight is thus for us to reflect on old- school values and the heritage of our industry, but particularly in terms of traditional apprenticeship training.


Need to be adaptive “We must also be adaptive in sponsoring degree courses and degree apprenticeships, and in growing and sustaining our future workforce and leadership. I look forward to working with the Vice-President, Council, head office staff, members, Company Affiliates, HefmA, and partner organisations and the NHS, over the next two years.” This concluded Ian Hinitt’s inaugural Presidential Address, after which took he took questions.


After this – as part of a process which has continued throughout 2018 – representatives from two more of IHEEM’s longest-serving Company Affiliates, Andy Tudor, Business Line manager – UK Sales, at the Medical Gas Solutions Division of BeaconMedaes, and Bender UK MD, Gareth Brunton, received awards from Ian Hinitt in recognition of their companies’ commitment and contribution to IHEEM and its activities as two of the Institute’s 10 longest-serving Company Affiliate Members. Guests then enjoyed networking, drinks, and canapés, before making their way home.


hej


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