Category Archives: coaching

TWO TRAINING AGREEMENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

We are delighted to announce that Sam Fish (pictured) and Adam Farrance of DNV GL have recently been signed off their ICE training agreements.  We are very pleased for them both and look forward to supporting them further as they prepare for their Chartered Professional Reviews.

Both Sam and Adam have been supported by our Dr Andy Goodwin for several years in his longstanding SCE role with the company.  Adam had this to say about the mentoring support he had received:

“Surepath have been supportive of my development and made sure that their training was adapted to suit my learning style.  I was made to feel valued, which helped to build the easy working relationship that led to me being signed off with the ICE.”

We much appreciate the feedback, which reflects the ethos and efforts put in by Andy in his support of all mentees.  Andy looks forward to continuing his role with DNV GL, and to signing off other graduates over the next few years.

If you are in need of mentoring or need a mentor for your staff, then please feel free to contact Andy to discuss how he could use his mentoring and professional skills to help you.  He may be contacted on 01246 807808 or email him using the enquiries link on this website.   Andy will happily talk you through what we could do for you to add value to your existing arrangements and processes, without any obligation.

EXCELLENT FEEDBACK FROM MOCK ICE PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS

The Spring 2018 sessions of the ICE Professional Reviews are well underway now, and we are very pleased to have played our part. Our inputs began in February and March, during which time we undertook numerous mock interview courses for both individuals and companies.  These were typically full day events which began with a discussion on the review process that gave the candidates a reviewers perspective of what is needed and how we use their reports.  Most of the day was spent though giving each candidate a mock interview based on their draft professional review report, in front of colleagues so they could all learn from each other and share their experiences after.  The aim of the interviews was to give the candidates a feel for what to expect on the day and help them understand better the type and style of questioning they are likely to get.  Each session was run by our Dr Andy Goodwin, who is a very experienced ICE reviewer. Though it sounds daunting, the sessions were all run in a constructive, supportive atmosphere and everyone seemed to take a lot of benefit from them.  Certainly the feedback was excellent from the 17 candidates we worked with, with 98% of a breadth of course measures being rated either excellent or very good.  We could not ask for much more, and we know our clients value our inputs as we are regularly asked back to support their next cohort of candidates. We wish all candidates all the very best with their professional reviews, and hope to hear of their success in due course.

AUTUMN COURSES FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY

Over recent months we have delivered three bespoke half-day courses for a large local authority:
  • Fundamentals of Soil Slope Stability
  • Fundamentals of Contaminated Land Assessment
  • Introduction to Structural Steelwork Design to EC3
Feedback from all three courses was excellent, and showed how full day day courses could be adapted to half day formats cost-effectively for small groups.  Building on this success, we have been asked to look at two additional topics too. If you feel your organisation would benefit from a short course or series of half day courses, then just call us to discuss your requirements and see how we could help you.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW PREPARATION COURSES

We are often asked what courses we recommend for those preparing for their professional review with the Institution of Civil Engineers.  The answer is it depends on the delegate, as each candidate has a different range of experience and different strengths / weaknesses.  We have a range of courses available that address aspects of the professional review, and other that address common areas of weakness at review such as management and contracts.  A summary of the courses we commonly suggest to candidates may be found here.  If any course is of interest then please contact us for details and / or to make a booking.

ANOTHER MOCK INTERVIEW COURSE COMMISSIONED

Following successful support and assistance provided in recent years, Dr Andy Goodwin of Surepath Training is very pleased to announce that the company has been commissioned once more by an SME in Cheadle to run a mock interview course for several graduates who are pursuing a professional qualification in the Spring 2018 review sessions with the ICE.   Appointed for just one course initially, there is a possibility of a second course being commissioned too depending on graduate progress. The course builds on the 100% success rate from past courses with the same SME, and Andy is very much looking forward to working with the team once again.   If you have a group of people needing training in this or any other skill area then contact Andy to discuss how he may be able to design a course / mentoring programme to suit your needs and add value to your service provision.

