Hi everybody,
Not been on for a while due to pressure of work. Been busy finishing off this last course before the holiday. We test the guys tomorrow then it's all over till the 7th January.
The last course went very well and three of the lads went into work in the port of Rotterdam. Seemingly a lot is going on over there. I've not heard from the rest so I'm assuming all are ok.
The work will start to slow up now towards Christmas although there will be a lot of holiday cover work with the agencies. There will be good money to be earned for those who are up for working over the holiday.
The feedback I get is that it will all kick off again in January. Happy Days!!
We've had a lot of high winds during this course but fortunately it hasn't held us back. We like to have at least a couple of days with wind during the course so that the lads can experience it and it leaves no surprises when they reach site.
I'll be in touch again soon. Bobby.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thursday 14th November
Hello everyone, I'm late with this post as the computer was accidentally wiped out!!! (you know who you are!).
We finished the last one on 2nd November and five of the lads are now in work. The remaining man has had three job offers but has not taken any up yet.
Jon Arkley from the Isle of Wight dropped very lucky and went on to a long term job at St Bartholomews hospital in London. He is operating a brand new 25 tonne Jaso and is a very happy man!! He tells me that he's made a video and when he sends it I'll post it on here.
Mick May from Coventry is currently working in Sheffield on a Pedestrian Operated Crane and is back staying in the Fox & Duck. He has been invaluable to the lads on the current course as he's been able to tell them of his experience getting in to work, how to go about it etc.
Mark Edwards from Liverpool has an agency job in that city. He's phoned me for a bit of advice and to tell me he's sorted.
Garry Mallet from Newquay hasn't contacted yet but he was going to work for an agency in Bristol.
I have to tell you that in the real world not everyone is going to get long term work to start with. I always advise the lads to take the first job offered and start to get some hours into the logbook.
As they are working they will still take calls and ask around the industry. Hopefully the right job for them will eventually come along.
I've said before that we are not employers, I wish I could give everyone a job but it's not the business we're in, however, we do not leave the candidates at the gate and say goodbye, we point them in the direction of work and help where we can.
Our main aim is to prepare candidates for the workplace and to try to ensure that there are no big surprises when they sit in their first crane. I know we do this well.
Our current course has gone well and we test tomorrow. Two of the lads are from a company and already have a crane. I sent an email out to the industry yesterday for the other four lads and within one hour they were taking calls. I'll let you know how they all get on with the jobsearch. Bye.
We finished the last one on 2nd November and five of the lads are now in work. The remaining man has had three job offers but has not taken any up yet.
Jon Arkley from the Isle of Wight dropped very lucky and went on to a long term job at St Bartholomews hospital in London. He is operating a brand new 25 tonne Jaso and is a very happy man!! He tells me that he's made a video and when he sends it I'll post it on here.
Mick May from Coventry is currently working in Sheffield on a Pedestrian Operated Crane and is back staying in the Fox & Duck. He has been invaluable to the lads on the current course as he's been able to tell them of his experience getting in to work, how to go about it etc.
Mark Edwards from Liverpool has an agency job in that city. He's phoned me for a bit of advice and to tell me he's sorted.
Garry Mallet from Newquay hasn't contacted yet but he was going to work for an agency in Bristol.
I have to tell you that in the real world not everyone is going to get long term work to start with. I always advise the lads to take the first job offered and start to get some hours into the logbook.
As they are working they will still take calls and ask around the industry. Hopefully the right job for them will eventually come along.
I've said before that we are not employers, I wish I could give everyone a job but it's not the business we're in, however, we do not leave the candidates at the gate and say goodbye, we point them in the direction of work and help where we can.
Our main aim is to prepare candidates for the workplace and to try to ensure that there are no big surprises when they sit in their first crane. I know we do this well.
Our current course has gone well and we test tomorrow. Two of the lads are from a company and already have a crane. I sent an email out to the industry yesterday for the other four lads and within one hour they were taking calls. I'll let you know how they all get on with the jobsearch. Bye.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
20th October 07
Hi everybody, Just finished a very busy course. The weather was with us and again everyone achieved. Two of the candidates had a start for Monday even before they left here and I'm hopeful for the rest!
Emailing 42 companies with their details is certainly proving to be a big help but don't forget they also have a lot of work to do by phoning the companies and selling their qualification.
Also, the fact that we achieve 85 hours over the course instead of the required 72 means that everyone is really comfortable and ready to go to work.
We start another course on Monday and I'll come on to let you know how everyone did on the course.
Emailing 42 companies with their details is certainly proving to be a big help but don't forget they also have a lot of work to do by phoning the companies and selling their qualification.
Also, the fact that we achieve 85 hours over the course instead of the required 72 means that everyone is really comfortable and ready to go to work.
We start another course on Monday and I'll come on to let you know how everyone did on the course.
Friday, September 28, 2007
27th September 07
Hi Everybody, Just got time to give you an update on the last course. Again everyone achieved and I'm very pleased to say that five of the candidates had work lined up even before the course finished. They went to all areas of the country working for Heyrods, Lancsville, HTC and MPS. The last lad wanted a short time off before looking for work and he's told me this morning that he's had an offer of work in Liecester.
