The new year is always a popular time for people to plan out their next career steps and to research what type of training and experience is needed to make this progress.
Whether you’re looking for courses that will help you upskill, reskill or add specialist qualifications to your existing knowledge, it’s never too early to begin planning your training for the year.
Getting ahead of the curve with your training reduces the chances of missing out on potential work because you don’t hold the required qualifications. Having all the necessary skills before summer, traditionally one of the busiest periods in the construction industry due to the weather, is also a significant advantage to planning early.
Knowing as soon as possible when you’ll be training is also handy when it comes to planning your diary for the coming weeks and months.
Learn a new skill
Adding an entirely new skill set is always a good thing, and is often an effective way of boosting your employability and earning potential.
Perhaps you’re a tradesperson already qualified to work in a domestic setting, adding the ability to also work in commercial settings immediately increases the scope of jobs you’re able to take on.
It’s also worth considering which trades are likely to be in high demand throughout 2023, and to tailor your training to take advantage. According to the Construction Skills Network’s latest Industry Outlook Report, the largest increases in demand are expected to be for carpenters/joiners and construction managers, along with a range of technical roles including electronics technicians, civil engineering technicians, estimators and valuers and office support staff.
Develop existing skills
There’s also the option to develop your existing skill set with advanced and specialist training. This could include valuable add-on skills like boiler fault finding, if you’re already a gas engineer, or water regulations which is useful for plumbers.
With soaring bills and the rising cost of living, energy efficiency is another priceless area of expertise for heating installers that is more sought after than ever before, making advanced training in this area a great long-term investment
Mandatory qualifications
Health and safety is central to the construction industry, so ensuring you hold the exact qualifications that are required before carrying out work, and that they are up to date, is vital.
When choosing a training course, it’s crucial you check that the supplier is accredited by an industry-recognised body and that the course content covers the latest regulations.
The new year is also a good time to check whether any of your qualifications are due to expire in the coming months. For instance, Gas Safe registration expires after 12 months, but you can renew your registration up to eight weeks before it’s due to expire. The last thing you want is to be caught out and be unable to carry out work while you’re waiting to renew.
Are you looking for ways to develop your construction skills in 2023? Take a look through the variety of courses on offer at Able Skills here.