Inspiring the Future shares its results

The Inspiring the Future scheme, launched by the government to get industry leaders to visit schools on a volunteer basis to talk to pupils about their career and future employment opportunities, has long been supported by C&D Consultancy and John Woodward. John actively visits schools to talk about the demolition industry and hopefully inspire a few kids to set their sights on entering it.

With the scheme having run for quite some time now, the organisers have shared some fascinating insights into the results of the initiative. You can read all about them in the latest Inspiring the Future mail out.

Some highlights include the compilation of some of the key findings from various research reports explaining how the impact of interactions with young people is positively affecting them. Recently, 150 volunteers from all over the country took part in Blackpool Aspirations Week, the Chartered Institute of Building have developed a handy resource to help students know more about the range of careers in the construction industry, and the scheme got a new high-profile volunteer in the form of Andrew Price, EMEA Finance Director at BSI.

Keep up-to-date with all Inspiring the Future news on their website, and please consider becoming a volunteer.

A trip down memory lane… Thursday, 16th January 2014

Three years ago today, C&D’s founder John Woodward visited Smestow School to speak at their school assembly as part of a government initiative called ‘Inspiring The Future’, which encouraged UK engineers to devote some of their time to promoting engineering as a future career choice.

The talk was designed to encourage school leavers to consider a career in demolition in which John showed the audience examples of both high reach and explosive demolitions and how ground-breaking technology is taking the industry to new heights.

He spoke passionately about the myths and stereotypes surrounding the industry, comparing the media’s view of demolition to that of teenagers – outdated and, ultimately, completely wrong.

John also used examples of where demolition has cleared the past to make way for the future, citing London 2012 as a case in point where the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) demolished a former industrial site in Stratford, East London to clear the ground ready for the construction of Olympic Park, which included a main stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome, three sports arenas, a hockey centre and accommodation for competitors.

John’s talk had an immediate impact on one particular student who contacted C&D a few days later to enquire about the possibility of work experience.

That young man was Matt Birch, who now works full-time with C&D as a trainee demolition engineer.

It’s amazing what a little bit of inspiration can do.

John Woodward highlights urgent need for 'young blood' in the demolition industry

Our very own John Woodward has featured in the Express & Star this week for a very good reason: he's highlighting the lack of young blood in the demolition industry.

John has pointed out the facts. There's over 600 positions that need filling, but not the funding or apprenticeships in place to ensure they get filled. Let's not forget such training would lead to hundreds of new jobs and help reduce levels of unemployment--something the government (any government) should be very keen to support.

John states:

"There is a massive skills gap in demolition, especially for those young people looking to become engineers ... As it stands, there are no colleges or universities in the UK that offer apprenticeships or courses in this field and it makes it very tough to give new recruits the right training."

If you have the time, the Express & Star article is well worth a read.

Labour government promises to assist victims of asbestos

The construction union UCATT has both brought our attention to, and welcomed news of the possible next Labour government promising to offer fresh assistance to victims of asbestos.

The announcement was made by Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves earlier this month, she said her party would:

"Be enshrining in a law a levy on the insurance industry, to secure a sustainable funding stream for improved compensation for victims and ongoing research into the disease and its treatment. To ensure there is no short-changing of those who have already paid far too much."

UCATT is also hopeful that if Labour get back into power they will continue plans to introduce a National Centre for Asbestos Related Disease (NCARD). With that, more research could be done into treatment and ultimately cures for asbestos-related diseases.

UK government posts 78-page guide to pollution prevention

The UK government, and more specifically the Environment Agency, has posted a guide on its website entitled "Working at construction and demolition sites: PPG6 Pollution Prevention Guidelines."

The guide explains itself as follows:

"This document provides practical advice and guidance to help you prevent pollution. There are several hundred pollution incidents from construction and demolition sites every year that damage the environment, yet most can easily be prevented. Managing your activities properly on site will protect the environment, wildlife and human health. This guidance explains what you’re required to do by law and describes good practice measures to reduce the risks of a pollution incident."

The guide is for site managers, foremen and supervisors, and can be viewed by clicking this link.

NDTG expands its training coverage into Gibraltar

UK demolition training leads the World so it was no surprise that when the Gibraltar government wanted to train their Technical Services Department in the management of demolition projects they decided to contact NDTG.

The initial contact was made to Group Manager Sophie Cox in 2010 who proposed an amended version of the NDTG Demolition for Clients course written by John Woodward at C&D. Full details of the course content, learning objectives and learning outcomes was forwarded to the government for approval.


Despite the need for the course, funding had to be secured. It took four years for that to be achieved and a date to be set. In that time Sophie Cox had handed over all negotiations to Kaila Francis who was left with the job to win the order and arrange delivery of the course as required.

After many emails back and forth Kaila managed to agree the course dates of 3rd-6th February 2014 and then arranged for John Woodward to fly out to "The Rock" and deliver the training.


The training was well received, particularly the group work sessions that can be seen in the attached photos and video, and feedback indicated that the course was excellent, so much so that the Government are now negotiating with Kaila for further courses (Demolition Supervisor and Simulator) over the next twelve months.

John Woodward to speak at Smestow School, Wolverhampton on Careers in Demolition Engineering

Some time ago John enrolled on a government initiative that encourages UK engineers to give up some of their time and visit schools to promote engineering as a career, and following that enrolment Smestow School in Wolverhampton asked for him to speak at the school assembly on Thursday, 16th January.

The talk will be to encourage school leavers to consider a career in Demolition and will include examples of high reach demolition and explosive demolition.

The promotional flyers for the school are reproduced below. Click the second one to see it full size with clear, readable text.

Mesothelioma Bill

Monday 20th May saw MPs vote on the Mesothelioma Bill which is intended to create a last-resort fund for those sufferers unable to obtain compensation because the insurance companies who insured their employers are no longer trading. The Government thinks that Mesothelioma cases will peak in 2015, but the HSE thought that they would peak in 2010 and they were wrong, and many sufferers will be unable to claim compensation. If the Bill is passed it will open up a £355 million compensation fund which the Government hopes will compensate around 3,500 people.

According the The Sun, Welfare minister Lord Freud said: "There has been a terrible injustice that previous governments could not fix".

Our view here at C&D is that UK Governments have since the 1920's failed to address the appaling loss of life to mesothelioma and the lack of training for those most at risk. C&D deliver both the NDTG Asbestos Awareness course as well as our own to demolition companies nationwide, but we rarely deliver the course to those that need it most. HSE statistics show that the trades most at risk are:-

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Gas Fitters
• Painters & Decorators
• Joiners
• Plasterers

Let us hope that the Bill is passed and that publicity will increase awareness of the dangers from asbestos and that increased awareness will lead to more people being trained and more masks being worn where there is a possibility that asbestos could be present.

Remember, wearing a mask can save your life as we reminded the industry in this short toolbox talk.