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In May 2006 Adam Sacre from Ashdown Control Services Ltd won the BSEE Special Award in the Building Controls Industry Association Training Awards for his commitment to the industry and for his continuing struggle to succeed and better himself through training and his own determination. I spoke to Adam to find out why training has been such a success for him and what his plans are for the future.
It’s always good to talk to a person who has a success story to tell but it was particularly satisfying to talk to Adam because his is the type of story which proves that training is an important part of any company and that with the right training and encouragement most people can achieve great things.
What next
Adam left school at 16 with little idea of what he wanted to do with his life and eventually made an appointment with Sussex careers centre to see what was on offer. He hadn’t ever considered working in the building controls industry but applied for the position with Ashdown Control Services Ltd anyway. Adam says: “At GCSE age no one really knows what they want to do so unless you steer them in a particular direction, or show them what a controls company do then very few people will choose to make this their first career choice.
“I was asked by the careers centre what I was interested in and my immediate thought was computers and electrics because this was my best option for the future. We went through a few opportunities and Ashdown Controls came up. I had no idea what they did and their requirement was higher than what I could offer, but when I went to see them they proved to be very accommodating and offered me a position within which I could improve my career prospects through training.”
Adam has now been with the company for over seven years and has completed a number of training courses both internally and externally bringing him to a stage in his career which he only dreamed of being possible at the age of 16.
Adam says: “Although I wasn’t really what Ashdown Controls were looking for initially, they made a position for me and were prepared to help. It was quite slow progress and very hard work as I worked my way through the many training courses but the end result has been something which I can be proud of.
“One of the hardest parts was the BCIA training courses which are incredibly challenging but at the same time they provide the specific information which you need for this industry and therefore they are very worthwhile. Until recently there were no other specific courses for building controls engineers and therefore passing this course has provided a huge boost to my career.”
Making time for training
Although Adam worked hard it is not that common to see a company like Ashdown Controls who are prepared to put in the amount of time and effort which they have. John Quinn, Managing Director of Ashdown Control Services Ltd is a keen advocate for training and says: “Having joined Johnson Controls as a 17 year old I can see the value of training. There are many benefits for people joining the industry directly from school as they will achieve a suitable qualification while gaining valuable experience - and of course they will be earning. In fact we would prefer to have an Ashdown produced 22 year old with a degree and six years experience rather than employ someone straight from university with little or no practical experience.
“Our trainees and apprentices undertake a four or six year structured training programme starting off in the panel workshop and progressing through all of the departments. A career path is then discussed and selected and the remainder of their time will be spent working in that chosen department
“It is a shame to see that many companies are no longer providing recognised training programmes. When skilled engineers emerge within the industry this limited and valued resource often becomes a target for the recruitment sector, and while there is a chance that we will train someone and he or she will move on, that is the risk that you take, at least we are proactively encouraging youngsters to join this exiting and evolving industry. By providing the correct package and being aware of and addressing ongoing training opportunities we are able to retain out trainees and apprentices.
“Of course one or two trainee engineers each year is not going to solve the problem in the industry but as a result of what we are doing there are now other companies who are taking more of an interest in providing organised training schedules. We have been asked about our apprenticeship schemes by other companies who wish to put something in place, mainly because they don’t know where to start. This surely means that the training organisations within the industry also need to promote what is on offer.
“We need to promote Building Services Engineering and in particular the controls and energy sectors as an interesting and attractive career, and the best advert I have for that is Adam. We attend numerous schools careers sessions to promote the industry and we invite students and tutors to visit our premises. However the fact remains that our message is not getting out beyond our own catchment area and school leavers are looking to other areas for their future careers.
“Correct training is not only essential for those joining our industry but crucial for all engineers to remain informed and capable of operating in the controls and energy markets as systems continue to develop and improve. At any time we have at least 10% of our workforce in training or apprenticeship schemes because we believe that everyone needs some degree of training to stay on top of their career. We therefore set up and arrange both internal and external training for anyone within the company who we believe will benefit from it or who feels that they need it.
“It is not always possible to hand pick the person with the correct qualifications and experience to fit the post which you have vacant, but if you are prepared to put in the time, effort and cost to train someone for that position then you will have a much better person at the end of it.”
Adam is proof that with sustained commitment by the employee and employer we are all capable of producing the skill levels required to maintain standards in this evolving industry.
And finally
Adam is one of the lucky few in the industry who has found a company who is prepared to invest both time and money into ensuring that he is properly trained for the career which is ahead of him. But while this does sound ideal the fact remains that 50% of the responsibility lies with Adam and without his hard work and determination he wouldn’t be in the position he is now.
Sadly too many people sit and wait for the right opportunity to come along and with this type of attitude they are likely to be waiting for a very long time. Adam chose to take the bull by the horns and make a career for himself and with the help of Ashdown Controls he has done just that.
Hopefully when we are looking at the nominations for this year’s Building Controls Industry Awards we will see many more people like Adam who are helping to ensure that skills are passed down for the next generation.
The building controls industry awards take place this year on the evening of 17 May. For further information visit the website: www.buildingcontrolsindustryawards.com
