D-Drill MD takes up new role with NSCC
THE managing director of a Midlands construction firm has taken up a new role within a leading industry organisation.
Julie White, the MD of diamond drilling and concrete sawing company D-Drill, is the new chair of the National Specialist Contractors’ Council’s (NSCC) Training Committee.
The organisation brings together the common aims of 29 specialist trade organisations within construction and is the voice of more than 7,000 contractors across the UK.
It has four key topics at the heart of its policy – fair payment, training, reducing bureaucracy and low carbon.
Ms White will spearhead the NSCC’s work on skills and is reigniting her campaign to see the creation of a national database of apprentices in the construction industry.
She said: “I am a big believer in trade bodies because I think it gives an industry much greater strength to be speaking with one voice.
“Fair payment, cutting red tape and reducing the industry’s carbon footprint are all issues that I am very passionate about but, as the chair of the Training Committee, skills and training will be my primary focus in this role.
“Those who know me know I am a big believer in apprenticeships and training. I’m putting myself through an apprenticeship and 45% of D-Drill’s staff have come through the scheme.”
She said the firm continued to look for future talent and, as the economy started to improve, the construction industry in general needed to be prepared and needed to have a pool of people it could utilise to sustain growth.
“One idea I have put forward to Government which has received positive ministerial feedback is to have a database of apprentices who have been released by other companies within our industry,” she said.
“In principle, everyone agrees with the idea because it means people who have shown an interest in construction but haven’t yet got a permanent job could be picked up by another company who are looking to recruit.
“The sticking point, however, is data protection and that is where I have asked the Government to step in and change the rules.”
She said both Matthew Hancock and Vince Cable were in favour of the move and would be looking things in more detail. However, she added the industry needed more certainty.
