#civil construction apprenticeships

[bispacecadet]

looking at apprenticeships and for one of the jobs I'm interested in there's a company that's really close to where I live, is actively looking for uni dropouts, and still has 4 openings for this year 👀

[scotianostra]

Robert William Thomson was born on July 16th 1822 at Stonehaven.

The names of the great Scottish inventors roll easily off the tongue; John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Macintosh, and John Dunlop inventor of the pneumatic tyre, or should that read re-inventor of the pneumatic tyre?

Indeed it should read re-inventor; the pneumatic tyre was in fact patented by one of Scotland’s most prolific, but now largely forgotten, inventors, Robert William Thomson on 10 December 1845, some 43 years before John Dunlop’s re-invention. Thomson’s “Aerial Wheels” were subsequently demonstrated in Regents Park London in 1847 and proved to all present that they could both reduce noise and improve passenger comfort.

Robert was born in Stonehaven, the was the son of a local woollen mill owner and was the eleventh of twelve children. Originally destined for the ministry, he apparently had great difficulty coming to terms with Latin,so refused his family’s wishes.

Instead, at age 14, Thomson was shipped to an uncle in the United States, where he served an apprenticeship with a merchant. Upon his return to Scotland, Thomson immersed himself in science, learning all he could about chemistry, electricity and astronomy, and soon began improving the design of mechanical devices in the family’s household. After serving an engineering apprenticeship, Thomson found work as a civil engineer and soon after designed a method of detonating explosive charges via electricity, this saved thousands of lives in the coal mining industry alone.

On December 10, 1845, at the age of 23, Thomson was granted a British patent for the very first pneumatic tyre, a device he called the “Aerial Wheel.” Intended for use on carriages (because bicycles had not yet been popularized), the Aerial Wheel used a rubberized fabric tube filled with pressurized air and encased in a thick leather outer skin. This leather “tire” was bolted to the rim, and the tread section was then stitched to the tyre’s sidewalls. By period accounts, Aerial Wheels yielded a much improved ride compared to conventional solid wheels, and even proved durable enough to accumulate more than 1,200 miles before wearing out. The following year Thomson applied for and received a French patent for his pneumatic tyre, and in 1847 he was granted a U.S. patent for his design.

Though revolutionary, Thomson’s Aerial Wheels were never commercially successful. The cost of the rubber needed for construction of the wheel’s pneumatic bladder priced the product beyond the means of most, and the improvement in ride quality failed to justify the expense in the eyes of the public.

It wasn’t until 1888 that another Scottish inventor, veterinarian John Boyd Dunlop, improved on Thomson’s design to create a pneumatic tire for bicycles, as a means of preventing the headaches suffered by his son when riding his bicycle on bumpy roads. In 1888, Dunlop was given his own patent for the improved pneumatic tyre, but two years later, this was rescinded due to its conflict with Thomson’s Aerial Wheel. Undeterred, Dunlop continued his work on the pneumatic tyre, and by 1890 was mass-producing tyres for bicycles at a factory in Belfast.

[falseandrealultravival]

Greta Thunberg (Essay)

``Adults only think about money.'' Greta Thunberg, a Swedish student environmental activist, said this after seeing how the discussion in the greenhouse gas emissions quota negotiations was reduced to buying and selling rights. As she said, this is the correct view.

Trying to solve problems this way is exactly the logic of capitalism that adults have constructed from her perspective, and she is rebelling against this logic.

She is currently in the apprenticeship period of her life, and is responsible for the next generation of humanity, so what kind of methods will she use to express her opinions? For one thing, she strikes classes and goes to Congress every week to protest. She did just that, and it seems that millions of people sympathized with her.

In a sense, this action signifies a rejection of the cultures that are ``created by adults and attempted to be transmitted to children.'' But from an adult's perspective, it's just some weirdos boycotting classes, and it may not be particularly painful or itchy.

Of course, if all of her classmates boycotted class, it would be a big problem, and adults would not be able to rest in peace.

The problem is that some people have begun to refuse to inherit the civilization and culture that humanity has built up until now. What kind of issues will Greta Thunberg raise in the future?

Rei Morishita

グレタ・トゥーンベリ（エッセイ）

「大人は、お金のことしか考えていない」――これは地球温暖化における温暖化ガス排出枠交渉において、議論が権利の売り買いに還元される様子を見て、スウェーデンの学生環境運動家のグレタ・トゥーンベリが言ったことだが、これは正しい見解である。

このように問題を解決しようとするのは、まさしく彼女から見た大人たちが構築してきた資本主義の論理であり、彼女はこれに反旗を翻しているのだ。

現在は人生の見習い時期であり、次代の人類を背負う世代の彼女は、どんな主張の方法を持つのだろうか？一つには、授業をストライキし、毎週議会に抗議活動に行くことがある。彼女はそれを実行し、万人単位の同調者も生まれたようだ。

その行動は、ある意味「大人によって作られて、子どもに伝達されようとする」諸文化の拒否を意味する。でも大人の側から見れば、単に変わり者が授業をボイコットしているだけであり、特に痛くも痒くもないものかも��れない。

もちろん、彼女の同学年全てが授業をボイコットするようになれば、大問題であり、大人も安閑としておれないであろう。

問題なのは、人類がこれまで築いてきた文明と文化の継承を拒否する人間が出てきたことであろう。これからのグレタ・トゥーンベリは、どのような問題提起をしていくのだろうか？

[remesrobotics]

Dr. Taylor Harp

A robotics developer who started her career building simple-AI animal robots for daily job functions.

