Hanson blast off on NVQ route

HANSON Aggregates have confirmed their commitment to National Vocational Qualifications with the presentation of NVQ certificates to three of their shotfirers - the first in the company to gain the nationally recognized qualification.

Denis Haywood, based at Brinscall Quarry in Lancashire, Ian Sproat, based at Shap Quarry in Cumbria, and David Horn, based at Ingleton Quarry in Yorkshire, worked with NVQ assessor Kevin Heywood to gain their qualifications. Following their success, a programme is being rolled out with the aim of ensuring that all Hanson Aggregates' shotfirers earn their level three NVQ by 2003.

In addition, the company have made a commitment to EPIC, the national training organization for the quarrying industry, that 75% of operators working with static and mobile plant will also gain NVQs by the same target date. This supports the Government's learning targets which promote qualifications in the workplace. Clive Bergmann, regional training officer responsible for NVQ training, said the company were now making a major commitment to help operators gain NVQs.

'Introducing NVQs across the company will encourage consistency across the regions and allow us to develop best practice.

'The NVQ programme also forms part of our wider effort to demonstrate competence in environmental management to the Government,' he said.