Redrow training programme will 'home grow' future site managers

Mon, Jun 5th 2006, 11:00

Ten assistant site managers have graduated from a unique training and development programme designed to take them to the next level with their employer, Redrow.

The ‘Assistant Site Manager Development Programme’ was introduced by the award winning house builder with a view to ‘home growing’ a new generation of professional and competent site managers.

The programme culminates in the achievement of NVQ level 3 site supervision delivered by NHBC Training Services, combined with accreditation through Redrow’s own Site Management Certificate.

Karen Jones, Redrow’s human resources director, comments: “We have developed this programme especially to create a career path for our assistant site managers. It will enable them to demonstrate the competence they are gaining from their role on-site and provides an element of formal training to support their learning experiences.

“This unique training and development programme is part of our commitment to raising the competency of our construction staff above the industry average and increasing employee retention and job satisfaction.”

The course focuses on all aspects of the build operation starting with lower risk areas such as finishing trades and working through to high risk ground works as the programme completes. It also requires those taking part to develop their presentation skills and to prove their ability to create a build programme from scratch.

Redrow’s development programme is designed to take nine months to complete but the first 10 candidates were hand-picked and put on a fast track programme over just six months. During that time they have successfully developed the management skills required to run a site in compliance with Redrow policies and procedures and are now set to be first in line for future site manager posts.

Among them was highest scorer 35-year-old Tracey Smith, the only female on the course. She said: “Taking part has generally increased my awareness of issues that I would not normally be too involved with, such as the role of other departments, and it has improved my general knowledge of the industry and confidence in my own abilities.

“I’m really looking forward to taking the next step up to becoming a site manager as soon as the opportunity arises,” added Tracey, who joined Redrow three years ago. She has had a variety of roles in the construction industry since graduating from John Moores University in Liverpool in 1995 with a BSc (hons) degree in Building.

James Gemmell, 33, who came to Redrow two years ago from a civil engineering construction background, also believes that the course has helped him to appreciate the bigger picture. He commented: “It has improved my self confidence in dealing with colleagues, contractors and line managers. It has also improved my general technical knowledge and understanding of Redrow policy and procedures and NHBC procedures.”

And 48-year-old Nimrod Asbury, a former bricklayer and bricklaying supervisor who has been with Redrow for two-and-a-half years, says he is “much more aware of costs and accountability” since undertaking the development programme.

The NVQ level 3 element of the development programme was delivered and assessed by an NHBC team and Redrow was delighted by the flexibility of approach and level of support provided by NHBC.

Dave Gee, area training manager for NHBC South & West, said: “What Redrow has done is absolutely brilliant. The support, structure and guidance they are providing not just for the NVQ but for the whole development programme is superb. Redrow’s own modules fitted incredibly well with the NVQ level 3 work and vice versa.”

Following the success of its pilot scheme Redrow is now looking to run a couple of Assistant Site Manager Development Programmes each year with at least 12 people on each.

Redrow invests heavily in training at all levels and has its own purpose-built UK training centre, in Tamworth, Staffs, which delivers circa 4,000 training days per annum.