When breaking into the field of more powerful, humanoid robots, she apprenticed under Dr. Cossack before setting out on her own. She’s a firm believer that robots can better society for humans by working alongside them, rather than replacing them or being strictly controlled by them. As a result, a majority of her robots are dedicated to construction and other civil engineering tasks.

Early in life, she had a keen interest in reptile keeping and herpetoculture, and pursued it as a hobby alongside her education in engineering and robotics, for which she was considered a particular genius. When she began designing her own robots, she started with non-humanoid reptile models. Only after her apprenticeship did she switch over, but tries to keep to her theme, even if it means stealing some design inspiration (though she did get permission from Dr. Cossack for the two robots she based on Toad Man).

Her…interesting sense of humor leads her to come up with names for her robots with multiple meanings, usually resulting in very bad puns. Many of her puns play into Japanese words and pronunciations due to mixed heritage and predominantly Japanese upbringing.

Almost completely blind without her glasses.

Dr. Harp owns an inordinately large number of reptile and amphibian-themed Hawaiian print/aloha shirts, and she is almost always wearing one under her lab coat. What started off as a one-off gag of her buying a few and wearing them to work turned into a long-running tradition of her being given them as gifts by colleagues and lab staff, to the point where they are simply the most economical shirts to wear without worrying about wasting money.

When she’s not designing, tweaking, and repairing her own robots, Dr. Harp joins them in the field, donning armor (often referred to as the Tegu Suit) that makes her look a bit like a robot, herself. The armor contains things like boosters and other tools, as well as providing protection. She’s less about the civil engineering itself, and more about being on-hand to repair and modify construction robots and other complex equipment on-site. Has a lab assistant 'pet' akin to Rush, Beat, Tango, or Reggae; a tegu named Skar (スカー; also "Ska"). While technically non-gendered, most of the lab staff and the other Harp Numbers refer to Skar with female pronouns. (refined art and name adjustment pending)

Though initially assumed to transform into the Tegu Suit in a manner akin to Rush's Super Adaptor, Skar merely contains the Tegu Suit's parts in an encapsulated form, which can be equipped on-call.

The first humanoid robot Dr. Harp designed was known as "Monitor Woman" (モニターウーマン), intended to be based on monitor lizards and tegus. The intent was specifically to survey and monitor sites and surrounding areas before and during construction projects, equipped with extremely advanced analysis and recording equipment. However, she vanished mysteriously while in the very early prototype phase of her development.

Dr. Harp suspected Dr. Wily to be behind the theft, leading her to eventually start plagiarizing his designs.

She has a pretty good idea what happened… and who her precious 'first child' eventually became...

[stevesociety8]

What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? And what has the Department of Education to do with the classical education movement? For Tertullian, the second-century church father, the question was whether Hellenic culture and philosophy might divert Christians from the truth revealed in scripture and the incarnation. Of course, as reflected today in classical education itself, historical Christianity has long used the tools of Athenian wisdom in the work of theology, as faith seeks understanding. But the tension remains, between man’s rationalizing and the gift of faith. 

The contemporary classical education movement was birthed in renunciation of all the Department of Education stands for. Indeed, nothing about the timing should be thought of as merely coincidental. The ED was signed into law on October 17, 1979, and began operations the next year. As I discovered during my year as a Novak Journalism fellow researching the history of the classical education movement, the earliest schools we can put in that category were founded around exactly the same time. 

In January of ’79, National Review reprinted Dorothy Sayers’s “Lost Tools of Learning” (1947). The essay inspired John Schmitt to establish the Trivium School in Lancaster, Massachusetts, in October of that year and Douglas Wilson to found Logos School in Moscow, Idaho, in 1981. In between, Cair Paravel Latin School was independently established in 1980 in Topeka, Kansas. And in 1981 — imitating Schmitt’s Trivium — the Trinity School at Greenlawn in South Bend, Indiana, opened its doors. 

So it must seem strange to look to the movement these four schools started for inspiration when considering reforms of ED, representing as the department does all their founders sought to escape. But today, more than four decades on for each, classical education has grown into a great force of cultural revival in this country; while ED has, like the cancer cell, only grown for growth’s sake — a failure. One enlargement may, in fact, have something to teach the other, in particular about the end of formal education.

We must bring our aim a little lower than the reader likely hopes, in line with a closer target than the ideal universal public education of the American people. The Department of Education, as part of the administrative state, is an effort at the rationalization of human life and centralization of civil society totally at odds with the highest aspirations of contemporary classical schools. One cannot be made into the facilitator and manager of the other. What ED does, and what it is, is totally modern. What the classical education movement seeks to do, and what it is, is a postmodern project of recovery and construction — dwarves on the shoulders of giants — bringing a pre-modern inheritance forward to the present, past a century of positivism and progressivism. 

Moreover, we must acknowledge that the classical appellation is a contested one, that this movement and project is alive with debates internal to itself as it seeks its own essence and more fully developed excellences — classically, virtues. Even if ED could be made a fit vehicle for the spread of “classical schools,” it would only elevate this lively conversation into policy negotiations among bureaucrats. Classical education is not a method. 

At the simplest, some argue, classical education is an acculturation, familiarizing ourselves (Americans, Westerners) with that which was familiar to our ancestors: Latin and Greek, classical literature and history. Perhaps it is also, derived from Latin studies, apprenticeship to the trivium: the grammar, logic (or dialectic), and rhetoric of language and therefore of intellectual knowledge and thought. It is a liberal education, fit for free people, and so, in the American sense, democratic. Yet the humanist tradition it springs from finds its roots in hero worship and the schooling of princes, and so is aristocratic, too. Is a classical education essentially Christian? It is necessarily political. Do classical schools form hearts as well as minds? They are, in many ways, still far too modern. 

