Summary:
In episode #2 of Construction Talk, Nicola and Peter talk about going “beyond the imaginable” to show that construction is an aspirational place to learn and work. Nicola just opened the UK’s first industry-led education centre - AccXel - a £3m facility established to address construction's severe skills shortage.
Time-stamped highlights:
[01:42] The roots of KW Bell Group, a family business and planning for the future
[02.07] Appealing to the younger generation and developing apprenticeships
[04.36] National Apprenticeship Week
[05.24] The birth of AccXel - the Construction Skills Accelerator Centre
[08.06] Screaming about construction as an aspirational place to learn and work
[10.13] The three pillars: inspire, train, connect
[12.12] How AccXel’s architecture has purpose and meaning
[14.30] Embracing education and changing careers, no matter your age
[16.29] It’s real world learning that builds a career, not textbooks
[18.45] The importance of upskilling existing workers with digital skills
[19.48] UK construction is way behind other countries who are more efficient
[20.40] Retaining staff by educating them on the benefits of digital technology
[22.46] Climate change and carbon emissions
[23.55] Big plans for AccXel in the next 10 years
[27.06] Do we know the skills construction will need in 10 years?
[28.55] Final message from Nicola
Links mentioned in today's episode:
AccXel - the Construction Skills Accelerator Centre
www.accxel.co.uk/
K W Bell Group
www.kwbellgroup.com/
