NEW - Connaught Academy Training Matrix
New H&S qualification launched
Connaught Academy are very pleased to announce the launch for 2010 of their health and safety suite of qualifications. These have been developed in conjunction with the CITB and constrctionskills. The offering is based around the site safety passport scheme and covers qualifications such as:
- 5 day SMSTS
- 2 DAY SMSTS
- Site Safety for Shopfitters and Interior Contractors
- Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme
- Health and safety Awareness
- CSCS CARD Scheme
Student of the year
Two Cardiff plumbers have turned the ‘u-bend’ in their careers and have been awarded Student of the Year awards by one of the UK’s top vocational training specialists.
Rhiwbina’s Matthew Colley and Tom Aubrey from Fairwater have both won the accolades from the Connaught Academy in Caerphilly, where they have been training during plumbing apprenticeships.
Matthew, 20, is currently training towards his Level 3 City & Guilds plumbing qualification, and received the award for his positive attitude towards studying and the conscientious manner in which he approaches the vocational skill.
Twenty-one year old Tom, who has recently completed his Level 3 plumbing qualification, was awarded for being an all-round student who always works to the highest standard.
Both were awarded with certificates and trophies at an awards ceremony at the Connaught Academy. Both winners will also visit the base of the Academy’s supplier partner, Worcester Bosch, to learn about renewable energy and the impact its growth is having on the future energy operations in homes and businesses in the UK.
Huw Evans, regional workforce development manager of the Connaught Academy said: “Both students are fine examples of what vocational learning can achieve. We pride ourselves on training everyone that comes through our doors to the highest standards and Matthew and Tom show exactly what the training can achieve.”
Matthew, who has been training through the Academy for more than two years, decided to pursue a vocational career after leaving school at the age of 18. He said: “At school I really enjoyed the hands-on aspects of studying so when I learnt of the training opportunities I decided it was the right job for me. Through my apprenticeship I was working at Bluestone in west Wales so had a lot of exposure to the variety of work the job can bring.”
Tom, who left school after completing his GCSEs, is now working full time with Phil N Ltd. He said: “I was really happy to win the award – it’s nice to receive recognition for the hard work I have put in. I am now looking forward to furthering my development and gaining more qualifications.”
Academy students awarded top prizes
At the recent JTL awards held in the Milenium centre in Cardiff Connaught Academy and some of their high flying students were recognised for their efforts.
The company was awarded Wales’ Best Apprentice Winners Employers Cup after several of its trainees working to carry out upgrades to social housing properties, were nominated by their JTL Training Officer for outstanding effort.
Connaught employee Miles Black, aged 21 and from Cardiff, won the Best JTL Apprentice in Wales and his colleague Michael Beckerley, age 22 and from Cardiff, was runner up.
JTL is the leading training provider to the building services engineering sector, working with over 3,500 businesses in the UK. It is recognised as the sector preferred training provider and engages with a network of around 150 of the UK’s colleges including the Connaught Academy at Caerphilly.
JTL’s Chief Executive Denis Hird said: “A four year apprenticeship is a challenging undertaking. The achievement and hard work of young people in industry so often goes unreported and unrecognised. These awards celebrate the achievements of apprentices across Wales, and the contribution made by their employers.”
National recognition from Construction Excellence
The connaught Academy has been recognised as the top achiever in the UK at the 2008 National Construction Excellence Awards. This follows on from their Regional Wales title won earlier in the year. At the ceremony held at Lords cricket ground in London Brian Blessed presented the award to Huw Evans and the Team. Huw said
"this is a great honour for the team but also for the sudents at the Academy. To be recognised as the best in the UK in terms of innovation and achievement is fantastic"
"this is a great honour for the team but also for the sudents at the Academy. To be recognised as the best in the UK in terms of innovation and achievement is fantastic"
Construction Excellence Award 2008
The Connaught Academy in Caerphilly has won the Constructing Excellence Wales Achievers’ Award for its innovative work in meeting the training needs of the growing construction industry.
At the awards ceremony held at the Celtic manor resort the team were thrilled to pick up their award in recognition of their contribution to the skills base in Wales and beyond.
New courses now on offer at Connaught Academy
Exciting new developments mean that a number of new elements have been added to Connaught Academy's course offering. They are Management and supervisor training through ILM and 17th edition accreditation for electrical works. watch the website for more details
Deputy Minister opens Connaught Academy in Caerphilly
Welsh Assembly Government Deputy Minister, Jocelyn Davies, officially opened the largest skills centre in Wales - which is training more than 900 people a year in varous trades, including the installation of Green energy systems in homes and businesses.
Raising awareness of the silent killer
Connaught Academy has recently been at the forefront of promoting the dangers associated with Carbon Monoxide Poisioning. This has seen Connaught Academy featuring in the ITV news and also the BBC Wales Programme X-Ray, as well as radio and press interviews.
Connaught Academy & Connaught PLC Supporting Growth Within Wales
Connaught Plc says it will expand its Welsh workforce from 240 to 600 by 2010. The company, which operates across the UK social housing market, intends to add to its UK order book which currently stands at nearly £2bn.
Training aims to combat carbon monoxide poisoning
Connaught Academy, part of Asset Management specialist Connaught Plc, has joined forces with safety experts to help reduce accidents and fatalities due to faulty gas installations.
It has linked with the Health & Safety Executive and gas safety watchdog CORGI to raise awareness of dangers that lead to fatalities and injury due mainly to carbon monoxide poisoning – known as the ‘silent killer’ that overcomes its victims.
Gas installer gets custodial sentence
In June 2006 a gas installer was given a custodial sentence for carrying out unsafe work in peoples homes. The Health & Safety Executive approached Connaught Academy to be involved in an HTV programme highlighting the dangers of paying rogue traders to undertake gas work in domestic homes.
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