All of this and more like it makes up the vital ferment that shows that “classical education” is in fact a movement, that the growth and multiplication of the schools that claim that title is something alive. How different is discussion of our public schools. But there is one more theme — not a dichotomy, but a matter of emphasis — which could be taken up whole by any future secretary of the Department of Education in administering the nation’s schools. The pioneers and principals of classical schools often speak of two academic purposes for their institutions: they offer a “terminal education,” and they aim to shape “lifelong learners.” Taking only the tools already at its disposal, with some modest construal, so too could ED. 

What do the classical school educators mean by this? A terminal education describes a complete formal education; it recognizes that schooling must end, even if education never does. And so schooling must include everything necessary to equip students to live a virtuous life without the guidance of their teachers. A terminal education is ordinary. Lifelong learning, then, is what follows from a complete formal education; a student makes his way through life adding to his education, incorporating new knowledge into that which he carries with him. It is limited only by the capacities of the individual—his abilities, his continued wonder, and his desire to know. Placed on top of basic schooling, lifelong learning is extraordinary.

The task of the public school, and thus the task of the Department of Education, is this same task. To have a functioning republic, in which political equality is upheld by law and social practice, the normative public school must provide an ordinary education that is sufficient for living the life of a just citizen. The standard K-12 program must set out to be enough, terminal, an end of its own. The expectation that every student apply for college, let alone go, has been a disaster, as, on the tacit expectation of remedial courses later, it has freed teachers and school systems of their obligation to give pupils the building blocks of a decent life. 

Perhaps, too, the only way to end the so-called school-to-prison pipeline would be to take the idea of compulsory education, standardized testing, and public schooling at face value, to treat this fundamental education as not just limited but limiting: A student cannot and will not graduate — will not be freed from truancy law — until a certain competency is demonstrated on a standardized test, marking this terminal education’s completion.

All lifelong learning is extraordinary in that it goes beyond the basic standard. ED and the public school teacher have an obligation to the extraordinary student, too, as they prepare for higher education and an intellectual life beyond that, too. While tracking is inimical to the formative spirit of a classical school’s terminal education for lifelong learning, under the quantitative management of a government department it is the tool ready at hand. Moreover, it is the only instrument fit to the preservation of the civic equality or democratic ideal that public education is meant to protect: unless even the poorest brilliant student can test out of the chaos of the common classroom, only the wealthiest zip codes will provide a public school that readies its students for lifelong learning. 

Even with conservatives returning to power in Washington, the intellectual and spiritual chasm between the classical education movement and the Department of Education is in no danger of closing soon; it is the product of essential divisions not only in our national political culture but in our historical epoch. That being the case, far more likely is that fissures split along similar fault lines among the institutions of classical education, as people grow complacent in the countercultural aspect of cultural renewal. But maybe, still, Athens can learn something from Jerusalem.

[nfuzionstaffing]

Understanding the Key Skills and Qualifications for Construction Roles

The construction industry is vast and varied, encompassing a range of roles that require different skills and qualifications. As the industry evolves, the demand for skilled professionals remains high. Whether you're considering a career in construction or looking to enhance your expertise, understanding the key skills and qualifications needed for various construction roles is crucial. This guide will explore essential skills and qualifications for construction roles, highlighting how construction recruitment agencies can help match these skills with the right opportunities.

Core Skills for Construction Roles

Technical KnowledgeA solid understanding of construction principles and practices is fundamental. This includes knowledge of building materials, construction methods, and safety regulations. For roles like project managers or site engineers, advanced technical knowledge in areas such as structural integrity and construction technology is essential.

Project ManagementEffective project management is vital in construction. This involves planning, coordinating, and overseeing construction projects from start to finish. Key skills include scheduling, budgeting, and resource management. Professionals in roles such as construction managers or site supervisors need to be adept at managing multiple tasks and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget.

Health and SafetySafety is a top priority in construction. Understanding and implementing health and safety regulations helps prevent accidents and ensures a safe working environment. Certifications such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) training or equivalent are often required for roles with significant safety responsibilities.

Technical Skills and CraftsmanshipFor trades-specific roles like electricians, plumbers, or carpenters, hands-on technical skills are crucial. This includes proficiency in using tools, reading blueprints, and performing specialized tasks. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are essential for ensuring high-quality work.

Communication and TeamworkConstruction projects involve collaboration between various stakeholders, including clients, architects, subcontractors, and team members. Effective communication and teamwork skills are necessary to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that projects progress smoothly.

Problem-SolvingConstruction professionals often face unexpected challenges that require quick thinking and effective problem-solving. The ability to identify issues, analyze possible solutions, and implement corrective actions is critical for keeping projects on track.

AdaptabilityThe construction industry is dynamic, with projects often subject to changes in scope, design, or regulatory requirements. Adaptability is crucial for navigating these changes and adjusting plans as needed.

Qualifications for Construction Roles

Educational BackgroundWhile some construction roles require only a high school diploma, others demand higher levels of education. For example, roles like architects or civil engineers typically require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Specialized roles may also require additional certifications or training.

Certifications and LicensesMany construction roles require specific certifications or licenses. For instance, electricians and plumbers need to be licensed to work legally. Project managers may benefit from certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) to enhance their credentials.

ExperienceHands-on experience is highly valued in construction. Entry-level positions may require minimal experience, but advanced roles often necessitate several years of relevant experience. Internships, apprenticeships, and previous job experience play a significant role in qualifying for more senior positions.

Technical TrainingTechnical training programs, such as those offered by trade schools or vocational colleges, provide specialized skills for various trades. These programs often include practical training and may lead to certification or licensure.

