The Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ & Manufacturers’ Association (PASMA) has reported a “record breaking 60,000 candidates attended and successfully completed a tower training course at an approved PASMA training centre” in 2012. This compares with 50,000 for the previous year – an increase of 20 per cent.

PASMA is a trade association for the mobile access tower industry representing the interests of manufacturers, suppliers, specifiers and users. The association delivers and oversees the industry standard training scheme and liaises with key regulatory authorities and standards-setting bodies in the work at height sector.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched an investigation into suspected anti-competitive conduct concerning provision of training services to the construction industry.

The investigation relates to allegations that certain businesses have entered into anti-competitive agreements.

Details are scant and the businesses under investigation have not been named, but the OFT announcement suggests that its concerns focus on the activities of a trade association.

Three members of Kitsons' Employment team, Jayme Nicholson (2nd left), Rhodri Davey (2nd right) and Rory Wakeling (far right) recently provided training in London to the Construction Industry, hosted by the Guild of Construction Workers, by performing a mock Employment Tribunal dealing with the regularly contested topic of employment status. Former MP David Mellor QC sat as Judge for the event.

DEVELOPERS of a proposed £110 million retail scheme are supporting plans for a project to combat St Austell's "higher than average" unemployment.

Mercian Developments Ltd and Metric Properties St Austell Ltd, behind the Coyte Farm scheme, and Cornwall College have signed an agreement to help students and local people into work.

The controversial planning application for Coyte Farm outlines a 160,000sq ft retail park including a Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's with green credentials, hotel, pub, and care village with assisted living units, all on 98 acres of green land.

THE boss of a Warwickshire firm scooped two awards at the Banbury Women in Business Awards last month.

Kim Bendzak, managing director of Apple Construction Training based in Fenny Compton, scooped Most Established Business and Most Inspirational Women Business Owner.

Both awards were recognition of the role that Kim has played in spearheading and growing the award-winning, accredited construction training company despite the challenges of operating in an industry that is in decline.

After six years of fundraising, the west London venue plans to build new facilities including drama, dance and recording studios, a sensory space for children with disabilities and storage areas for props and costumes by February 2014.

At a launch event held today, executive director Jessica Hepburn said the project will “change the landscape of Hammersmith” with its two-storey extension over the shopping centre that is adjacent to the venue.

Preston-based property regeneration group Forrest is working on a scheme which guarantees apprentices work for the full term of their training.

The company has teamed up with Lancaster City Council, Constructing the Future Lancashire and CITB ConstructionSkills for the project which has seen six apprentices taken on.

Anthony Simone knows all about infection control methods for construction on hospital renovation sites.

That is because the drywall instructor at the Toronto-based Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre (IFSTC) took a comprehensive course on the subject in Las Vegas and hopes to pass on what he’s learned through a course organized for contractors in Toronto.

With infections in hospitals killing thousands of people across North America — and onsite construction seen as a potential source of infection — his objective makes sense.

BAM has become the first construction company in the South West to achieve the status of National Skills Academy for Construction for a programme-based approach to skills and training. The decision will trigger a huge programme of work opportunities in the South West of England for the next three years.

Until now, National Skills Academy for Construction status –conferred by CITB- ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council and industry training board - has only been granted for specific projects in the area. BAM Construction Western Ltd has achieved National Skills Academy for Construction status for a programme of projects across the region.

It is estimated that this will create over 100 ten-day work experience placements for 16-19 year-olds, 200-plus curriculum support activities including hour-long classroom lessons, 44 apprenticeships and 75 jobs advertised through local employment agencies, among a range of other employment benefits.

QISC has begun to offer vocational qualifications locally across the construction industry in Qatar, delivered by qualified instructors based at QISC facilities, the firm said.

Structuring a range of courses that can be tailored to the needs of each employer, the vocational courses form part of the company’s mission to ensure higher levels of safety in the workplace countrywide.

Andy Reid, QISC’s business development manager, said: “QISC is now delivering to all industries in Qatar the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Foundation; Advanced and Supervisor courses.