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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
"To continually develop the results achievable for our
clients, we must continually develop our people."
Chris Parle - Group Human Resources Manager
Higgins provides support for ongoing training and career development
across all levels of the company, reaching into every aspect of
our work. When people join Higgins, they also begin an integrated
programme of training to develop their skills and broaden the exciting
career opportunities in modern community construction.
Skills on Site
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The Higgins Training Academy provides
multi-skilling training courses in partnership with the CITB
and two of the region's leading colleges for construction. The
two-year courses provide Higgins with its own multi-skilled
teams of craftsmen and a new breed of future managers for the
industry.
The courses provide new skills in the most essential technical
trades of community construction and regeneration, such as plastering,
painting & decorating, plumbing and tiling - all based upon
the proven City & Guilds qualifications, for people of all
ages. It also means management training opportunities to help
people really make their mark in our industry.
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Higgins also provides training support to help our people achieve
even more from their careers through continued professional development
and technical courses accredited to the nationally recognised NVQ
qualifications.
Skills to Manage
As well as supporting ONC and HNC management courses, Higgins works
in direct partnership with three universities to provide work experience
placements for BSc students. Special employment scheme packages
are offered upon graduation.
All management employees are encouraged to broaden their experience
through a special programme of secondments to different departments
of the Higgins Group of companies. When we offer mixed-tenure solutions,
someone in the team will have had direct experience of working on
housing developments for sale as well as their specialist community
construction skills.
Continued Professional Development
Higgins works closely with professional organisations to providing
full support for employees maintaining the CPD requirements for
membership. This training supports our drive to stay ahead with
new construction techniques.
Making their Mark
The challenge for a contractor is to attract young people into the
industry. Higgins is therefore committed to working in partnership
with local organisations representing those people who otherwise
would have difficulty sourcing training, their first jobs or a trade
to make their mark in construction.
Higgins is a familiar name to employment support organisations like
Lewisham Community Refurbishment Scheme (CRS), Building Work for
Women (BWW), Women's Education in Building (WEB) and Positive Attitudes
Towards Housing (PATH). That's because
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18 women have made their
mark in construction with Higgins and the Women's Education
in Building organisation
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12 more women have
made their mark with Higgins and the Building Work for Women
organisation |
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Five previously unemployed
people of all ages have made their mark with Higgins and Lewisham
CRS |
"Success in community construction requires the ability
to balance vision with not just ability, but personal talent to
deliver the very best solutions. In 2003, we will invest even more
to develop our people and the results we can achieve for our clients."
Derek J Higgins OBE, FCIOB - Joint Chairman
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