CIC Cascade

23 February 2007

1. Animation Competition
2. What are the key FM issues for 2007?
3. Landscape Institute launches innovative online system
4. Criminology Graduates Join Industry
5. ConstructionSkills builds support for learndirect
6. Training and standards for Construction Adjudicators enforced by RICS
7. Events

1. Animation Competition
The IPHE has launched an Animation Competition, aimed at students at colleges and universities throughout the UK.  The student can be taking any subject and is not limited to art-based courses.  Prizes include an Apple laptop computer worth £1,000.

“We want to work with colleges and universities to give aspiring animators and designers the chance to show their skill,” said Blane Judd , Chief Executive.  “However, we also want to encourage other students interested in animation to have a go.”

The Institute is looking for a meaningful piece of animation or video that shows why you should use a competent plumber.  The winning animation will sit on the IPHE’s new website (to be launched this year) and will be publicised via email.  It is expected the email link leading to the animation will reach a massive UK and overseas audience, giving the ultimate opportunity for the winning student to showcase their talent.  Those achieving second and third place will also have the chance to see their animation placed on the IPHE website and promoted via email.

For further information visit http://www.iphe.org.uk/animation.html

Top

2. What are the key FM issues for 2007?

BIFM and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward are conducting a joint survey of facilities management professionals to help identify the big issues facing the FM industry in 2007.

The increased threat of terrorism and greater industry regulation have highlighted the importance of FM to UK business. This new survey will reveal how the role has changed over the past year and what issues are keeping FMs awake at night.

Stephen Bennett, BIFM Knowledge Director, said; “We are pleased to be working with BDO Stoy Hayward and hope that the survey will not only help us gain a better understanding of our members and the problems and opportunities they face, but will also provide vital market intelligence.”

As an expert in the business services sector, BDO Stoy Hayward recognises that this project will provide them with an opportunity to better understand the sector and its clients’ business needs.

Iain Lowson, lead partner, Business Services at BDO Stoy Hayward said: “We are really looking to consolidate our knowledge in this specialist area while at the same time build a closer relationship with BIFM.”

The survey will ask a range of questions, from the role of the FM manager, career development and performance management, to the threats posed by terrorism and the problems of business continuity.

The online survey, managed by Datamonitor, is currently live on the BIFM website (www.bifm.org.uk) with the results published in the spring.

Top

3. Landscape Institute launches innovative online system

 The Pathway to Chartership (P2C), the Landscape Institute’s new system for qualifying for chartership, is now live.

The innovative, new system aims to help associates make the most of their period of qualifying experience by supporting them in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding they will need in their professional life.

While on the Pathway, associates are mentored by a chartered member of the LI and also receive regular feedback from the Pathway supervisor.

Once they have demonstrated that they are ready to move forward, they progress to the second and final stage, the oral examination. The Pathway is flexible, so associates can progress at their own pace. It also takes into account previous learning and development.

LI president Nigel Thorne FLI said: “Becoming a chartered landscape professional, and helping candidates to achieve this high standard, benefits many other people too – employers, clients, fellow professionals and the public in general.”

At the heart of the P2C is the Pathway online system, which enables candidates to record their experience, mentors to submit their reviews and supervisors to give feedback, all online. Candidates and mentors will additionally be able to arrange meetings through the system, communicate with one another, as well as update their personal details. The system has been designed with the aim of guiding users through the system in an intuitive way. The P2C is supported by the new online Pathway Resource Centre, which will include tips and guidance on the system, a question bank, resource list and a new Pathway Discussion Forum, which will put candidates in touch with one another.

The first oral examination in the new system will be in November 2007 and the examination will be offered twice a year from 2008.

For more information please go to www.landscapeinstitute.org

Top

4. Criminology Graduates Join Industry

The first wave of graduates without a construction related degree has passed through the Chartered Institute of Building’s Graduate Diploma Programme ( GDP ).

Anna Price CIOB higher education manager said, “We have students in the programme who have first degrees in criminology, Irish studies and many other non construction related courses. It is really encouraging to see that the construction industry is attracting a diverse range of graduates.  By recognising young people’s potential outside of construction degrees we can face the industry’s current skills shortage with some optimism.”

The programme has been established for graduates without construction-related degrees who are currently working within the construction industry. At the CIOB’s first graduation ceremony nine students were awarded certificates confirming their accomplishments, as well as an award going to the highest achievement attained during the three year course.  Since its inception in 2003, the course has expanded, and is now being delivered by three universities through residential based and distance learning.  There are 79 students at various stages undertaking the course to date, with a further 35 already on the waiting list.

