LINO LAKES, Minn. — For the last 20 years, Minnesota Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET), an arm of the Minnesota Laborers Union and the Minnesota Laborers Training Center have paved the way for 1.55 million hours of training for members to ensure they are properly trained, represented and protected on work sites.

To celebrate this commitment to training and safety, Minnesota LECET and the Laborers Training Center host their Fifth Annual Contractor Appreciation open house from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday for many of Minnesota’s biggest union contractors. The event showcases the impressive, 44,000-square-foot Laborers Training Center facility and recognizes 32 Union contractors for their commitment to construction safety.

LEEDS College of Building has seen a 25 per cent increase in the number of students signing up to its Higher Education courses compared to last year as they seek an alternative to university and its tuition fees.
   
In recent years the College, which is the UK's largest specialist construction college, has significantly expanded the number of Higher Education courses it offers meaning students can now achieve HNCs, HNDs and Higher Apprenticeships with both full and part-time provision available.

Newcastle based Northern Construction Training Group are celebrating after signing an exciting new contract with Tyne Metropolitan College, which follows a successful partnership in 2011-12.

The one year contract will give up to 40 students aged 16-18 the opportunity to complete the Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying or Joinery from September 2012.

Have you decided on electrical training or you are considering your career options?  Whatever decisions you are about to make, it can be helpful to read the comments of those who have begun their electrical training.  They can paint a picture of what it is like to train with OLCI.  And that can help you decide if it’s right for you too.

Christian Simpson took the ‘Become a Fully Qualified Electrician’ course from OLCI.  Before enrolling he ‘was made redundant from Ikea and wanted a change in career’.  Christian wants to get qualified in the trades as he has ‘a business and need to be qualified to improve the business, and educate employees and health and safety on site’.  Christian chose OLCI as he ‘saw them on the internet and they said they could cover all my needs in my current situation of studying around work’. 

This is the pilot scheme funded by FMB via CSkills that the Group had the privilege to be chosen for. The idea was to use this as an opportunity for youngsters to get real life site experience with the possibility of impressing the employer, who would then commit to offering an apprenticeship.

7 companies took on eight First Year learners from City College Plymouth.

The full results of this initiative are not known at present, but so far they appear to be very positive and encouraging.

Once you have successfully completed OLCI’s plumbing training, you will be qualified to fit, install and maintain bathrooms, fix radiators, work with airing cupboards and water tanks, and you’ll be able to work with copper and plastic pipes. 

A career in the trades can be a flexible way to earn money – either with your own business or at a company.  To give you an insight into training with OLCI, they asked some of our existing learners what they thought.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) was pleased to play a key role in the first ever Tees Valley Business Summit. Sponsoring the welcome packs and running a successful stand, the organisation saw over 300 delegates attending the successful one-day event. The summit also heard a keynote speech by Employment Minister, Chris Grayling and featured 50 exhibitors, ten workshops and 16 one-to-one appointments with business advisors.

The Tees Valley Business Summit - an event created, driven and delivered by businesses across Tees Valley took place on Tuesday 10 July at Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. Organised by the Local Enterprise Partnership, Tees Valley Unlimited, it aims to bring together public and private sector partners to deliver sustainable economic growth across Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton on Tees.

Frustrated BTSC students who have been left part way through their training have been delighted with PGL Trainings flexible and proactive response in accommodating their training needs.

PGL Training are able to carry out candidate searches with City and Guilds and EAL to ascertain exactly what has been achieved and then work out individual training plans to avoid any repeat assessments or registration fees.

Are you planning to enrol on an electrical course in the future?  If so, we recommend reading the feedback from some of our existing learners.  They have already started their training with OLCI, so their experiences may be able to give you a useful insight into the training available.

Jon Meecham decided to take the ‘Become a Fully Qualified Electrician’ training.  Previously, Jon was a CCTV Engineer.  He decided that he wanted to get qualified in the trades so he can ‘further my current career, with a certificate that shows I am technically able to carry out the task’. 

If you are thinking of taking a plumbing course, it can help if you read feedback from those who have enrolled previously.  They can offer you an insight into what the training may be like – and can help you decide if a course would suit your needs too.

Jarrad Corssen-Davies chose the ‘Become a Qualified Plumber – Advanced’ course from OLCI.  He chose to get qualified in the trades so that he can ‘have a successful career in the plumbing industry, and help others’.