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During the extensive research and consultation that SummitSkills carried out as part of our Sector Skills Agreement project, we found that the importance of business management skills and leadership training is greatly undervalued within the building services engineering sector.
We asked companies whether the training they engaged in for their staff included the skills to successfully expand and diversify business, win new clients, manage workload and supervise a loyal workforce. Worryingly, over 40% said they did not. It was generally assumed by this group that effective engineers, whose technical skills enable them to excel in their day-to-day activity, also possess the business acumen to become competent business and staff managers. This view means that managers are given no development training on promotion, which challenges their confidence and could ultimately compromise the performance of the company, affecting its competitive position, productivity and profits.
Developing skills can take different forms and there are many training opportunities, with funding often available. Getting the right skills advice is essential for choosing the best and most appropriate training. Industry trade associations and local training providers are a good place to start. The sector's trade associations offer a broad spectrum of courses, including: health and safety; risk assessment; site supervision and paperwork; cross-skilling; commercial contract management; estimating, and so on. Many of these qualify for continuous professional development recognition. SummitSkills is also currently working to identify and promote management courses that are tailored to the building engineering services sector rather than generic, and incorporate flexible modes of delivery and distance learning.
Local colleges and business support organisations provide a wealth of options for more general business and personal training. These courses range from sales and negotiation to marketing and communications; from customer service and relationships to delegation and time management; from assertiveness and confidence building to budgeting and cost control.
After maximising self-development, it may be time to consider taking on an apprentice to expand the business. They can bring in further specialist skills while assisting with increased work commitments. The combination of formal training and on-site learning equips young people with the skills and knowledge to deal with real life situations quickly. Assistance with recruitment and funding apprentices is available from training providers and managing agents who can simplify the process and provide guidance and advice to employer and trainee throughout the apprenticeship process, ensuring a successful outcome.
With the raft of advice and help available and the support of their trade associations and SummitSkills, there is no excuse for companies to stand by and watch competitor businesses forge ahead. Whilst acquiring business skills cannot guarantee business success, the lack of management, leadership and supervisory skills, and most critically, the inability to identify entrepreneurial opportunities, will greatly hamper a company's performance and limit its prospects for the future.
