BUSINESS HELPDESK HELP DESK OF THE FUTURE BUILDING THE WORKFORCE


With the launch of their Building Blocks programme, the BMF looks at what needs to be done to boost recruitment and career awareness in the Merchant industry


O


ur industry is experiencing a deep- seated recruitment challenge. For regular readers of this publication and long-standing members of


the Merchant community this statement is a daily fact of life. Despite offering career paths as varied as almost any other industry and a customer base reliant on our depth of knowledge, vacancies are still tough to fill. A quick online search will unearth literally hundreds of Merchant jobs throughout the UK. A brief perusal of the listings show that the issue isn’t restricted to junior roles but appears to run much deeper. So, is there something about our industry or career paths which make them less appealing?


Firstly, it’s apparent that in the past the Merchant industry has been almost invisible within the schools recruitment processes. This could be because we don’t fit naturally into the two roughly divided careers paths of office based or manual labour. However, we actually offer the perfect blend of both and therefore should be perfectly suited to attract interested parties from both.


Secondly, we seem to struggle to create an obvious career path for people and therefore our staff retention suffers. This is probably because the diversity of our businesses


one standard path to be taken. There are sales, marketing, financial, technical and management opportunities throughout our industry and the businesses themselves span from smaller family run businesses through to multinational enterprises.


However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The initial recruit challenge has been in the crosshairs of our friends at the BMF for some time. Following a policy review with their members last year, April saw the relaunch of a new and improved recruitment website. The website - www.buildingmaterialscareers.com - promotes apprenticeships, life-long learning and gives members the opportunity to manage their job advertisements free of charge using the ‘Advertise A Job’ facility. Potential apprentices and employees will then be able to easily locate these roles, using the region, sector and


locate these roles, using the region, sector and location search filters. The site also highlights the BMF’s Ambassador programme and explains that schools and colleges can invite someone working in the industry to share their experience at careers events.


10 businesses means there is no


So, with positive action on recruitment underway what’s on offer to help educate existing staff and to support their career


aspirations across the many disciplines we have on offer? Well in a partnership with Cortexa, the industry’s leading e-learning and LMS provider, the BMF have launched their Building Blocks programme. This project is undoubtedly the most ambitious and far reaching online training initiative ever launched for the Merchant community. The full undertaking is expected to take up to five years during which time some 30 Building Blocks will become available offering in excess of 250 hours of industry specific training.


MOL replacement


The Building Blocks programme is a direct replacement for the now retired MOL distance workbooks which have educated prospective Builders’ Merchants industry for many years. Through collaboration with industry experts, every core topic will eventually be covered to form a truly all-encompassing and long-term training programme that can be revisited again and again. This unique approach will provide BMF members, both merchants and suppliers, with access to the very best digital industry knowledge ever.


The aim of the first wave of the Building Blocks series is to provide apprentices, new starters and existing staff with a solid foundation of product knowledge - in so doing providing


a joined-up approach to staff retention and career progression. The first three Blocks are available now, covering residential construction, heating and hot water comfort and timber in construction these are aimed more at the new starter community, there are two further Blocks in development covering Insulation and Customer Care. Future Blocks will be tailored to train and support staff progression throughout the business, offering management and financial training along with a raft of soft skills. As a guide, t averagehe


the


course Block consists


of 6 – 8 modules providing around 10 hours of directed learning. Created with contributions from the technical teams from the industry’s leading brands, the finished courses will bring topics to life through a combination of video, animation and interactive content. They also include course reading, weblinks, work- based mini projects and a final online marked assessment.


Cortexa are an approved online centre for NVQs and the Building Blocks Programme will be fully accredited by Occupational Awards by the end of 2019.


Whilst these recent developments will not change things over night, they do offer cause for genuine optimism. For more details contact Richard Ellithorne, BMF Membership Services Director Richard.ellithorne@bmf.org.uk or Mark Parrish, Cortexa Ltd - Managing Director mark.parrish@cortexa.co.uk 0330 024 2881


BMJ www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2019


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