Groundforce Training has teamed up with Bridgwater and Taunton College to provide specialist training in excavation support for workers at Hinkley Point C.
This latest venture is part of their ongoing commitment to developing and spreading good practice within the construction industry and follows their recent collaboration with Loughborough University.
Because Groundforce Training are the only nationwide, accredited excavation support training company in the UK and Ireland to offer industry recognised Energy and Utility Skills Register (EUSR) training courses. They were approached by Bridgwater and Taunton College to work with them to provide training, predominately for contractors working at Hinkley Point C, one of the largest and most technologically complex construction projects ever to be built in the UK.
As part of a number of construction skills courses offered by the college, Groundforce Training will provide a comprehensive range one and two-day theory and practical training courses in excavation and trench support at the Colleges’ CSIC (Construction Skills and Innovation Centre) in Cannington. The £3 million state-of-the-art centre was built in partnership with EDF Energy, who have invested more than £11 million in the local area to improve training and skills provision.
Groundforce Training has in fact delivered its first such course to Tier 1 main contractor Kier BAM. The EUSR-accredited two-day install, inspect and remove proprietary shoring systems course was specially adapted to incorporate Kier BAM's specific risk assessments, method statements and ways of working with excavations at Hinkley Point C.
These courses will introduce workers to the theoretical and practical dangers of excavation work, covering areas such as the HSE’s HSG150 and HSG 47 guidance documents as well as the Construction Industry Research and Information Association’s report.
Learners become familiarised with the necessity for identifying various ground conditions and understand a variety of methods for utilising the appropriate ground retention systems. The course also includes practical training and assessments while installing ground support systems in a live environment with a specific temporary works designs.
Interest from contractors to ensure their workers are fully-trained and up-to-date with industry standards and accreditations, as well as working with the latest trench shoring equipment is high. The college already has a further 13 courses booked.
Groundforce Training general manager Chris Gearran said: “We are delighted that our training expertise is recognised by Somerset colleges and contractors working at Hinkley Point C, and particularly our flexibility to incorporate the specific requirements of a company or project.”