With scaffolding, you can build anything.”
FEATURE
Welcome – Fran Michna and Brian Ward.
With scaffolding, you can build anything.”
development of the all-new £ 14.7m NETA Training Centre off Princeton Drive in Thornaby, which is due to open its doors later this year. With an investment of £ 4.5m in Thornaby Town Deal funding, the new facility will deliver training for school leavers, apprentices and commercial delegates in the likes of welding, fabrication, electrical, mechanical, pipefitting, domestic and commercial gas training.
The up-and-coming NETA development is a priority intervention to bring long-term change and investment to Thornaby as part of its Town Deal with the support of the Thornaby Town Deal Board, delivered in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
A bit of a fan of astrology and describing himself as“ your typical left-handed Scorpio”, it felt like quite a serendipitous time for Fran to visit, with NETA celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
With a meticulous attention to detail and a startling ability to recall names and dates, his own career is littered with incredible locations and experiences. But Fran takes just as much pride in remembering the many students and delegates he saw excel over the years.
He said:“ You have to have a sense of humour, and you have to have a rapport with students,” adding that it takes empathy and understanding too.
As for the scaffolding, having worked on everything from offshore oil rigs and shipyards to stage shows, he describes it as an art form, saying:“ With scaffolding, you can build anything.”
NETA’ s scaffold centre co-ordinator Brian Ward said:“ It was great to welcome Fran in for a grand tour of the All Access Academy.
“ What never ceases to amaze me is Fran’ s passion for the industry and those he helped mould and train during his time at NETA, as well as his unique reaction to the new centre.
“ Fran probably assisted most of the scaffolders in this area with their careers – including mine – with his understanding of
At work – scaffolders training at the All Access Academy.
the industry and extensive knowledge.
“ It was fantastic watching Fran absorb the various spaces and offer his approval in the way only Fran can, with his linguistic eccentricity!”
For more about the scaffolding training opportunities and full range of commercial courses available at NETA, call 01642 616936, visit neta. co. uk / commercial-course-availability or email info @ neta. co. uk
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