SUCCESSION PLANNING: IHEEM ROUNDTABLE
something you want to think about in the NHSI Workforce Transformation Strategy, because it’s a great learning curve in terms of that wider understanding of the role.”
Geoff Neild said: “We were talking at my last Trust with ISS, and they found that all their apprentices were doing was ‘installs’, whereas they wanted them to get some fault-finding, problem-solving, and PPM stuff under their belts. Conversely, if ISS puts an engineering apprentice through, all they tend to do is fault-finding and PPM. So, we had a very well developed conversation about doing an apprentice swap for a year, to give apprentices from both organisations a broader skillset.”
Phil Wade said he was ‘entirely with that’, adding: “Going back some years, Pete, one of your predecessors, while he was still based at a regional health authority, spent six weeks with us at Static Systems to better understand how a manufacturer supplying into the NHS does things. I have also recently spoken to building engineering services consultancy and IHEEM Company Affiliate, Troup Bywaters + Anders, to explore the feasibility of sending some of our guys to learn about their work, and for us to then reciprocate by inviting them to spend time with our teams.”
All of the same mind
Pete Sellars said: “I have to say that if there’s one company prepared to do that, I have probably spoken to another 50 keen on the same idea. The door is definitely open; the key is to create an infrastructure for that to happen.” Geoff Neild said: “I think one of the issues the NHS faces – which is why some of the responsibility for making progress must rest with NHSI – is that, although we are all part of the UK’s biggest employer, we are a series of fiefdoms with little coordination, because everyone has been working against each other competitively for years. So we all have ‘NHS’ on our badges, but different designations thereafter. We are all, effectively, like different companies, and all this work needs national coordination. I think there’s a case for a National Education Officer on Fiona of Simon Corben’s team at NHSI – someone who says: ‘This is what you take to a careers fair; these are the places we are targeting, and there are the groups. This is how we will get into primary, secondary, and tertiary education’.” Pete said: “If that were to happen, we could take it to IHEEM Council, and I am sure we would get its backing.” Geoff said: “It also needs not solely to involve IHEEM. We need to involve all the other professions; you have all of your soft FM services, for example. We should be aiming at staff ranging from a ‘domestic’ to an Estates Director.”
36 Health Estate Journal August 2018
An apprentice takes part in practical medical gas training at Eastwood Park.
The private healthcare arena John Thatcher said: “It’s not just the NHS either that should be involved. Private healthcare companies are encountering precisely the same skills gaps. The interest we have had in joining the Healthcare Engineering, Estates and Facilities Management Trailblazer Group (which will develop the new apprenticeship standards) from the private healthcare sector has been significant, all because private healthcare providers can see nothing out there currently that is fit-for- purpose.”
Geoff Neild said: ‘It’s also not just health; it’s health and social care. We are going to be working on multifunctional buildings and premises, and will need a wide range of skills. I’m not sure these exist currently.” Here Pete Sellars asked Eta Projects’ Mark Cunningham to comment. He said: “This is the second phase of my apprenticeship, as such. I left school at 16, and served a four-year apprenticeship. Afterwards I was never really given the opportunity for career development. Eta has, however, given me the chance to continue my professional apprenticeship supported by third-level education. I have just completed my Higher National Certificate with distinction in Building Services Electrical at City of Westminster College, and am now planning to continue my academic education at London South Bank University. I think it’s vital, when encouraging school or college-leavers to apply for apprenticeships, to emphasise that there are then further study and career development opportunities, supported by experienced engineers through onsite learning, supplemented by academic study.”
Pete Sellars said: “Unfortunately Troup Bywaters +Anders couldn’t be here today, but they have a fantastic apprenticeship programme. I think about a third of the company are, or have been, apprentices
coming through the system. Why? Because every director at TB+A started their career as an apprentice, and they understand the value. That is why people like you, Mark, are of such value to the healthcare system. We need to get across that these youngsters won’t let the system down, but it’s equally important that we don’t let them down, by not creating sufficient opportunities. We’ve had many apprentices come and talk to us, and I am often taken aback as to how much value they add.”
Preconceptions overturned Fiona Daly said: “They definitely do. None of the apprentices at this year’s HefmA conference had actually originally chosen to work in the NHS; they were just placed, I learned. However, talk to them now and ask if they like working in the service, and they say it’s amazing; many say they had no idea so much interesting engineering activity occurred in hospitals.”
IHEEM seeking Apprentice Champions
IHEEM is seeking Apprentice Champions within all its branches. Executive manager, Annabelle Morgan, explains: “You don’t have to be a committee member to be a champion; you just need to have a passion for representing and developing the next generation of engineers.” If you would like to get involved, please contact the Institute’s membership development manager, Chris Parker, for more details. T: 023 9282 3186; email:
office@iheem.org.uk
hej
©Eastwood Park Training
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