One of the key areas for apprentices to focus on outside of the job, are soft skills. Soft skills are essential to improving your ability to work with others, problem solve and communicate well – an important element of working in high hazard industries. These acquired behaviours are also a requirement of the apprenticeship standard.

CATCH Apprenticeships recognise how important it is to offer contextualised training, not only on plant, but also continuing this ethos within our added value courses.

Last week, our apprentices visited Think Forensic, a local highly regarded training organisation that delivers crime scene investigation experiences and bespoke courses. Our students were engaged from the start, as they learned about road safety, knife crime and the impact drugs and alcohol can have. The course finished with the students putting into practice what they had learned, with investigating a simulated road traffic collision, incorporating real life actors!

Debbie Lumb, Lead Process Trainer at CATCH Apprenticeships said “The students will remember this course for the rest of their lives.  Led by CEO Sue Procter, an ex- police officer and supported by Steve Stott, an ex traffic cop –  the course was a rollercoaster of emotions.  We heard from Chris who suffered severe, life changing injuries at the hands of his friends in a terrible car accident, to wearing “beer googles” to understand how alcohol effects the vision. Not only does this course teach specifics about personal safety, but also works on developing the softer skills required to further their careers in industry”

Cameron Sheridan – CATCH Apprentices added, “

I was lucky enough to attend the think forensic session where we learnt a lot about drivers safety and also about how police deal with crashes, drink drivers and personal safety. It was a really good day and I learnt a lot about so much, which will help me in the future when I am driving to make sure I keep myself safe and other drivers safe”.

To find out more about CATCH apprenticeships visit – www.catchuk.org

Did you know – We can travel to you?

Keith Eddom, our Technical Trainer, has travelled over 2000 miles this January to deliver world class training to our clients. From Staffordshire to Teesside and Yorkshire to the Isle of Man, Keith has not only delivered our ECITB MJI10,18,19 and Laser Alignment courses to clients, but also taken our specialist rig, equipment and materials to facilitate our signature real world training, with him too.  Keith said of his time,  “Working away 16 days out of 20 can be a challenge, however I have met some fantastic people on my travels, who were a delight to teach and I managed to sampled the local delicacies! Our Mechanical Joint Integrity suite of courses not only delivers the theory, but checks and teaches the practical skills.

Keith, who has been a technical trainer with CATCH Skills for 4 years has set a record within the team as he is our first International trainer! He has visited numerous client sites to deliver our mechanical training – he just has one request – a warmer location next time!

James McIntosh, Director of Skills/ COO, said “Seeing CATCH Skills continue to grow regionally, nationally and now internationally (just about!) is incredible considering the challenges we have faced in the past two years. Keith has been flying the flag for us delivering training on clients site and we appreciate how hard he has worked being away for most of the month. The highlight of the trips is when he posts his photos in the team WhatsApp chat of what he is having for his tea! The whole of the CATCH Skills team have had a part to play in this success and credit to all of them for its continued success.”

If you are interested in the CATCH Skills team delivering training at your site – contact the team on 01469 552852 or email info@catchuk.org

We caught up with CATCH Director Scott Drinkell – for a quickfire round of questions!

Please tell us a little about yourself

I have been in the industry since starting an apprenticeship in 1996 at Unilever. Today I am the Greenergy Group Technical Manager for Greenergy International leading a multi-disciplined team ensuring engineering and operational compliance across the group.

Please tell us why you think CATCH is unique and why you choose to become a CATCH Director?

I have a passion to inspire the next generation into the industry and fully believe that CATCH has a unique position to do this.

What do you think will be the biggest industry challenges over the next few years and how is CATCH helping to address these challenges?

The end of the fossil fuel era coupled with increasing enviro-social challenges to tackle climate change whilst maintaining the current way of life

What do you think we can achieve together in the next 5-10 years?

Develop a provision to lead the way in training for the changing industry, inspiring and developing the next generation of industry leaders.

Are you Interested in Industrial Decarbonisation in the Humber Region? The Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Map has you covered, with key projects, companies and statistics all combined in one simple online resource.

The Humber region is home to the UK’s largest opportunity for Industrial Decarbonisation, thus is a major influencer when it comes to meeting the UK’s overall NetZero targets. This map aims to give viewers an overarching vision of companies and projects that are making a difference across our region and beyond.   The map brings together for the first time, the breath of infrastructure, carbon sequestration capacity, hydrogen storage and production plus highlights the vast potential for skills, job creation and huge investment bolstering the local and UK economy.  This is the first iteration of the 2030 vision, which was created through a collaboration, between the Humber Industrial Cluster plan, its partners and Marketing Humber.