MORE BESPOKE MOCK INTERVIEW COURSES COMMISSIONED

Surepath Training has had their commission from a large multi-national consultancy further extended to run mock interview courses for their graduates pursuing a professional qualification in the Spring 2018 review sessions with the ICE.   All courses are scheduled to run in February 2018.   Each course involves the candidates submitting their draft Professional Report in advance, based on which the candidates undergo a mock review and then receive individual feedback on their report and their interview. Our Dr Andy Goodwin delivers the courses based on his extensive mentoring experience and his role as a reviewer for the ICE.  If you have a group of people needing training in this or any other skill area then contact Andy to discuss how he may be able to design a course / mentoring programme to suit your needs and add value to your service provision.

ADDITIONAL MOCK INTERVIEW COURSES COMMISSIONED

Surepath Training has had their commission from a large multi-national consultancy extended to run an additional mock interview course for their graduates pursuing a professional qualification in the Autumn review sessions with the ICE.  The new course takes the total to four, all of which will run in August 2017.  Each course involves the candidates submitting their draft Professional Report in advance, based on which the candidates undergo a mock review and then receive individual feedback on their report and their interview. In addition, we have been commissioned to support a new mentee during his preparations for his professional review.  This bespoke support package culminates with a mock interview and individual feedback, again in August. Our Dr Andy Goodwin delivers each of the courses, based on his extensive mentoring experience and his role as a lead reviewer for the ICE.  If you have a group of people needing training in this or any other skill area then contact Andy to discuss how he may be able to design a course / mentoring programme to suit your needs and add value to your service provision.

CPD IDEAS…..

Over the last month or so our Dr Andy Goodwin has been posting ideas for CPD on LinkedIn.  The suggestions largely come from his experience as a lead reviewer with the ICE and are targeted in particular at graduates.  However, everyone benefits from CPD so don’t be put off the ideas if you are not a graduate. Ideas suggested so far include:
  • The Brundtland report, “Our Common Future”:  this includes the oft-quoted definition of sustainable development “meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow” (see page 16 para 27 of the pdf for the full definition “Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”).  Graduates pursuing professional qualification with the ICE should know this, and ought to read the report (or at least look over its 300 pages to get a sense of what it is all about).
  • Research and assessment of the issues that can arise when using pyrite-rich fills below buildings and in earthworks. Two references are provided as starters in this field. The first link takes you to a pdf copy of an expert report on issues found affecting buildings in Ireland – it is 200 pages long so if pushed for time just read the Executive Summary! The second is a paper from 2011 on the implications of the phenomenon for earthworks that explains the science aspects as well as being practical.
  • The subject of ethics and ethical behaviour regularly comes up both at ICE professional reviews and when Andy is mentoring graduates. It is an important topic that merits thought and deserves a perspective from outside the ICE, nut just from within.  It is suggested that it is worth looking at the Royal Academy of Engineering work on this topic.
Happy reading! By the way, if you want to LinkIn with Andy yourself and catch up with his new posts as they are issued then feel free to invite him to join your network!

CONSTRUCTION SKILLS SHORTAGE – MORE TRAINING NEEDED

We would say more training is needed wouldn’t we?  Well we have turned business away and advised people that a particular course is not the best option for them, as we believe in providing good advice and support.  However we wanted to draw your attention to an article today (12 May 2017) in Development Finance Today that reports a growing issue in the construction industry.  The article can be found in full here, with key excerpts reproduced below: “The increases in workload are contrasted with a skills shortage, as 53% of respondents stated that a shortage of skilled labour is a key impediment to growth, up from 50% in the previous quarter….  ….Improved education pathways and training could be the most effective policy response to alleviate labour supply pressures, with 59% agreeing with this idea, while 31% of contributors felt direct government subsidisation of training would be the most effective solution.” We hope this provides you with some food for thought.  If you wish to discuss how we could help you address your skill development needs then just call Andy Goodwin on 01246 807808 on a free no-obligation basis.  Options available include a SWOT analysis of the skills you already have, provision of appropriate training, and / or mentoring and coaching support to staff to help them develop more effectively.  We look forward to hearing from you.