CATCH is thrilled to kick off the first Introduction to Industry skills training course of the year with 13 keen learners from Humberston Academy.

Greenergy have sponsored three of the young learner’s industry programmes this year. The first one was exclusive to Humberston Academy. Blain Wilkinson, Design and Technology teacher said

“The introduction to industry course provided by CATCH has been invaluable in helping our learners make informed choices about their career paths post 16. The course gives them valuable insight into what to expect from an apprenticeship and a career in industry. It helps our learners to understand that there is an entire world of opportunities waiting for them after they leave school and gives them real world experience of the type of industry that is available on their doorstep. The introduction to industry course also provides our learners with a chance to really stand out during the application and interview process for apprenticeships and colleges.

From a personal point of view I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work so closely with an industry leading training provider like CATCH. It has enabled me to help my students make more informed decisions when it comes to their career path post-16. I have always been incredibly passionate about offering learners as many opportunities as possible and working with CATCH and Greenergy has really enabled me to open up a whole host of opportunities that otherwise they wouldn’t have had chance to access. It Is refreshing and encouraging that companies like CATCH and Greenergy are reaching back into schools to really make the effort to bridge the gap between education and industry. I look forward to being able to continue working closely with CATCH and Greenergy to provide more opportunities to learners in the future.”

The experience takes place at the National Centre for Process and Manufacturing (NCPM) where students took part in practical elements such as solving scenarios and assembling pumps using Mechanical Joint Integrity processes. The sessions were led by CATCH Skills expert industrial trainers to give a realistic insight into future careers.

Our August date is fully booked however, we have 10 places left on our 26^th-27^th October programme. To book a place contact Jess on jess.bocock@catchuk.org

The lens of Government is on Grimsby, as the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, RT Hon Michael Gove, visited the North East Lincolnshire region today. Part of the visit focused on the challenging skills gap and the skills required for the region’s NetZero Future.

The Secretary of State took time to visit CATCH where he was hosted by CEO David Talbot and Head of Operations Paul Snowden.  Mr Gove was shown around the world class facilities on site and discovered how CATCH supports the region’s industry.  David highlighted that “CATCH is at full capacity”  during the tour, which included the National Centre for Process and Manufacturing, the state art facility at CATCH offering ‘real world’ experience.

David commented, “It was a pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State, so we could present the fantastic facilities we have here at CATCH.   I was great to showcase our unique training environment, from our introduction to industry experience programme leading to our apprenticeship provision and upskilling and reskilling adults in a fully emulated Process Operations Environment. The Secretary of State heard about the challenges faced by industry and was shown firsthand how we are helping to plug the gap right here in Stallingborough”.

Discussions during the tour focused on engaging young people into high skilled jobs and the importance of vocational training in the high hazard industries.  The CATCH vision for a regional Industrial Decarbonisation Center was raised, which will incorporate a low carbon skills hub to support the huge investment opportunities in the region around carbon capture and energy transition.

Later, stakeholders including our CEO, joined RT Hon Michael Gove for a round table skills discussion at Grimsby Town Hall.  Conversation focused on the importance of industry reach back into schools, and support to the key industries in the region from seafood to chemical and petrochemical processing and the burgeoning offshore wind sector.

David Talbot, CEO and Alistair Ware, Director of Strategic Projects had the opportunity to attend the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Conference (IDRIC) held on the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh campus week beginning 6 June.  David was an invitee speaking on the Skills & Training Panel on Day 1 of the Industrial Decarbonisation Showcase sessions.  He was accompanied on the panel by speakers from Atkins, ECITB, the New Economics Foundation and the University of Chester.  At points, the debate centered around the volume issue relating to the need for skilled tradespeople, with David highlighting the lead time needs.  There was some concurrence on a seeming lack of a central strategy or coordination, though Jenny Young of the ECITB did mention the Green Jobs Delivery Group, the Infrastructure & Projects Authority and the Future Skills work of the Dept. for Education in London.   In concluding, there was reference to the apprenticeships pipeline and levy funding limitations, linked to an immediate need for skills.

