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Construction Talk Podcast

Episode 2: Building AccXel, an aspirational place to learn and work with Nicola Bird

Featuring:
Nicola Bird, Founder & Managing Director of AccXel

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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.

Our Speakers This Week

Nicola Bird
Nicola Bird

Founder & Managing Director
AccXel

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Nicola Bird

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Nicola Bird

Founder & Managing Director
AccXel

Nicola is AccXel’s Founder and Managing Director, as well as Safety and Business Development Director for Bell Contracting and K W Bell Group which specialises in contracting, civil engineering and groundwork operations to the major house building group, whilst constructing their own developments within Bell Homes.

Peter Haddock
Peter Haddock
Host 
Construction Talk

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Peter Haddock

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Peter Haddock
Host 
Construction Talk

Peter Haddock is a journalist, influencer content creator and communications professional with over 16 years' experience in the construction sector.

He runs Content With Media and is a correspondent for Construction Manager, Earthmovers Magazine, Plant and Civil Engineer and other titles in the industry.

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/

 

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