Regional Roundup: Midlands

While there is every indication that the future of the building Industry in the Midlands Region holds lots of promise, the words “ When can you start” don’t seem to be heard, at least not often enough. There are several proposed developments in various sectors awaiting the thumbs up. They include planning and environmental in areas as far as Umlaas Road, Ashburton all the way up to Howick and even further. If you are able to weather the storm, there should soon be light at the end of the tunnel, especially with the promise of a new look and hopefully more efficient, municipality.

  
The Midlands regional office will soon be sending out its training calendar for the second half of the year. This will see the start of construction skills training and a continuance of the compliance training we have been working on thus far. WATCH THIS SPACE, if there are a couple of hours in the day when your workers are standing around, this time can be used wisely to train them up which will improve their skills and usefulness to you. Feedback received from those who took advantage of our Work Skills Plan offer, has been exceedingly positive. It essentially saw members who pay a skills development levy being assisted free of charge by the Association, in submitting their plans which resulted in a large percentage of the skills levy being paid back to them.

However, the most exciting news we have to offer with regard to training is the fact that “APPRENTICSHIPS ARE BACK”, though they never really left. These opportunities have been available for a while and the Association is negotiating with training providers and technical schools in the region, to launch an initiative that will see  students being given the opportunity to sign up for a semi-funded apprenticeship program. An exciting aspect to it is that there are financial benefits in it, from taxes to discretionary funding, for members who participate. If this opportunity appeals to you, don’t hesitate to contact us, at our Midlands regional office.

Gareth Roberts | Regional Manager Midlands