Katie Hedges, Director of Low Carbon Strategy and Membership at CATCH, explains “Our region is pioneering – we have outstanding local industry already working towards building a NetZero future. The Humber region is multi-dimensional and with this map, we aim to reveal the transformational projects and operations on one collaborative 2030 visual to promote our region on a national level.”

Diana Taylor, Managing Director of Marketing Humber said, “The Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Map is an exciting addition to the Marketing Humber sectoral maps, which are free for Bondholder member companies to use. Existing maps include UK’s Energy Estuary, UK’s Trading Gateway and Britain’s Kitchen, which have all been used to promote the region at major conferences and by many Bondholders to influence customers, shareholders and investors.

“We are committed to raising the profile of the Humber as it leads the UK’s green industrial revolution and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs, and our support for the Humber Industrial Cluster plan and its partners is a great way to do that.”

The Map will evolve as the Humber Cluster Plan completes it’s roadmap to NetZero and will form part of the HICP legacy early 2023. Ideas can be sent to info@humberindustrialclusterplan.org

You can download a copy of the Map here – Download map

Phillips 66 has been named Top UK Employer 2022, one of only 83 businesses to be given the prestigious status.

The company, which employs more than 700 staff at the Humber Refinery in South Killingholme, becomes one of only 1,857 globally to hold the certification from the Top Employers’ Institute.

Detailed assessment of its people practices was undertaken across a range of areas including ethics and integrity, inclusion and diversity, values, business strategy, engagement and reward and recognition.

Mark Wade, HR Manager for the Humber Refinery, said: “We are proud to be recognised as a Top Employer 2022. Our workforce is the key to our success and growth. Our goal is to continually provide them with the environment and tools they need to be successful.

“This accreditation will in our goal to attract and retain top talent, locally and nationally.”

The list of Top UK Employers was announced on 20 January 2022. Top Employer accreditation is awarded to businesses that have taken steps to promote a positive working environment and to support employee health and wellbeing.

Businesses applying for the Top Employer certification must complete an extensive evaluation process and undergo an independent audit, to ensure they meet the standards set by the Top Employers’ Institute.

Ashin Leon, a member of the Control Systems Team at the Humber Refinery, says the company deserves the accreditation.

“I first joined for work experience in 2016,” he said. “What impressed me was not just the people and the time they took to share their knowledge with me, but the sheer amount of outreach work and care for the communities surrounding the refinery.

“I made a decision there and then that this was where I wanted to work. Two industrial placements later I am here loving my role in the Control Systems Team.”

For more details about the award, go to www.top-employers.com/en/ More information about working for Phillips 66 can be found at www.phillips66.com/uk @Phillips66UK

Recently we have worked closely with Reckitt to provide a series of Health and Safety training courses. Here’s what they said about their experience with CATCH Skills:

What CATCH Skills have delivered for you?

Since working with Catch Skills they have delivered multiple courses for Reckitt from Contaminations spill training, Asbestos awareness and other Health & Safety training.

What do you think CATCH Skills does well?

By having a large catalogue of training content this makes Catch a simple and easy place to work with. Their knowledge and understanding of industry’s needs, allows for a smooth process for booking and finding the correct course.

How have you found working with CATCH Skills?

Working with Catch has been a very exciting journey The staff are very knowledgeable and passionate about supporting us as a business. We have always received great customer service and feel that we are an appreciated customer.

Has CATCH Skills helped to improve your business’ efficiency, safety or productivity? If yes, how?

The delivery of the training has had a great impact on Reckitt with regards to H&S. It has given a great view to the candidates that have enrolled. Helping to widen the understanding and knowledge of work place safety.

CATCH are proud to sponsor and support the following event:

Location: The National Golf Centre, The Broadway, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6PU
Date: Wednesday 16 March 2022
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm

Explore issues, barriers and solutions to setting up a locally fair, transparent market to trade in credits for biodiversity, carbon and water within Greater Lincolnshire.

Do you want to buy in biodiversity, carbon or water credits? Do you have land where you can deliver new projects for trading these credits? Can you act as a facilitator in the process? Then this conference is for you.

Green Investment in Greater Lincolnshire (GIGL) is a project under the Government’s Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) managed by the Environment Agency. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, on behalf a wider partnership of organisations and interests across Greater Lincolnshire, applied for the fund. This conference is the start of the process to establish a consistent, fair, equitable and transparent market within Greater Lincolnshire that benefits people and wildlife.

We will establish with our Catchment Partnerships and others, a pipeline of projects held on registries of suppliers of biodiversity, carbon and water credits. We will develop the Special Purpose Vehicle with guidance and tools to support our local planning authorities and developers to ensure the process is simple and effective while making space for nature across our fabulous county.

Further details – https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2022-03-16-green-investment-greater-lincolnshire-conference