Continual Professional DevelopmentThe construction industry is constantly evolving with new technologies and practices. Ongoing professional development through workshops, seminars, and additional certifications helps professionals stay current and advance their careers.

How Construction Recruitment Agencies Can Help

Construction recruitment agencies play a vital role in connecting skilled professionals with job opportunities. These agencies have extensive networks and industry knowledge, which can be invaluable for both job seekers and employers. Here’s how they can help:

Matching Skills with OpportunitiesRecruitment agencies assess the skills and qualifications of job seekers and match them with suitable roles. This ensures that candidates are considered for positions that align with their expertise and career goals.

Access to Exclusive Job ListingsMany construction roles are not advertised publicly. Recruitment agencies often have access to exclusive job listings and can provide candidates with opportunities that are not widely known.

Career Advice and GuidanceRecruitment agencies offer career advice and guidance to job seekers. This includes helping with resume preparation, interview coaching, and providing insights into industry trends and salary expectations.

Streamlined Recruitment ProcessAgencies handle the recruitment process, including screening candidates, conducting initial interviews, and coordinating with employers. This streamlines the hiring process for both parties and helps ensure a good fit.

Specialized ExpertiseRecruitment agencies specializing in construction have a deep understanding of the industry’s needs and trends. They can provide valuable insights and support tailored to the specific requirements of construction roles.

Conclusion

Understanding the key skills and qualifications for construction roles is essential for anyone looking to pursue a career in this dynamic field. Technical knowledge, project management, safety awareness, and specialized skills are all crucial for success. Additionally, construction recruitment agencies play a significant role in connecting qualified professionals with the right opportunities, offering support and guidance throughout the job search process. Whether you're entering the field or looking to advance your career, aligning your skills and qualifications with industry needs can help you achieve your professional goals.

[highereducation01]

High-Paying Diploma Jobs: Career Opportunities

While traditional perception leans towards degrees for high-paying jobs, the reality is that many diploma holders carve successful and lucrative careers. The key lies in choosing the right diploma course and gaining relevant experience.

In-Demand Diploma Courses with High Earning Potential

Engineering Diplomas: Diplomas in mechanical, electrical, civil, or computer engineering often lead to well-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, and IT industries.

Diploma in Information Technology: With the growing digital landscape, IT professionals are in high demand. Specializations like software development, networking, and cybersecurity can open doors to lucrative roles.

Diploma in Medical Lab Technology: Medical lab technicians play a crucial role in healthcare. Their expertise in conducting tests and analyzing results is highly valued.

Diploma in Digital Marketing: The rise of digital platforms has created a surge in demand for digital marketing professionals. Skills in SEO, social media marketing, and content creation are in high demand.

Diploma in Finance and Accounting: Financial expertise is always sought after. Roles in accounting, financial analysis, and investment banking can be highly rewarding.

Factors Affecting Salary

Several factors influence the salary of diploma holders:

Industry: Sectors like IT, healthcare, and engineering generally offer higher salaries.

Specialization: Specific skills and expertise within a field can command premium salaries.

Experience: Work experience significantly impacts earning potential.

Location: Salaries in metropolitan cities tend to be higher compared to smaller towns.

Employer: Reputable companies often offer better compensation packages.

Tips for Diploma Holders

Gain Practical Experience: Internships and apprenticeships provide valuable hands-on experience.

Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends and acquire new skills.

Networking: Build relationships with professionals in your field.

Certifications: Obtain relevant certifications to enhance your job prospects.

Showcase Your Skills: Develop a strong portfolio to demonstrate your abilities.

While a degree might open some doors, a diploma coupled with the right skills and experience can lead to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career. It's essential to choose a diploma course aligned with your interests and career goals.

[swiftnliftnewsandarticle]

Renewable Energy: Powering Job Growth in the Green Economy

This informative paper explores the revolutionary potential of renewable energy in economic growth and job creation. Learn how the shift to a green economy is being fueled by investments in manufacturing, energy efficiency, research, and skills development, all of which are generating millions of sustainable employment globally.

The global community is facing two major challenges: 

climate change and economic recovery. One area of promise that keeps coming up is renewable energy. The switch to renewable energy sources offers substantial chances for job development and economic growth in addition to its environmental advantages. This article examines the relationship between the production of jobs and renewable energy, emphasizing the green economy's ability to promote prosperity and sustainable development.

Increasing the Infrastructure for Renewable Energy: 

The switch to renewable energy necessitates large expenditures in the construction of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power facilities. Numerous work possibilities are generated by these initiatives, ranging from construction and installation to maintenance and operation. Over 11 million people were engaged globally in the renewable energy sector in 2019, and millions more employment could be created in the years to come, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Opportunities in Manufacturing and Supply Chains:

Manufacturing industries and supply chains are boosted by the creation of renewable energy technology, such as wind turbines, solar panels, and energy storage systems. Investing in local production of renewable energy benefits a nation by creating jobs along the whole value chain, from extraction of raw materials to assembly, distribution, and manufacturing of components. Localized production also improves energy security and economic resilience by lowering reliance on imported items.

Green Jobs in Energy Efficiency: 

Energy efficiency is essential for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The implementation of energy-efficient appliances, modernizing industrial processes, and retrofitting buildings generate a need for qualified personnel in the fields of engineering, construction, and energy auditing. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that employment related to energy efficiency surpassed occupations related to fossil fuels by a ratio of more than three to one in 2019, underscoring the industry's enormous potential to boost employment growth.

Investment in Research and Development for Renewable Energy:

 Lowering prices and boosting efficiency depend on ongoing innovation in renewable energy technologies. In addition to hastening the switch to renewable energy, research and development (R&D) projects in fields like improved materials, energy storage, and grid integration also generate high-paying, knowledge-based jobs in science, engineering, and technology. Government incentives and public-private partnerships are essential for promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the renewable energy industry.

