The Gas Safe Register celebrates its first anniversary on 1st April and it has now firmly embedded itself in the minds of consumers looking to have gas work done in their homes.

For those working directly with gas the switch from Corgi has also been straightforward and almost universal. The Register now holds registrations for over 60,000 businesses and will continue to grow in 2010 when businesses from Guernsey and Northern Ireland also come aboard.

Those working with gas may be familiar with the rules and their responsibilities but what about those in the broader construction trades who may be working alongside them?

Under Regulation 8 of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, those working in trades other than gas also have a legal duty not to compromise the safety of gas installations in the course of their work. Read more »

“Twenty-two year-old Christopher Lonsdale from County Durham was awarded a medallion for excellence in plumbing and heating for impressing judges at the Calgary 2009 Worldskillls competition.

Although Britain’s young talent did not get gold, silver or bronze in this category, the self-employed plumber from Bishop Auckland did walk away with an award for scoring at least 500 points, which is deemed the world class standard.

Britain did win gold in electrical installations thanks to the talented Richard Sager (aged 22) from Langholm who works for Eden Electrics. Sager was one of 900 skilled people from around the globe competing in the biennial WorldSkills competition in Calgary over four days.

Sager trained hard for 18 months for his golden moment, putting his social lives on hold to perfect his skill. Read more »

“Teenagers who have just received their GCSE results are being encouraged to qualify as plumbing apprentices rather than go on to study for A-Levels.

Celebrity plumber and former apprentice Charlie Mullins (pictured), who is the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, one of the largest plumbing firms in the UK, says youngsters need to see apprenticeships as a valid alternative to university especially considering the current shortage of places.

According to Mullins, who started his plumbing apprenticeship when he was 15, teenagers who qualify as apprentices are more likely to have job and financial security in the future.

“An apprenticeship puts you on a real career path and in three to four years when you are trained and earning money, your friends will only just be finishing university and in the job market for the first time,” he said.

“Good university degrees are fine, but it’s going to be increasingly difficult for many youngsters to get on good courses. We should be promoting apprenticeships, and encouraging kids to understand that they offer a real alternative.” Read more »

“Economic recovery will go hand-in-hand with developing skills, according to one expert.

Writing for epolitix.com, Gordon Marsden MP, explained that although the downturn presents a number of challenges to businesses, there will also be opportunities to equip people with new skills.

Furthermore, investment in green jobs can also help boost the country, with manufacturing being one area which should be specifically targeted, Mr Marsden said.

"Wind farm projects will create jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and truck drivers, while increasing the energy efficiency of buildings will rely on roofers, insulators and electricians," he said. Read more »

“A £700 million building programme in Manchester will help sustain more than 8,000 jobs, it has been claimed.

According to Manchester City Council, its investment plan will provide work for 6,500 skilled tradesmen, including electricians.

A further 1,200 professional roles for engineers, project managers and architects will be created.

It was also revealed that the projects will be used to help recruit and train apprentices, with 458 roles being supported by the move.

Councillor Sue Murphy, executive member for employment and skills, said: "Our commitment to these improvements to the built environment is also sustaining vital jobs during a period of recession. Read more »

“The UK faces a shortage of electrical engineers and might be unable to complete major infrastructure projects in future, one expert has warned.

Speaking to the Newcastle Journal, Jane Atkinson, vice-president of utilities at SembCorp UK, explained that the demands placed on the country by European emissions targets could expose these shortcomings.

To meet these requirements, the government will have to invest in a range of new power plants, from nuclear generators to windfarms and this will require a range of engineers, she stated.

"If you look at building the Olympic Stadium, how many engineers are involved – civil, mechanical, structural, electrical and chemical – but we won’t be able to do those massive infrastructure projects in the future, we’ll have to bring in foreign labour," Ms Atkinson said.

She called for more information to be given to the public, parents and teachers so they can help children decide if a career in engineering is right for them, she added. Read more »

“Construction professionals think that a skills shortage exists within the sector, despite the current economic downturn, new research reveals.

According to a study by the Chartered Institute of Building, 77 per cent of those questioned think there is a lack of skilled workers within the trades in the construction sector.

In addition, 38 per cent of those questioned stated that any loss of skills would seriously hinder the sector when the economy picks up.

The body’s deputy chief executive Michael Brown said: "Construction has been notoriously bad at attracting students, and other new entrants, which has exasperated the industry’s long-term skills development."

More than three-quarters of respondents felt that apprenticeships should be mandatory on all public projects to help encourage the employment of trainees.

Last week, it was reported that the government has earmarked £11 million to create approximately 3,000 new apprenticeships across the UK. Read more »