Alistair, Edinburgh based usually, continued with the further conference days encountering panels on:- Low Carbon Technologies; Social & Public Engagement; Systems & Scale-Up; Environmental Considerations; and Policy & Regulation.  The third day introduced elements of feedback on the IDRIC Wave 1 research projects’ gaps, potentially pointing towards the forthcoming Wave 2 research/projects call anticipated in the near months.  The IDRIC event brought contact for CATCH with potential Wave 2 interested organisations and their researchers.  Our relationship is on the one hand an informative one in multi-directions, as a key industrial member-based entity on the Humber.  On the other hand, there might be participative merit in CATCH being included in a relevant, likely partnered, project submission when the call is made.  There would be fit too with the Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Centre (HIDC) concept.

CATCH member company Evides Industriewater was also present, with Colin Robinson, UK Business Development Manager speaking on the Environmental Considerations panel along with SEPA and Project Energy representatives – Project Energy being linked to the Northwest Cluster/Hynet.  Jonathan Oxley of the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan (HICP) spoke on the Social & Public Engagement panel.  From the CATCH member universities, Peter Taylor, Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems of Leeds University spoke on the Policy & Regulation panel, whilst Dr Carolina Font-Palmer, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering of the University of Hull Dept. of Engineering and Dr Aliyu Aliyu, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Energy of the University of Lincoln School of Engineering were also present at the event.

Over 300 learners walked through our doors for a skills training course. Over 80 of these learners achieved their CCNSG cards and over 30 walked away with an ECITB MJI10 qualification.

June is set to be just as busy!

Due to the continued demand of CCNSG Safety Passport Basic we have already sold out 3 courses in June.

We have now added an extra date 27th – 28th June, if you wish to book your place, please contact Daisy on 01469 552852 or email info@catchuk.org

These courses have limited availability – be quick to secure your place!

The group is attended by CATCH member companies drawn from site and asset protection and fire and security personnel and from Humberside Fire & Rescue Service and Police Counter Terrorism Services.

At this meeting Anthony Jackson from CTSA gave an update on current security threats to the sector and our region.  Recent activity in some industrial cluster by the action group Just Stop Oil has seen disruption targeting oil and gas installations under the ‘disobey the dock’ and ‘stop fossil fuels’ campaigns.  The group are currently less active in the Humber region.

Steve Hellewell gave an update from HFRS.  New foam monitors are being procured for Immingham with 10,000 litres/minute capacity, complimenting foam stocks already situated at the station.  The service recently donated 1500 fire kits to Ukraine.

Katie and Steve reminded the group that HFR Solutions are offering a free fire protection audit for sites (audit attached) please contact Katie if you want to take up this offer.

Tony gave an introduction to a hostile reconnaissance video that has been developed to assist sites.  The video can be accessed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkgN4Bwhpf8

Please get in touch with Tony for more information and to book a hostile reconnaissance session at your site.

Katie reminded the group to visit www.goinstayintunein.org to review the COMAH communications information for their site.  Please update Katie with any details that are out of date.

The next meeting will be held in November (date TBC)– please contact Katie with any requests for future topics.

CATCH launched their first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Network on Tuesday 24 May.  The meeting was attended by 20 delegates drawn from CATCH member companies and was held in person at CATCH and via Teams.

The topic of equality, diversity and inclusion in industry has been considered and discussed at a number of the CATCH Network groups including the HR Managers in Humber and West Yorkshire and the Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Network.  The inaugural meeting was chaired by David Talbot, CATCH CEO.

The first speaker for the session was Dr Sarah Connelly, Innovation Lead for Transforming Foundation Industries at UK Research & Innovation who gave a presentation on how to drive change through the TFI challenge fund.  Sarah gave an insight into how different approaches are being taken to build the talent pipeline from primary through to post 18 education.  Sarah highlighted a key message for 16-18 age group is building their understanding of the workplace opportunities through green transition jobs.  If you are interested in positive action in recruitment to support upskilling the workforce please drop Sarah an email to get on the distribution list for this work strand.

