Construction figure makes international breakthrough on training
A leading UK construction figure – who is committed to training the next generation of operators at home – has made an international breakthrough when it comes to skills.
Julie White, the managing director of D-Drill & Sawing – a specialist diamond drilling and concrete sawing company with offices across the UK – has been working behind the scenes to help create an international training standard.
Julie, who is also chair of the Drilling & Sawing Association (DSA) and board member of the International Association of Drilling and Sawers (IACDS), has just returned from the USA where it was agreed that a new international training and authorised card system will be implemented for the industry.
It builds on D-Drill’s legacy of being a standard bearer for increasing standards in the drilling and sawing sector over many years.
The new training programme and certification process will be based on the apprenticeship scheme in the UK, which was developed by Julie’s father, Peter White, more than 40 years ago when he ran D-Drill.
The process will be managed through an app to make it is easy as possible for companies and operators to sign up.
Julie said: “I am absolutely delighted that this has been agreed and that all of the nations represented through the IACDS are on board that this needs to happen.
“As everyone knows, I am passionate about training and driving up standards in our industry and also bringing through a new generation of operators who can help to take drilling and sawing forward into the future.
“I’ve seen how having a formal training and apprenticeship programme has improved our industry in the UK and that was something my dad, Peter, began more than 40 years ago.
“Now, we have an opportunity to do the same across the world. It’s a really exciting moment and something that colleagues and I have been pushing for over many years.
“The fact that it is being based on the UK’s apprenticeship shows just how much we’ve driven up standards in this country when it comes to training and development.”
Around 75 per cent of D-Drill & Sawing’s workforce – including Julie – has either completed an apprenticeship or is undertaking one.
Julie, who was appointed chair of Build UK in 2023, added: “National Apprenticeship Week earlier this month was a great opportunity to shout about all the great work we do when it comes to training the next generation, as well as reflect on where we can improve and how we can drive more people into our industry.
“Next month, we will be taking thousands of young people behind the scenes of sites and workplaces across the country as part of Open Doors 2024. The week-long event from Monday 18 – Saturday 23 March, delivered by Build UK, will showcase the fantastic range of careers available in construction, and we are encouraging the whole supply chain to get behind it and help recruit the next generation.”
For more information on Open Doors click here