The route was developed by a consortium of CIOB, CITB-ConstructionSkills, employers and universities to meet the industry demand for qualified construction managers and surveyors. In addition, the course is set up to fulfil the CIOB’s own education requirements for entry into corporate membership.

There are increasing numbers of graduates entering the industry without construction related degrees (termed ‘non-cognates’). The Graduate Diploma Programme is a conversion course designed to complete the technical and managerial components required to support their potential role within a construction firm. To register for the programme, a candidate must have already gained an honours degree and either be accepted for employment or already appointed within the industry.

The programme consists of 12 modules. For the residential option, students follow a week’s course at a university followed by nine to ten weeks back on site with coursework and assessments to complete. The distance learning option follows the same modules but on an open learning basis.  The programme is run over three years with four modules per year delivered by the universities with the first module being delivered at the National Construction College , Bircham Newton, in conjunction with the CITB for all students.

The UK construction industry must attract and train an estimated 87,000 new entrants every year for the foreseeable future to meet the skills gap. Recent research by the CIOB revealed that 77 percent of managers (and directors) in construction had problems in recruitment throughout 2006.

Further information is available at http://www.ciob.org.uk/education/diploma

Top

5. ConstructionSkills builds support for learndirect

ConstructionSkills and learndirect have joined forces to encourage construction businesses and employees to celebrate companies who are going that extra mile to provide training.

ConstructionSkills are sponsoring the Construction Company category in the learndirect Achievement Awards. The Awards aim to recognise employers who are using learndirect todevelop their employees’ skills and improve their business as a result.

Nicola Thompson, Director of Communications and Marketing from ConstructionSkills said:

“The construction industry is thriving, employing 1 in 14 of the UK ’s workforce. To ensure its continued success we must ensure investment in training and up-skilling new and existing staff to provide employers with the workforce they need to deliver on the growing order book.

We are delighted to support the learndirect Achievement Awards, recognising all those in construction who are improving their skills in the workplace. We hope that their successes will be shared more widely across the industry.”

People working within the construction sector can nominate their employer for an Achievement Award at www.learndirect.co.uk/awards. Entries close on 16 March 2007.

Ex-England rugby international and Strictly Come Dancing star, Matt Dawson, has pledged his support to the learndirect Achievement Awards:

“Since retiring from rugby this year, I‘ve had the opportunity to develop new skills and it’s been a life-changing experience for me.

“I’m supporting the awards because I know how important it is to have the right skills to do the job, both on and off the pitch. The people, businesses and learning centres recognised by the awards will be those who have gone the extra mile to develop skills. By working to improve themselves they are contributing to the success of the country.

“I’d encourage everyone to make a nomination for the Awards; it’s easy to do at www.learndirect.co.uk/awards”

Phil Hope, Minister for Skills, launched the learndirect Achievement Awards:

“Poor skills have a hugely detrimental effect on people's life chances. As the largest government supported e-learning initiative in the world, learndirect is improving national productivity by providing widespread access to world-class learning, helping people fulfil their potential and helping businesses thrive.

“The learndirect Achievement Awards are a celebration of learning, recognising the achievements of people learning with learndirect, businesses training with learndirect, and the centres supporting them.

Top

6. Training and standards for Construction Adjudicators enforced by RICS

RICS Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, ICE, RIBA and AICA are joining hands to work towards the delivery of a widely recognised qualification relating to adjudication, as called for by His Honour Judge Thornton in 2004. The collaborative event is to ensure there is consistency in training and assessment standards for construction adjudicators.

Course Director Brian Totterdill, a Civil Engineer and Adjudicator, said,

 “The course is required because of the ever increasing complexity of construction adjudication. It responds to demands from the industry that adjudicators must be aware of developments in the law and the need for continuous reappraisal of their performance during the adjudication and in writing the decision”.

The two day course will take place in March and April and is aimed at practised adjudicators.

The courses contents will include:

• A day on law including the latest development in case law and
• A day of interactive sessions on decision writing and plain English which will be accompanied with a take away test to examine attendees' practical application. 

The course also includes contributions from experts in behavioural analysis and clarity of written language.

Martin Burns, Director, RICS Dispute Resolution Services, said,

“We and our partners have responded positively to the challenge laid down by Judge Thornton. The course content and the high quality of course leaders will ensure we meet the high standards of adjudication practice in our industry.”

The course will be delivered by leading figures from the industry and all assignments will be independently assessed and marked by the College of Estate Management.

The two day course runs in London on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March and in Coventry on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 April, with places limited at each venue.

For further information, including venues, fees and course content visit the DRS website www.rics.org.uk/drs

7. Events

The events page of the CIC website is frequently updated visit the events page for details.

Top