FEATURE
Highly skilled – Tackling challenging projects takes immense experience and dedication from a workforce fully trained in all aspects of the job .
Bird ’ s-eye – Wood T & D engineers reinsulating a twin conductor on a tension tower .
Our aim is to place the Wood T & D training facility on the map as a worldrenowned transmission and distribution training centre .
And with all that in mind , apprenticeships are an exciting new development .
Steve said : “ From trainees doing NVQs , we ’ ve now progressed to apprenticeships within the industry , which is a first for the company .
“ To get apprenticeships means we ’ re making professional people with a professional qualification .
“ We have six apprentices at the moment but we ’ re looking to expand that for other companies to send their staff to us to train – I ’ d like to explore that in the next few years .”
Currently , said Steve , Wood T & D has around 80 blue-collar staff in the cabling and overhead lines sector .
Around eight are recruited each year , but that ’ s set to increase dramatically , meaning the Darlington training provision will prove its worth time and again .
He added : “ We have various types of courses , ranging from e-learning down to classroom-based training .
“ We also have practical-based training , we have three wired towers and one standalone tall tower for climbing assessments and rescue training . “ When we get the newbies coming through , they get put through their paces out there !” It ’ s certainly an exciting time for the centre , said Steve , who ’ s in his 11th year with the company and 25th in the industry .
Reflecting the industry ’ s latest requirements and techniques , drone operators will be trained there .
And there may even be developments north of the border , with the company exploring opportunities for training facilities in Scotland , in conjunction with the Darlington offering .
Wood T & D operations director ( England and Wales ) Mark Sherwood said : “ Because of our operations in Scotland , we ’ re looking at larger premises that will have a satellite facility linked to our Darlington training centre .
“ From there , we ’ ll be looking to train assembly and erecting gangs , but that will be driven by Steve and his team .”
And reflecting on the significance of the Darlington centre ’ s 20th anniversary , Mark added : “ Some of our competitors have built training schools in the last few years , but we brought that to the industry 20 years ago , so we have the experience .
“ To provide the resources for the march to net zero , we need those resources to be UK-based and trained and if we can do it , all the better .”
Steve , too , is optimistic for the next 20 years and beyond .
He said : “ The strategy going forward is to achieve an NPORS , EUSR and City & Guilds-accredited Wood T & D Training and Development centre that can be successfully established and deployed within our projects and client bases .
“ Our aim is to place the Wood T & D training facility on the map as a worldrenowned transmission and distribution training centre .
“ It will serve as a foundation for effectively and continually managing and improving an organisation training requirement , providing an excellent framework for long-term success and client satisfaction and compliance .
“ The general message is , ‘ We ’ re here , we have been for 20 years and will be for at least another 20 years , so come and join us ’.”
For more information , contact tdctrainingrequests @ woodplc . com
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