IDE Roadshow Mercedes Benz World video tour

Demolition News' Mark Anthony took some time out from covering the IDE Roadshow earlier this week to take a look around Mercedes Benz World where it was held. He has been kind enouh to share the video, which you can watch below:

AR Demolition achieves Platinum CSCS Award

We were pleased to hear earlier this week that AR Demolition Ltd. has achieved the Platinum Award from CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme

Coleman high reach video

As promised here's the short video of the high reach at North Staff Hospital in action:

Stoke Hospital from John Woodward on Vimeo.

Coleman high reach, North Staffs Hospital

Below are some unfrotunately rather dark photos of a Coleman high reach at work in Stoke on North Staffs Hospital. Stay tuned as later today we have a short video of the high reach in action being added to the site.

Listen in to John on WCR FM this Thursday

On Monday evening John Woodward called in at the studios of WCR FM in Wolverhampton to appear as a guest on Inside Tracks, presented by Pete Whitehouse.

The hour long programme format is an informal chat between presenter and guest interspersed with 10 pieces of music chosen by the guest that relate to, or are memories from, parts of their life.

The programme was recorded in one take, without editing, and will be broadcast on 101.8FM and on line at www.wcrfm.com on Thursday 13 August from 7-8 pm and is repeated on Wednesday 19 August between 9-10 am.

Presenter Pete Whitehouse describes his programme as “a radio biography around ten evocative pieces of music”, and says “However unusual the choice of music, when combined with the guest memories it makes for a riveting and addictive programme”.

Previous guests on the programme have included Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, Mel Eves (ex Wolves footballer) and Lawrie Bloomfield MBE.

John’s music choice was varied with tracks from his beloved Northern Soul, piano recital, Verdi, Ibiza, and Rock, all woven between talk about early years as a civil engineer and latterly as a demolition consultant and IDE Vice President.

Further details about the show can be found at www.wcrfm.com under the link to “Inside Tracks with Pete Whitehouse”

Why not tune in, or listen on line, to see what he had to say.

Modified Cat 5130 with 34m boom

Genesis Europe have sent us the above picture of a modified Cat 5130 with 34m boom and 25 ton scrap shear at the end. Weight of the whole monster is 340 tons and it will be used for the dismantling of oil rigs.

I think you'll agree its quite an awesome sight.

IDE Roadshow - John Woodward speaks

Demolition News has been covering the last IDE Roadshow of 2009 being held at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge. As part of the coverage a number of audio recordings have been made including one of our own John Woodward which you can listen to below:



Check out the rest of the coverage and other audio recordings at Demolition News

Evian makes babies do this?

Carrying on our water theme today we thought we'd share this very well put together and funny Evian baby video:



I wish Evian had been around when I was a kid if this is what it does.

Excavator shows the true power of water

The action starts at 4 minutes 20 seconds in, but it's well worth watching all the way through, but it helps if you speak German.

NVQ Funding Cuts Could Lead to “Absolute Failure”

Howard Button, chief executive of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and chief executive of the National Demolition Training Group believes that the recently announced cuts to NVQ grant funding could lead to an “absolute failure” of the well-established training scheme.

Howard Button, chief executive of both the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and the National demolition Training Group and a keen advocate of workforce training, has hit back angrily over cuts to NVQ grant funding announced by Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Button believes that these swingeing cutbacks will impact upon the demolition industry’s ability to train staff and will undermine the sector’s drive towards a fully carded and competent workforce.

Maintain Commitment

Following a recent meeting of the Learning and Skills Council, training providers (including the National Demolition Training Group) were advised that cutbacks in funding means that it will “not be enough to support new starts on next year’s contract, and that, initially at least, we will only be offering providers an allocation to complete learners carried over from the 2008-09 contract year”.

Button believes that this will impact across the entire industry but will be felt most acutely within the demolition business.

“The Demolition NVQ Level 2 has been a great success due to two factors: the hard work put in by the NDTG; and the grant funding that has been available to contractors in England,” Button asserts. “Almost 200 Demolition VQs have been achieved by the NDTG to date in England. This loss of funding will have a huge and negative impact at a time when we (the NFDC) are encouraging our members to maintain their commitment to training at a time of industry-wide recession.”

Ongoing Impact

The reduction in grant funding comes hot on the heels of a protracted discussion over the CPCS card scheme. Although this was recently resolved when CPCS finally recognised the specific equipment training needs of the demolition sector, the delays caused will now be magnified still further by another round of negotiations over NVQ funding.

Button further believes that the cutbacks will impact upon a Level 3 vocational qualification that is currently being developed by the National Demolition Training Group. “We have spent months developing a Demolition-specific NVQ Level 3. But how many companies will be willing to shell out £2,000 per man to get this new qualification when they could just as easily stick with the current NDTG 12-week distance learning course that delivers a Supervisor’s gold card. As far as I am concerned, the NDTG’s NVQ Level 3 is now on hold, pending feedback from the Learning and Skills Council and CITB ConstructionSkills.”

Further information from Mr Howard Button, Chief Executive, NFDC. Tel: 01442 217144
Press Release prepared by Mark Anthony Publicity. Tel: 01372 721020