Programs for Skills Development and Training: 

The shift to a green economy need a workforce with the necessary skills to meet the demands of developing industries. Governments, academic institutions, and businesses must work together to create apprenticeship programs and training courses that give workers the skills they need to pursue jobs in renewable energy. Countries can guarantee that their workforce stays competitive in a labor market that is changing quickly by making investments in education and vocational training.

Leading the way in the global shift to a more sustainable and equitable economy is renewable energy. By utilizing renewable energy sources, we can not only lessen the effects of climate change but also boost employment and the economy by millions of jobs.  

As governments, businesses, and civil society organizations collaborate to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy technologies, they pave the way for a brighter future powered by clean, renewable energy and fueled by the ingenuity and dedication of the green workforce. 

For more information>>

[lboogie1906]

John Mitchell Jr. (July 11, 1863 – December 3, 1929) was a businessman, newspaper editor, civil rights activist, and politician in Richmond, Virginia in Richmond’s Jackson Ward, which became known as the “Black Wall Street of America.” As editor of the Richmond Planet, he published articles in favor of racial equality. In 1904, he organized a Black boycott of the city’s segregated trolley system.

He founded and served as president of Mechanics Savings Bank. An impressive building was constructed for the Bank on Clay Street and newspaper ads him. He served as a city alderman for two terms and was active in fraternal and professional organizations. He ran unsuccessfully as a Republican Party candidate for governor in 1921.

His mother taught him to read and he worked as a newsboy while attending school. He then became a carriage boy for James Lyons, an aristocratic lawyer. Lyons opposed his education, but his mother persisted, and he attended the school taught by Rev. A. Binga Jr., he entered the Richmond Normal High School and received a silver medal for being first in his class. He joined the First Baptist Church and became an active member throughout his life, even serving as chairman of the executive board of the Virginia Baptist State Sunday school convention. He started his apprenticeship with encouragement and support from several prominent figures, including Blanche Bruce, John A. Logan, and Frederick Douglass.

He joined the Richmond Planet and was made an editor. “It was under his tenure that the Planet gained its well-deserved reputation as a proponent of racial equality and rights for the African American community.” He was a teacher in the local schools.

He reported fearlessly and campaigned against racist lynching, which increased in the late nineteenth century as whites worked to re-establish white supremacy and Jim Crow after the end of the Reconstruction era. Like Ida B. Wells, he reported lynchings. His condemnation of the lynching of Richard Walker in Charlotte County, Virginia resulted in his receiving death threats. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[melbourne-apprenticeship-group]

Melbourne Apprenticeship Group supports you by employing you directly, then connecting you with reputable providers of onsite apprenticeship and traineeship work. We’ll ensure you have a solid contract, a safe environment, great mentors, and secure payment. We work Australia-wide, creating the biggest network for apprenticeships in Queensland, Melbourne, and other areas of the country. 

[jobboard]

A Guide to Assistant Construction Jobs in the UK

The construction industry in the UK is bustling with opportunities, and one of the critical entry points for many professionals is the role of an assistant. Assistant construction jobs offer a gateway to a rewarding career, providing invaluable experience and a solid foundation in the field. This article delves into the various aspects of assistant construction jobs in the UK, exploring the roles, qualifications, pathways, and career prospects.

Key Roles of an Assistant in Construction

Assistant construction roles vary widely, encompassing numerous tasks that support the overall construction process. Some of the common positions include:

Assistant Site Manager: Supports the site manager in overseeing day-to-day operations on a construction site, ensuring health and safety regulations are followed, coordinating tasks, and liaising with subcontractors and suppliers.

Assistant Project Manager: Assists the project manager in planning, executing, and closing projects. Responsibilities may include scheduling, budgeting, and documentation.

Assistant Quantity Surveyor: Helps with cost estimation, budgeting, and financial management of construction projects. This role involves measuring quantities, preparing reports, and managing contracts.

Assistant Architect: Works under the supervision of senior architects, assisting in the design process, drafting plans, and preparing project documentation.

Construction Administrative Assistant: Handles administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, maintaining project files, and managing communications between different stakeholders.

Qualifications and Skills Required

To excel in assistant construction roles, specific qualifications and skills are essential:

Educational Background: A degree or diploma in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, or a related field can be advantageous. However, some roles might only require relevant vocational training or certifications.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in construction software, such as AutoCAD for design roles or project management tools like MS Project or Primavera, is often required.

Soft Skills: Strong organizational abilities, effective communication, and teamwork are crucial. Assistants need to be detail-oriented and capable of multitasking in a fast-paced environment.

Pathways to Enter the Industry

Several routes can lead to an assistant construction job in the UK:

Apprenticeships: Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training and academic instruction, allowing you to earn while you learn. They are an excellent way to gain practical experience and industry knowledge.

Graduate Schemes: Many construction firms offer structured graduate schemes, which combine training and hands-on experience, providing a clear pathway into assistant roles.

Internships and Work Placements: These short-term opportunities can provide valuable insights into the industry and help build a network of contacts.

Vocational Courses: Completing vocational courses in construction, project management, or specific trades can equip you with the necessary skills and credentials.

Industry Trends and Career Prospects

The construction industry in the UK is evolving, influenced by various trends that impact assistant roles:

Sustainable Construction: The push towards sustainable building practices means that assistants with knowledge of green technologies and materials are in demand.

Technological Integration: The adoption of digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM), drones, and AI is transforming the industry. Familiarity with these technologies can enhance your employability.