I've also been contacted this morning informing me that there is a job offer in Manchester with Heyrods. As yet I've no one for it so it's looking good on the work front.
Debbie Showell, our lady operator is working in Cambridge for MPS and I'm also very happy about that. As I tell everyone, we are not an employer but we do not leave our people at the gate and try our best to point them in the direction of work.
The current course has kicked off and this time we have another first!! We have a father and son , that's Ian and me, training a father and son from Whitehaven, Cumbria. We also have 2 brothers from South Africa, one lad from sheffield and a lad from Leeds. I'll let you know how it all goes.
Next weekend is very busy as we're running a Sliner course over the weekend. Never mind - soon be Christmas!!!
Monday, September 17, 2007
7 September 2007
Hi everybody,
We had a good course again and everyone went away happy, two of the guys were already in work and we managed to point another two in the direction of an immediate start. I should hear from the remaining two shortly.
We've another good bunch of lads here and again five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck. We're on day two and already they're getting control of swings.
Some of them are staying for the weekend so we'll come in and give them a few hours extra practice, it all helps.
We're now booked up to the 3rd of December to 14th. After that we'll have a break and start a new course on the 7th January 08.
On the slinger side we've still got a few paces left for the November course. The photo is of Alfie, 19 from London who is celebrating passing the Tower Crane Operator Course.
Speak to you all soon.
We had a good course again and everyone went away happy, two of the guys were already in work and we managed to point another two in the direction of an immediate start. I should hear from the remaining two shortly.
We've another good bunch of lads here and again five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck. We're on day two and already they're getting control of swings.
Some of them are staying for the weekend so we'll come in and give them a few hours extra practice, it all helps.
We're now booked up to the 3rd of December to 14th. After that we'll have a break and start a new course on the 7th January 08.
On the slinger side we've still got a few paces left for the November course. The photo is of Alfie, 19 from London who is celebrating passing the Tower Crane Operator Course.
Speak to you all soon.
28 August 2007
Hi everybody,
Finished another course on Friday and again, we all had a good time. Debbie Showell, the lady operator passed out with flying colours, as did the others. She has now gone on holiday and when she comes back we hope to help her get her first crane.
Here she is celebrating passing her Health & Safety Test.
Two of the lads started work today and the others are all in contact with potential employers.
Over the weekend we also completed a Slinger Signaller course. I've high hopes for these lads. One started in Newcastle this morning and the others should have no problem finding a place. The industry is very robust at this time.
We started a ten day course today, six lads. One from Dublin. The rest are from: Bradford, Widness, Heckmondwike, Essex and Sheffield. All are very keen to learn and again, five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck.
I'll let you know how they all get on.
Finished another course on Friday and again, we all had a good time. Debbie Showell, the lady operator passed out with flying colours, as did the others. She has now gone on holiday and when she comes back we hope to help her get her first crane.
Here she is celebrating passing her Health & Safety Test.
Two of the lads started work today and the others are all in contact with potential employers.
Over the weekend we also completed a Slinger Signaller course. I've high hopes for these lads. One started in Newcastle this morning and the others should have no problem finding a place. The industry is very robust at this time.
We started a ten day course today, six lads. One from Dublin. The rest are from: Bradford, Widness, Heckmondwike, Essex and Sheffield. All are very keen to learn and again, five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck.
I'll let you know how they all get on.
13 August 2007
Hi everybody,
Finished a two week course last Friday. Six successful candidates left us. Two brothers went to work in London, two lads went to work in Liverpool (their home town), the fifth man is from Dublin and went straight to work in Kilkenny. The remaining man is from Swansea and we're waiting to hear that he is starting work next week. It was another great course and we all enjoyed ourselves!!
We've started another course today and on this one we've got a first! We have a lady candidate. Her name is Debbie Showell and I'm sure you'll all hear more of her. She is from Bradford and I'll let you know how she fares. The others are from Manchester (2), Norwich, Sheffield, and London. Five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck Hotel across the road, £20.00 per night with a lovely evening meal. Not the Ritz but good clean digs and the lager's not bad!!
I'll come back on here again with an update at the end of the course.
Finished a two week course last Friday. Six successful candidates left us. Two brothers went to work in London, two lads went to work in Liverpool (their home town), the fifth man is from Dublin and went straight to work in Kilkenny. The remaining man is from Swansea and we're waiting to hear that he is starting work next week. It was another great course and we all enjoyed ourselves!!
We've started another course today and on this one we've got a first! We have a lady candidate. Her name is Debbie Showell and I'm sure you'll all hear more of her. She is from Bradford and I'll let you know how she fares. The others are from Manchester (2), Norwich, Sheffield, and London. Five of them are staying at the Fox & Duck Hotel across the road, £20.00 per night with a lovely evening meal. Not the Ritz but good clean digs and the lager's not bad!!
I'll come back on here again with an update at the end of the course.
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