Posted By Garry Adams Can any body tell me what qualifications I require to teach special structures in tube and fittings,I have served the Scaffolding Industry since 1972,the roles that I have undertaken have been many and varied from Scaffolding erctor,Offshore Superintendant,Non-bias Statutory Structural inspections and Commissioning Agent...I would like to open an Offshore Scaffolding School in Aberdeen... can anyone advise...Thanks...Fraternal regards,Garry Adams...

Posted By J.D.F Garry,you have to have at least an Advanced card to begin with.Also you will probably have to be registered with C.I.T.B as an Industry accredited assessor.I have a friend who has set up his own scaffold training school in middlesborough,i will find out more and get back to you.Drop me an e-mail so as i can cotact you. fernzi@hotmail.com good luck J.D.F

Posted By michael g i doubt if there is a definitive answer to this ,suggest you talk to whoever you expect your customers to be ,ask them what their expectations are are you going to look for business from the contractors ,ie RBG ,Salamis or Capes ? whats the plan ? i think its a good idea ,theres a gap when guys are coming from a construction industry background to working offshore for the first time they need to be taught the differences and assessed

Posted By Garry Adams Hi Michael g, sorry for interuption to my communication , had a lunch date...to resume, you mentioned 3 blue chip orginisations,I have worked for these Co's no numerouse occasions along with countless others, as you may know Scaffolders are the nomads of the Construction Industry and are mercinary in nature. the cliant base would include such afore mentioned blue chip service providers,however my sights are set considerably higher I intend to infultrate the largest Facilities Management Orginisation on the Planet. I recently completed an Off-shore assingment with the Orginisation in question,I could not help to notice the lack of sufficient seasoned campainers not only Scaffs but riggers e.c.t.. I have no dout that there is a need to train fresh meat in the osteric world of Off-shore Scaffolding ,in the past it was left to the good will of the vetran/lead hand of the crew to get the novice Scaffolder savied up, is it not time that the Scaffolding Orginisations contributed to the training of the young blood,they make enough profit, how much would it take to operate an Off-shore Scaffolding/rigging school???.I of one would do my bit for the youth of this nation,however I am only one man and have limited resorses,however I have 35 years experiance to offer and have extensive contacts within the Industry. This is a sincere bid to seek out and engage in dialog with the hierarchy of policy makers and to all in sundry concerned with the evolution and furtherness of the Scaffolding Industry. Fraternal regards Garry...Rvip

Posted By Garry Adams Hi Michael g, Fraternal regards,howz it hingin?, I called them Blue Chip Co's because they refer to them selfs as Blue chip orginisations, what do you call them?. I see that you have many years experince with in the Scaffolding Industry (management),although you are no longer connected, you mentioned a (wee project)I would be interested to hear of your work is it research and developement stuff? .I to am working on a (wee project) it is a hand held powered tool (spanner)it has a torque limiter which maintaines the integraty of the structure ect.ect. anyway you asked ,why am I interesred in doing this.Well , I have many reasons,however in the interest of mutual time management I shall restrict my answers to three reasons. Firstly, as you have mentioned there is a need for trained and competent Scaffolding Erectors,to replace the aging Oss-shore population. Secondly,I want to offer training to young offenders and ex-cons.everyone deserves a second chance in life. I want to offer them an alternative to gangsrerism ,stick them on a hanging scaffold and they will get all the adrenaline they can handel. Lastly ,I do not wish to use this forum to solicit a job,(although I have had lucrative offer via this forum on the 20 Feb for the mid-east)Big Bucks do not impress me,I back-healed a nice wee number with a Major aromatis polycyclic hydro carbin (oops iv jist swollowed that dictionary again) Facilitater so that I could have some time to conduct a feasability study and conduct a cencensouse af appioion as to the viability of opening a Off-shore Scaffolding School. I had a breif meating with my M.P. I have instructed her to lobby the Education Minister as to the formal Qualifications required for a Scaffolding Istructor,apparently the Government are re-engineering the Qualifications required,sources tell me that the require ments may Be...Level 2 Numerical + Literacy, + 2000 hours Teacher Training.I shall have an answer in due course. Fraternal regards, Garry...Addendum F.A.O. Gavin ,I be in touch soon Re: Mid-east...

Posted By Garry Adams Hi j Martin, Thanks for your responce, your never to late, in fact your just in time... I am activly involved in negotiations with the hierarchy of desision maker with the view to create a faculty of Scaffolding; associated Rigging Operations and allied Rope Access tequnices. In the Interest of discretion I shall mention no names on an open forum without prior permition form the party concerned...However, that said, A Staff representative form NASC is comiming to Aberdeen on a Fact finding mission. If the faculty is established,a suragot Scaffolding Instructor will have to be press ganged into service untill the Trainee Instructor has shadowed him for a year. This will be a challenging Post, breaking new ground...I can give you an up-date if your interested, however, for some back ground information please read the thread... Government Commits to Oil and Gas Academy> Please give me your responce,any help greatly appreciated, your Industry needs you... Fraternal regards, Garry...

Posted By j martin Hello again gary, the nasc rep is the right person to talk to for advice on becomming an approved instructor and opening a training centre. You will have to be a patient person if you are looking to open up an accredited nasc training centre. you will also need to get accreditation as a city and guilds nvq assessment centre.this requires NVQ coordinator internal verifier and at least one assessor. If you are looking for carreers advice on becomming an instructor you will need an assessors qualification, an instructional techniques certificate and shadow each course you are going to teach as a minimum. best of luck

Posted By james mc hi gary i contacted a friend at citb glasgow and his advise is for you to contact citb and go on an instructors course which in tales you shadowing an instructor for each course and then you will be required to deliver the course and you will be monitored so assitan that you are carrying out the course to the same standards. also to open your own company contact david molley of nasc (london) he should be able to set out the requirements and criteria needed. if you need any more info contact myself on 07737500622

Posted By Garry Adams FAO R P, Thanks for your input much appretiated, Ye there is no substitute for experience, one could have all the Docets and Certs under the Sun, However if you cant surf the steel you might as well use your Certs for a wipe. Many Pro Scaffs are penalised because they do not hold the appropriate Training credentials, eaven though it is often left to the lead hand to train the novice of the squad. I recently had a communication with Phil Hope M.P. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State For Skills concerning Industrial Training Accreditation the Minister Said Quote, The re-engineering of Industrial Trainers Qualifications will be launched in September, initial proposals apply to teachers in Further Education, trainers and tutors will be required to achieve QTLS status within 5 years. We expect that QUalified Teachers Learning and Skills (QTLS) will be extended to Work Based Learning Providers in 2008. However, the qualifications structure for these providers has yet to be announced. This will impact on the Scaffolding Industry Soon...RSVP regards, Garry...

Posted By RP Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) is a new award for teachers in the learning and skills sector. This qualification is expected to take a student up to 5 years to complete... Definitely not for those who would like to 'Train' within the 'hand on skills' sector... Check out the learning and skills council