News analysis with BESA


Apprentices can power Scottish renewables drive


The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged building services employers to take advantage of the campaign created by this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week(SAW 2024) to address their skills shortages.


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he Association is promoting the opportunities for both employers and employees off ered by apprenticeships through its ‘Future Skills’ pledge which gives companies a chance to register their interest in taking on


apprentices and receive advice and support. By taking the pledge, employers can help the Association and its college


partners identify and prepare the training resources needed to meet demand. BESA will also contact the pledging employer to get a better understanding of their requirements and provide advice about possible training providers, funding, and access to suitable candidates. UK National Apprenticeship Week led to employers pledging to take on a further 100 building engineering apprentices through the BESA initiative at a time when the industry is being challenged to broaden its skills base by attracting more women and people from ethnic minority groups. There are almost 40,000 apprentices in training across Scotland and around 12,000 apprentice employers of which more than 90% are SMEs. 83% of employers told SAW 2024 that their productivity had improved since they started taking on apprentices. Modern apprentices earn up to 52% more than people working in similar positions who have not completed an apprenticeship, according to Skills Development Scotland which administers apprenticeships on behalf of the Scottish government. “Scottish building engineering fi rms need the new ideas and perspectives that


apprentices bring,” said Helen Yeulet, director of competence and compliance at BESA. “This is particularly crucial as we adopt more emerging technologies and processes to address climate change and make buildings safer and healthier. Take BESA’s ‘Future Skills Pledge’ by visiting https://share-eu1.hsforms. com/1lpqi4p-MS0CcABuxsnRDTgf0g3n


BESA mourns Rob Lambert


BESA has paid tribute to Skanska UK technical operations lead Rob Lambert, who died recently.


Rob Lambert was a founding member of


BESA’s Building Safety Act Advisory Group


He graduated from Northumbria University with a BSc in Building Services Engineering before starting work with Kyle Stewart in 1983. He moved on to Roberts & Partners and joined


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he Association said his contribution to the industry had been “immense” thanks to his generosity of spirit and willingness to share his


experience and technical knowledge. A popular and respected fi gure, Rob had a long and distinguished career in the building services sector.


Skanska in 1996. He was appointed head of engineering and compliance of its mechanical and electrical arm SRW in 2014. He became engineering director the following year and many of the projects he oversaw were noted for their technical excellence and focus on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Rob was a chartered engineer and a member of CIBSE and the American technical society ASHRAE. He was a long-time servant of BESA most notably as a leading contributor to its technical committee. The Association had been planning to mark his retirement later this year by off ering him the rare accolade of


lifetime associate membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to its technical standards and publications. He was also a founding member of BESA’s Building


Safety Act Advisory Group and had already made a notable contribution to the guidance prepared by the group to help the building engineering sector adapt to this signifi cant legislative change. CEO David Frise said everyone associated with


BESA was shocked to hear of his death and was mourning his loss. He described Rob as “well liked, knowledgeable and ever willing to contribute”. “Rob was the consummate engineer whose input


was invaluable, and opinion always respected. He will be deeply missed,” added Frise. Technical director Graeme Fox said he was


devastated by the news and said Rob was “a huge contributor to the work of the technical committee”. “He was always so willing to share his extensive


knowledge. Rob was the consummate professional, and well respected among his peers. A voice of reason and understanding, a great colleague and I, for one, will miss his counsel,” he added.


April 2024


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