Profile - Grint Drylining
David Grint at the FPDC
Grint Drylining Director David Grint will shortly be coming to the end of his two year spell as President of the Federation of Plasterering and Drywall Contractors (FPDC).
David's report for the FPDC 2006 annual review
My very first duty as President was to preside over the prestigious Plaisterer's Trophy Awards Ceremony. The 2006 Awards were a great success with a good cross section of entries. The entries are examples demonstrating the highest quality and they are evidence of the skill and dedication of our craft and tradesmen.
After much work with CITB-ConstructionSkills, we had a 3rd and 4th intake of apprentices for the pilot drylining training course at the beginning of the year. The training programme we wrote has provided a real career opportunity for new entrants in this sector at last. Employers now have the possibility of achieving a properly trained and qualified workforce. We have continued to lobby CITB-ConstructionSkills to create a more robust training environment and correct the weaknesses of the current system.
The technical support provided to members over the years has been an invaluable service and much thanks goes to David Cole who retired at the start of the year after nearly 20 years with the Federation. We have continued to develop the technical service provided to members, appointing a full time technical consultant.
Safety has once again been a top priority. Not only to we advocate a safer working environment, but during the year our involvement with the Health and Safety Executive and the Major Contractors Group, created opportunities to raise our concerns about the manual handling of increasingly heavy plasterboard.
Environmental issues were ever present during the year and further emphasis on the need for good waste management and recycling has led us to establish direct links with BRE and Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP). It is clear that there is a need for the industry to commit to achievable targets to minimise waste produced and increase levels of recycling.
During my first year as President I have had the opportunity to meet many members and I look forward to my second year with anticipation. My thanks go to the members who volunteer their valuable time and also to our officers who support our members with dedication and real enthusiasm. I wish everyone continued success for the future.
David's closing notes for the FPDC magazine
As I took up my term of office, nearly two years ago, we were completing the third and fourth intake on the technical training course that FPDC had written and the then CITB had agreed to pilot. We'd made a decision to extend our technical service to full time and I was able to announce the commitment to increase our contractor membership criteria over my Presidency.
One of the big frustrations our members express is that life moves slowly in the world of membership organisations. However, like any business, some activities are easier 'wins' than others.
Training is a baton I picked up with some enthusiasm. I thought we were going for a middle distance, however it has become a marathon and the finish line is not quite in sight. We have come from overseeing a second pilot to committing the Federation contractor membership to realising the first employer-led not-for-profit training facility. We have secured powerful support that understands employer-driven training is both innovative and desirable.
Pressure we mounted on CITB ConstructionSkills to qualify existing workers faster, with standard qualifications, resulted in another pilot - 11,000 EWPA places, financially supported through the government's Train to Gain initiative and, where needed, directly by ConstructionSkills.
The training baton will have to be handed over to my successor with perhaps even more emphasis over the next 12 months.
Some issuesappear to have been and gone. There was much concern about the changes to the Inland Revenue's CIS a year ago. We put a number of guidance documents in place for members, giving information that clarified the status of workers as well as new contracts available for both directly employed and labour only sub contractors.
The environment has also been an important issue that is still emerging. The speaker at our conference this year made it clear that as Defra has identified plasterboard as one of 10 key materials to target, environmental issues are here to stay. Last year we published a report looking at barriers to improving plasterboard waste. We are currently working with Ove Arup on a WRAP best practice guide to improve site waste management.
Another significant contribution has been FPDC drafting a Contractor and Developer Agreement (CaDA). This document lays out targets to reduce waste and maximise the recycling of plasterboard from sites in the form of a voluntary agreement, similar to the board manufacturers' agreement. It is hoped the individual agreements will underpin a collective industry agreement eventually. There are other developments too, such as this magazine increasing its frequency to six issues and the growth in membership over the past two years, which I hope will be further aided by our increased membership criteria.
This is aligned with the HSE's core criteria that clearly states the recommended level of competence against which a contractor should be assessed.
Personal highlights have been meeting the broad range of people I am brought into contact with as President and the pride I have felt representing the mdustry that I have worked in all my life.
I wish the Vice-president Mat McAdams much luck for the next two years and thank all those that have supported and helped me during my Presidency.
It has been a privilege and almost always a pleasure, but now it is time to re-focus on my day job.