Trend Control Systems - Apprentice Initiatives
Trend Control Systems is supporting the long-term
interests of the building services industry through an
ongoing campaign to attract apprentices. Its efforts
this year resulted in 50 Apprenticeships in Building
Services Engineering, out of 550 who responded to the
campaign. Seven are employed directly by Trend, the
remainder by 26 Trend partner companies – independent
building system integrators who install Trend products.
“The UK building services industry will suffer if the
present lack of trained Building Service engineers is
allowed to continue, while we and our partners need
trained technicians to maintain business growth,”
observed Tim Darkes, Managing Director of Horsham-based
Trend Control Systems, a specialist in building
management systems.
“For many years, Trend has successfully recruited and
trained apprentices; providing them with certificated
qualifications, along with Trend product training and
hands-on learning. However, Trend partners have not
always been able to match this resource, so they
requested our help to fill the industry-wide need for
new technicians.
“The fact that we received 550 applications this year
shows clearly that many young people are attracted to a
technical career in building services. We hope those we
were unable to employ are successful in finding training
elsewhere within the industry.”
Trend develops its Apprentice Scheme
Following the success of the scheme in 2007, Trend
recruited Jennifer Fyson as Apprentice Scheme Manager to
develop the scheme and repeat the recruitment process
for 2008’s intake. Fyson, who has an extensive
background in education and training, commented: “I
joined Trend because its scheme was innovative and
clearly provided great prospects for apprentices”. Fyson
is also fostering team spirit and a sense of belonging
to the “Trend family” throughout training, which will
aid retention of time-served apprentices.
“Trend is taking the lead in driving long-term training
and qualifications by working with 17 colleges and
training providers to tailor courses appropriate to the
needs of the building services industry,” she added. “We
are also working with the Learning & Skills Council and
Sector Skills Council to consider new and innovative
ways of delivering training nationwide.”
This year Trend also took the innovative step of
collaborating with a local college, Central Sussex
College in Crawley, as part of the Government-sponsored
Engineering and Technology Board’s (ETB) “Lecturers into
Industry” pilot program. This scheme brings local
businesses together with college lecturers in
engineering and science subjects, to help lecturers
understand authentic business practices and challenges.
They can then incorporate this “real world” knowledge
into the college curriculum.
Trend supported the scheme by inviting a lecturer from
Central Sussex College to spend significant time in each
of its engineering departments, to understand the skills
needed, so its training provision can match
requirements.”
Background to the Trend Attitude Apprenticeship Scheme
At the start of the 2006/2007 school year Trend did not
have an Apprenticeship Scheme that supported its
partners. The company asked Loretta Wootton, a Trend
Project Manager who had herself served an
Apprenticeship, to discover partner companies’ needs and
concerns, develop a scheme to match those needs and then
with a close-knit team manage a recruitment campaign.
“The problems included finding candidates with
motivation, matching college courses with training
needs, encouraging local colleges to run necessary
courses and retaining individuals both during and after
training,” she explained. “We developed a strongly
branded scheme called the ‘Trend Attitude Apprenticeship
Scheme’, reflecting the need for candidates with the
right attitude. After presenting the scheme to partners,
they agreed to take 43 apprentices to work in their
businesses, while another seven would be apprenticed
directly by Trend.”
A three-month marketing campaign was set in place to
encourage applicants. Trend especially wished to attract
younger candidates, so used Connexions Direct, a
nationwide service that helps 14-19 year olds in
particular to help them find colleges or choose careers.
Trend also went through EEF, which runs a nationwide
website to find apprentices.
The campaign was supported through a website
www.TrendAttitude.co.uk, careers events and recruitment
stands in shopping centres.
Trend used a three-part online aptitude test to aid
selection. It was provided by SHL Group, a leading
provider of psychometric assessment and development
solutions. The tests for numeracy, language and
dependability were selected to ensure the individual
would cope technically, be able to communicate
effectively with customers and have the right attitude.
“Interestingly it was the people with the highest
dependability score who were most likely to be among the
50 selected for apprenticeships,” observed Loretta
Wootton.
Honeywell International is a $33 billion diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers
worldwide with aerospace products and services; control
technologies for buildings, homes and industry;
automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty
materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's
shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago
Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up
the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component
of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For more information
on Honeywell see www.honeywell.com.
Trend Control Systems Limited is a business within
Honeywell Automation and Controls Solutions, a global
leader in providing product and service solutions that
improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory
compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments
in homes, buildings and industry.
Trend Control Systems Limited is the UK market leader
and a global provider of building management solutions.
Using web-based technology, Trend plays an active part
in helping to reduce the energy consumption of today’s
businesses, assisting leading organisations, such as
Land Rover, TK Maxx and Sainsbury’s. With the rising
cost of energy, Trend’s technology solutions not only
significantly reduce the cost of running a business, but
can also benefit the environment.
Email:
casey.wells@trendcontrols.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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