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As the Government announced improved apprenticeships yesterday as part of its latest Trailblazers offering, Laing O'Rourke, a member of the construction industry steering group working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills initiative confirmed its development of an 18 month programme.
"We are designing a new apprenticeship to respond to not only the present needs of the construction industry, but those of the future as well," said Alison Lamplough, head of operational training at Laing O'Rourke and chair of the steering group working on construction apprenticeships for the Trailblazers initiative. "Laing O'Rourke's Construction Assembly Technicians will be multi-skilled, delivering the modern methods of construction such as Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and digital engineering, leveraging new technologies.
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"Trailblazers will allow construction companies to work together to assess the skills we know we’ll need. As a major employer, we believe it is important that apprenticeships are developed to recognised standards and are relevant to employer needs, while at the same time providing an exciting route for young people into the construction industry."
A Construction Assembly Technician’s primary role is to assemble and install DfMA components including precast concrete, steel, associated formwork, falsework and propping to the required specification. An area being pioneered by Laing O’Rourke in the industry, DfMA is becoming an ever more important element in meeting the UK Government’s construction strategy by 2020.
An assembly technician will typically work as part of a larger team, with responsibility for some of the assembly and installation of manufactured elements, and needs to be able to interpret contract information and specifications.
On completion of their 18 month apprenticeship, individuals will achieve an internationally recognised vendor qualification such as Assembly Technician Level 2 NVQ diploma, a Level 2 Diploma knowledge qualification and additional training modules for Slinger/Signaller, IPAF, PASMA and working at heights. Apprentices will also have achieved English and Maths at level 1 or equivalent.
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