Infrastructure Boom: Major infrastructure projects, such as the HS2 rail network and large-scale housing developments, are creating numerous job opportunities across the country.

Finding Assistant Construction Jobs

To find assistant construction jobs in the UK, utilize various resources:

Job Portals: Websites like Indeed, Reed, Construction Job Board, and Construction Jobs provide a wide range of listings for assistant roles.

Networking: Joining industry groups, attending career fairs, and participating in professional events can help you connect with potential employers.

Recruitment Agencies: Specialized agencies like Hays Construction and Randstad focus on placing candidates in construction roles, offering tailored job search support.

Conclusion

Assistant construction jobs in the UK are a vital stepping stone for anyone looking to build a career in the construction industry. With the right qualifications, skills, and pathways, you can secure a position that offers growth, learning opportunities, and a rewarding career trajectory. Whether you're interested in site management, project coordination, quantity surveying, or architectural assistance, the construction industry has a place for you to start and thrive.

[scotianostra]

On January 2nd 1877 Alexander Bain, the Scottish inventor died at Kirkintilloch.

Bain was one of the most prolific inventors of the 19th century, and is one of the least remembered. His inventions are all the more remarkable given his background.

"When the lecture was over, and the audience were leaving, a few gentlemen accompanied the lecturer, and conversed with him on the subjects of the lecture. There was a humble lad walking behind them, and listening attentively to what was said … he never forgot the lecture, nor the subsequent conversation.”

After nearly seven years of clockmaking apprenticeship, he left the north of Scotland, briefly for Edinburgh, and then London.

Working in London, Bain went to evening lectures and saw some impractical clocks that used static electricity to maintain the swing of the pendulum. He thought he could do better. By the middle of 1840 he had made a clock powered by electric current, as well as a ‘printing telegraph’. He also thought “to make a common clock transmit its time to other distant clocks…” In Bain’s first electric clock, the pendulum bob was an electromagnet swinging between two permanent magnets. In his ‘printing telegraph’, the character for transmission was selected by stopping a moving pointer at the correct location on a labelled disc. In the receiver, the printing type-wheel was rotated into position by a clock escapement released by an electromagnet, one tooth at a time, by the appropriate number of received electrical pulses.

Bain displayed his electric clock at the Polytechnic Institution, and with John Barwise, a chronometer maker, and they applied for a patent in October 1840. The next month, Charles Wheatstone, professor of physics at King’s College London, demonstrated an electric clock to the Royal Society, claiming to have invented it. Bain’s patent, ‘Improvements in the Application of driving power to Clocks and Time Pieces’ was granted in January 1841, and a furious public dispute ensued.

Bain’s cause was supported by many, including John Finlaison (a Treasury civil servant, and Actuary of the National Debt.) By coincidence, Finlaison hailed from Thurso, and had been impressed by a demonstration of Bain’s printing telegraph:

It wasn't only the electric clock he is famous for, he then worked on an experimental facsimile machine in 1843 to 1846/ He used a clock to synchronise the movement of two pendulums for line-by-line scanning of a message. For transmission, Bain applied metal pins arranged on a cylinder made of insulating material. An electric probe that transmitted on-off pulses then scanned the pins. The message was reproduced at the receiving station on electrochemically sensitive paper impregnated with a chemical solution similar to that developed for his chemical telegraph. In his patent description dated 27 May 1843 for “improvements in producing and regulating electric currents and improvements in timepieces, and in electric printing, and signal telegraphs,” he claimed that “a copy of any other surface composed of conducting and non-conducting materials can be taken by these means”. This was way ahead of his time!

In 1844 Bain had married Matilda Bowie, the widowed sister-in-law of his greatest champion, John Finlaison, and moved his business to Edinburgh. He and his wife had five children to add to Matilda’s daughter from her first marriage.

Bain won a contract from the Glasgow and Edinburgh Railway to construct a telegraph line along their route, 46 miles long. The price quoted was £50 per mile; Cooke and Wheatstone were charging the Great Western Railway £250 per mile. Finlaison loaned £3,000 to the project and the finished system proved the capability of time distribution, with the master electric pendulum clock in Edinburgh transmitting to a "slave" clock in Glasgow.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the intrepid Scot, he traelled to America with his "electric telegraph" plans, but Samuel Morse had already built a telegraph between Baltimore and Washington D.C so was ahead in the game. After applying for a patent Morse challenged him in the courts, saying his patents already covered what Bain had laid out, it went all the way to the suoreme courts and Morse won, although the unimplemented patent claims of Morse were rejected, this was scant comfort to Bain, who left America and had to file for bankrupcy back home, the cost of his failed venture in the Americas cost him dearly.

Bain ended up pretty much back where he started, working for a watchmaker in Glasgow, repairing clocks for a living. One of his customers was the University’s William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) who recognised Bain’s genius and his plight. Thomson arranged a grant of £150 from the Royal Society, and successfully petitioned the Gladstone government to award Bain a Civil List pension of £80 per year.

Bain died on this day in 1877, cheated of fame and fortune by bad luck and poor choices. Aside from electric clocks and the chemical telegraph, he patented many other inventions, including a fire alarm; a marine depth sounder; a system for recording ships’ direction and speed at sea; a device for producing punched tape and a piano for playing the tape remotely; a current regulator for voltaic cells; a drinking fountain tap operated by pressing the receptacle on a lever, and perhaps too fondly, a device for drawing a measure of liquid from a container, similar to a bar optic for spirits.

Alexander Bain is buried in the Auld Aisle Cemetery, Kirkintilloch.

