An Industry in Transition Needs Different Approaches to Training
The changing face of the infrastructure sector affects not just the type of training Osborne delivers to our teams and supply chain partners but also how it is delivered. For most of its history, training in the infrastructure sector has been mainly focused on technical competence. This is no longer enough to meet the demands of an industry undergoing transformation.
Like many organizations over the last year, we’ve accelerated the process of moving more training online. This has enormous benefits. Important training is more accessible and convenient than ever. In a rapidly growing business, the ability to deliver essential training quickly to new recruits so that they can easily become established members of the team is a major benefit.
But it isn’t just Covid-19 and the need for social distancing that is driving change. Our transport infrastructure is becoming more digitally-enabled, as are the processes used to design and manage programmes to extend, maintain and improve road and rail networks.
Broader Skills, Wider Recruitment
New skills are constantly needed, both for our existing staff and for new recruits. The changing face of infrastructure also means that people from a wider range of backgrounds and with different interests and abilities can find careers in the industry.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are essential values in any modern business. A major priority across the construction sector is to leverage social value to help communities that have been affected economically by the pandemic. We need to be welcoming and supportive, which means maintaining a high profile for EDI across our business.
Environmental Awareness
Other major challenges lie in the areas of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). As the industry and the general public’s expectations continue to evolve, we must become ever more sensitive to how the way we work affects others. Environmental and sustainability issues are constant themes in Toolbox Talks and our STOPThink! cascades. We aim to ensure that staff at all levels are aware and skilled at mitigating the environmental impact of our projects.
The learning and development hub for everyone within Osborne delivers targeted learning modules and courses based on their individual role. This ensures that skills are kept up to date with the changing needs of the industry and that people are supported to develop their careers. This involves so much more than technical competence.
Find out more by visiting our resource centre.
