NEWS  

September, 2006

Trainees Demonstrate DIY Skills at Westpoint Selfbuild Show

Bovey Construction Trainees

Two apprentices from Bovey Construction in Caton, Ashburton were chosen by South Devon College to take part in a demonstration of construction skills at the Selfbuild & Design Show at Westpoint, Exeter on 16 and 17 September. Jamie Booth from Kingsteignton and Greg Kaminski from Chudleigh, both due to complete an NVQ Level 3 in carpentry in 2007/8, were members of a small group of South Devon College students working on stage alongside Bob Grose from the BBC’s DIY SOS.

Greg and Jamie, both 19 years old, were selected as two of just five outstanding carpentry students with the skills to demonstrate to visitors how to erect studwork including a doorway, hang a door and build a roof. Before their appearance at Westpoint, the two had to spend two days with their fellow trainees preparing the components for some of the scaled-down models that were used during the demonstration.

According to Greg, “We’re not experts, but we all aim to be and we’ll be on the way to that, once we have completed our NVQs, though training will continue back at work – and at college. It was a real surprise to be asked to take part in this show, and it has been great to have the opportunity to show people how to do it.”

Bovey Construction, which has been shortlisted for this year’s National Training Awards, was the only South Devon construction firm to have two trainees on the demonstration team. The company, which was set up as a family firm in 1988, has a team of 22 skilled men, all trained to a minimum of NVQ Level 2 and many with an NVQ Level 3 or 4. This contrasts with the construction sector nationally, which, according to the CITB, the construction sector training organisation, is unlikely to meet its longstanding national target of 100 per cent skilled workforce by 2010.

Neil Turner, Bovey Construction’s managing director, said: “Construction has been under-rated for too long, and this show has been highly effective in raising its profile. We were delighted to hear our lads were selected, for they show real talent. They represent the new breed of trainees, both with a cluster of GCSEs, commitment and the determination to develop the skills they need to become real craftsmen.”
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