A Wetherspoons pub in Wick, close to where Alexander Bain served his apprenticeship, is now named after the inventor, it is also the most northerly Wetherspoons in the country. Also, as a tribute to his inventions, the main BT building in Glasgow is named Alexander Bain House.

There is also a commemorative plaque to Bain at his former workshop on Hanover Street in Edinburgh as seen in the pics.

As usual; I have slimmed this account of Bain's life down, if you want to read the full story check out this link https://www.slhf.org/sites/default/files/publications/slhf12_alexanderbain.pdf

[thxnews]

£1.3 Billion Infusion for Sizewell C Nuclear Build

New Funding to Fuel Nuclear Plant Construction

Boosting Local Jobs, and Power to Millions of Homes. The UK government is ramping up its efforts to expand nuclear energy by committing an additional £1.3 billion to support the construction of Sizewell C. This significant funding injection comes after the Development Consent Order (DCO) was triggered in January, granting formal approval for construction to begin. The move is expected to create thousands of jobs and provide stable, affordable, and secure power to up to 6 million homes.  

A Significant Funding Injection for Sizewell C

Major Funding Boost The government's £1.3 billion funding package represents the largest investment to date for the Sizewell C project. This financial support will facilitate early construction works and ensure essential local infrastructure enhancements, such as road and rail improvements, are in place before full-scale construction commences.  

DCO Approval Sets the Stage for Progress

Government Backing for Community Initiatives The Development Consent Order (DCO), activated on January 15th, signaled the green light for construction and allocated £250 million for community and environmental initiatives in the vicinity of the Sizewell C site.   Continued Government Commitment Investing an additional £1.3 billion consolidates the government’s position as the majority shareholder in the project, reached in December 2023. This funding commitment follows previous pledges of £700 million in November 2022 and an additional £511 million last summer.  

UK's Ambitious Nuclear Power Expansion

Charting a Low-Carbon Future Earlier this month, the government announced the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years, with the Civil Nuclear Roadmap setting out how the UK will quadruple nuclear power generation to up to 24GW by 2050. It commits to exploring another GW-scale power plant similar in scale to Sizewell C, simplifying regulation and building a fleet of Small Modular Reactors.   Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie said: "We are making fantastic progress on the next GW-scale power plant in the UK’s nuclear pipeline. This investment injection means we can steam ahead with work on Sizewell C ahead of the final investment decision targeted later this year." "It’s a win for our energy security and sends a strong message to investors that Britain is serious about its low-carbon, homegrown nuclear-powered future, providing reliable, cheaper power for British families."  

Strong Confidence from Sizewell C Leadership

Leadership Perspective   Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors at Sizewell C, said: "This significant investment underlines the importance of Sizewell C for Britain and is a further sign of confidence in our team to deliver it. With the project now in construction, the funding means we can step up activity in Suffolk and deliver on our commitments to local communities." "Sizewell C will build on the huge contribution of Hinkley Point C in restarting nuclear construction in Britain. It will bring another big boost to British nuclear skills and training, putting the industry in an even better position to deliver the other projects this country needs for its low carbon future."  

Job Creation and Skills Development

Benefits for the UK Workforce In addition to the 500 people employed so far, Sizewell C has plans to award 70% of the value of construction to UK businesses, helping to create thousands of jobs in Suffolk and nationwide. The project will also create 1,500 apprenticeships, helping to build the skills base to support the UK’s long-term plans for new nuclear. Once operational, the plant will generate 3.2GW of electricity, equating to 7% of the UK’s needs and enough to power up to 6 million British households for over 60 years.   Sources: THX News, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero & Andrew Bowie MP. Read the full article

[grantgoddard]

The trophy son : 1969 : Charles Church & IMIC Properties Limited, Camberley

It was the summer of ’69. My father had insisted I accompany him to his meeting. He had driven us to a wooden gateway on the south side of Lightwater Road that led into fenced farmland. He pulled in, parked our Rambler station wagon on the roadside where, on that warm sunny morning, the man we had come to meet was already waiting. My father introduced himself and then me:

“This is my son, Grant, who will be starting at Strode’s School in September.”

My father had heard stories about this local man and his wife having bought a house, moved in, then repaired, modernised it in contemporary style and furnished it stylishly before selling it a year later at a handsome profit. They had then repeated this process … twice. The strategy Americans call ‘flipping’ was unknown in Britain at the time, but this story had fascinated my parents during recent years, being a practical route to amass capital when mortgages were difficult to obtain for self-employed professionals. My parents might have enthusiastically copied this tactic, had they not already two school-age children. Finally, my father had requested an initial meeting with Charles Church.

In 1965, Australian state-owned airline Qantas had bought twenty plots of land in Camberley out of more than 200 for sale that had formed the grounds of Copped Hall, the estate of retired Captain Vivien Loyd. Between the Wars, in a small factory on Frimley Road, he had manufactured tanks sold to twenty foreign armies, as well as an ultralight plane known as ��The Flying Flea’. Loyd even produced an engine-powered lawnmower called ‘The Motor Sickle’ that was exhibited at the 1950 Smithfield Show. Qantas built modern detached houses with large gardens in a generously landscaped development named ‘Copped Hall Estate’ intended for occupation by its pilots flying from Heathrow Airport, a twenty-mile drive away. However, for reasons unknown, its houses were never used.

One of these properties, at 18 Green Hill Road, served as the location for the 1969 film ‘Three Into Two Won’t Go’ directed by (Sir) Peter Hall, starring Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom. Scenes of the street showed overgrown front gardens of empty houses on this ‘ghost�� estate, seemingly ideal for a movie shoot. Except that filming was disturbed by noise from tanks driving around the Ministry of Defence’s vast 18-hectare wooded, hilly tank testing ground a mere hundred yards away on the other side of ‘The Maultway’ main road, a legacy of Captain Loyd’s enterprise. Sandwiched between Camberley and Lightwater, the land is still used for this purpose but is now shared with local dogwalkers and bikers.