Sarah took questions and the group discussed the need for more industry science and engineering role models from a diversity of backgrounds and carefully considered the cultural differences between school, college and university approaches to EDI and how younger people coming into the workplace already bring fresh views and have higher expectations that can support a cultural transition in the more established industries.

Kerry Doherty, HR Business Partner with BASF gave a presentation on the companies’ new DEI initiatives and their progress to date.  The company has embraced different approaches to remote working and more flexible work patterns that are more considerate to employees with particular childcare needs.  The management team has responded positively to employees from ethnic and LGBT+ communities which has led to the creation of new action groups for Gender, Race and LGBT+ across their sites.  Kerry explained it is important to promote what we are doing and how this brings a positive impact for employees and future recruits.

Kerry and Karen Harper (Head of HR at BASF) took questions and the group discussed what a tremendous impact the company has had over 5 years and how different members of staff have engaged, from senior leadership to operators working on shifts.  The group agreed there was much to learn on the topics and that the network would provide an excellent place to start sharing best practice to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the region.

For more information about the network or to join us please contact lisa.buck@catchuk.org

• Concom Apprentice of the Year Awards 2022

The interviews for the awards were held at Catch. The 5 candidates had been asked to prepare and give a 15 minute presentation followed by a chat about themselves.  This year, we gave awards and £1000 in cash to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places.

The results letters have been emailed out now to all 5 attendees of the awards. The 3 committee members and Dave Evans listened to & discussed with them their presentations and chatted about their futures, why they wanted to be in engineering, what they got from their work, etc.   We were all blown away with the quality of their presentations and answers.  We have no doubt that there continues to be a very high standard of engineering skills and competency for those apprentices coming through, and it is a reflection of the quality of training and experience our Concom client and contractor members both expect and give their trainees. The standards were high once again this year and all of our candidates can be proud of what they are achieving. It was a pleasure to meet them all and see the future is in good hands!

Therefore we are delighted to announce this year’s winners. It was once again a close year for all the finalists, but after interviewing the 5 apprentices, 3 were chosen for the awards: –

In 3rd place………Charlie Flemming of EP SHB Ltd – Electrical
In 2nd place……..Will Lambert, Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery – C&P

And this year’s Concom Apprentice of the Year is……..

Matthew Lister…….Testex NDT Ltd – Level 3 NDT Technician

Many congratulations to Matt, Will and Charlie and will shall be seeing them at our Awards ceremony next month where they will receive their trophies and prize money!

• Concom Forum

We welcomed Dean Miles of EP SHB Ltd to give us a presentation and share the journey the power station went on regarding their mental health awareness – particularly appropriate as this week was mental health awareness week

Concom issued a survey in March.  This was to all of our contractor members with regards to any skills shortages they may be experiencing and a direct result from discussions held at the  Humber Engineering Managers Forum.  The results were analysed and it is clear that there are already shortages in certain skill sets which are expected to become worse as a result of the hydrogen and carbon capture projects starting in the area.  An overview will be given next month’s forum following the feedback presentation at May’s HEMF.

ECITB Medium Risk Confined Space – 20th – 21st June

ECITB MJI10,18 & 19 – 20th – 22nd June

ISO Internal Auditor Training– 6th – 7th July

ECITB MJI10 – 11th July

Working at Height – 19th July

ECITB Small Bore Tubing- 21st – 22nd July

ECITB High Risk Confined Space – 25th – 27th July

ECITB MJI10,18 & 19 – 26th – 28th July

CATCH Skills have trained over 250 learners through various health and safely training in April alone. The course of the month in April was CCNSG Safety Passport issuing 90 learners with their cards.

CATCH Skills Training Brochure 2022

We are pleased to launch our brand new training course brochure for 2022, please click the link below to view the latest version:
https://catchuk.org/catch-skills/training-brochure/

For additional training courses please visit our website www.catchuk.org or email Daisy on daisy.seddon@catchuk.org for more of our open course dates.