Eventually, Qantas decided to appoint a local estate agent to try and sell its unused houses, despite their location on the periphery of Camberley, three miles from its town centre and lacking a regular bus service. This was an ideal opportunity for Church and his wife to purchase one, and then another, to transform them into more marketable homes with ‘all mod cons’ that were demanded during the 1960’s. We lived three-quarters of a mile away from the entrance to this estate, on the opposite side of Upper Chobham Road, enabling my curious parents to observe goings-on there.

Church had been born more than a decade after my father and was very smart, having attended grammar school and studied civil engineering at university before starting his first construction contracting business, Burke & Church, in 1965. My father’s background could not have been more different, having left school at age fourteen and taken an apprenticeship with Redland Cement in Bracknell. He had studied quantity surveying at ‘night school’ and eventually started his own home-based business, producing drawings for renovations and extensions to local houses, offices and factories. By 1967, he had created ‘Architectural Drawing Services Limited’ in a small Camberley High Street office where he had ‘graduated’ to designing entire buildings. His business stationery appended the initials ‘AFS, ARIBA’ to his name even though he held no architectural qualification.

What Church and my father did have in common was that both had been building their first houses, both unusually modern for Camberley, simultaneously in 1967. Both had wives who were intimately involved in their businesses. Both aspired to modern interior designs. Indeed, I seemed to have spent much of my childhood sat on Heals of Tottenham Court Road’s wooden rear staircase that curled around one of those old ‘cage’ lifts, awaiting my parents to finish their endless perusal of state-of-the-art furniture. The two men’s skills were complimentary. Church knew how to build houses. My father knew how to design them.

So why had I been dragged along to the pair’s initial meeting? It was because my father lacked the formal education of Church but was desperate to portray himself as an equal. I had passed the ‘Eleven Plus’ examination that summer though my parents had decided not to send me to Camberley Grammar School, located opposite the infant and junior schools I had attended the last six years and the obvious, most local choice. Instead, I was to be sent to a grammar school in Egham that required a two-mile journey from our house to Camberley station, followed by a thirty-minute train ride. I was offered no say in their decision. Why was my school journey about to be made so arduous for the next seven years? Because Church too had attended Strode’s School and my father had waited to arrange this meeting until my parallel future there had been secured.

In addition to his design skills, my father could prove helpful to Church because he had amassed significant experience over the years ensuring his renovation designs were approved by the local council’s planning committee. He had joined ‘The Camberley Society’ and was attending their monthly meetings to hobnob with the local ‘great & good’, much to the disdain of my mother. Somewhere in his life, my father had adopted a neutral middle-class accent which, along with his smart suits, seemed sufficient proof to convince people he was indeed an ‘architect’. His speech contrasted starkly with that of his older brother who spoke like a character from ‘East Enders’, though success in the building industry had rewarded him with a detached house in Farnborough that had separate in and out driveways. On the handful of occasions I accompanied my father to visit his brother, I was sent up to his daughter Janet’s room, the first person I met who attended a private school. Although the same age, we had absolutely nothing in common.

After that summer’s initial introduction, Church and his wife Susanna became regular visitors to our bungalow which my father had designed and built in a Frank Lloyd Wright style with much glass and bare brickwork. The two couples became friends and my father set up a company to formalise their partnership. I was told to find a suitable name. I leafed through my copies of ‘Billboard’ magazine, the voluminous American weekly music industry publication I bought from a newsstand on the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street whenever we visited London. I spied an advertisement for the International Music Industries Conference organised in Cannes (forerunner of ‘MIDEM’) which was abbreviated to ‘IMIC’. The company was to be named ‘IMIC Properties Limited’.

Houses were designed. Houses were built. Houses were sold. Profits were shared. My father bought an American Motors Javelin sports car. Both he and Church started flying lessons separately at nearby Blackbushe Airport. I accompanied my father on one occasion and hated the experience. Nevertheless, it remained my task to regularly test my father’s knowledge necessary to obtain his pilot licence, which is the reason I can recite the NATO phonetic alphabet to this day. For a short while, life was good.

In 1971, our family started to fall apart. My mother had terrible bruises on her face and the toilet door of our house had been kicked in as a result of my father’s temper. By 1972, he had left us for good. After an entire childhood having been required to work in his business, providing skills in mathematics, finance and administration that he lacked, I no longer wanted to even talk to him. He responded by making his family’s life as difficult as possible, stealing back every gift he had ever bought us, starving us of funds and dispossessing me and my baby sister.

Evidently, my father’s business partnership with Church must have disintegrated at around the same time though, to their credit, both he and his wife maintained contact with my mother, offering her support and practical assistance. Charles Church Developments Limited was launched by the couple in 1972 and became one of Britain’s most successful housebuilding enterprises. IMIC Properties Limited was forcibly dissolved in 1980. By then, my father had disappeared, owing thousands in unpaid court-ordered maintenance to our family. He was eventually found by US Immigration to be living illegally in Arkansas and deported. His debts to us were never paid.

On 1 July 1989, at the age of forty-four, Charles Church was killed when, after broadcasting a mayday call, the Spitfire [G-MKVC] he had restored crash landed near Blackbushe Airport. By then, he was reportedly one of the richest two-hundred people in Britain with a fortune of £140m. My mother attended his funeral. It was a tragic conclusion to the beginnings of an exciting business opportunity for my father that I had witnessed at that roadside rendezvous two decades previously … but which had ultimately impoverished the rest of our family.