TRAINING TO FUTURE-PROOF SUPERVISORS
In collaboration with National Highways and the Supply Chain Safety Leadership Group (SCSLG), the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has developed a suite of online learning modules for supervisor skills level one (SSL1) that can be applied across various sectors including engineering surveying. Here, the origins of the course are described.
In 2020, National Highways took steps towards developing a training benchmark standard for all supervisors operating within the highways strategic network and beyond. Observation and feedback had led to the belief that not only were there major inconsistencies in standards of training for supervisors across the supply chain, but also that there appeared to be significant skills gaps as well.
Working with SCSLG, the first requirement was to understand what the supply chain thought regarding their supervisors. A decision to undertake a survey was agreed. Headlines from the results indicated a high percentage of technical and operational skills gaps in planning, cost control, commercial awareness, sustainability/environment and risk assessment and identification.
Of those surveyed, 58% thought that standardising a supervisory development programme would be a good thing, and that training provision in general didn’t appear to be a problem, although the quality of training in terms of supporting the identified skills gaps was.
More significantly, 45% of respondents were concerned about softer management skills gaps and the related lack of training in inclusive leadership and team culture, managing team performance and mental health and wellbeing. 57% of companies said they had problems recruiting staff and over 60% indicated that candidates lacked adequate experience and relevant skills. 54% highlighted problems attending traditional classroom training due to conflict with project requirements and time away from site.
In conclusion, 58% of respondents thought that standardising a supervisory development programme would be a good thing, and that training provision in general didn’t appear to be a problem, although the quality of training in terms of supporting the identified skills gaps was.
A reset was required. Equipped with a better understanding of market needs, the SCSLG set about creating a minimum standard of supervision that ensured all supervisors were competent, capable and fit for both the present and the future.
Using National Highways’ Common Intent and Raising the Bar – B29 documents as the benchmark for levels of minimum competency, the SCSLG collaborated on the development of content using expert authors taken from supply chain companies WJ Group, Graham Construction, Balfour Beatty and Skanska to create a competency framework of training appropriate for three levels.
The format of training was just as important as the content. The training needed to be made more accessible for all, so this required some serious consideration. In 2021, CIHT had just launched a unique new digital training provision: CIHT Learn. CIHT Learn offers unique high-quality content, tailor-made for the sector, provided in an on-demand format and segmented into bite-sized sessions that test for learning as progress is made through each course. The format was judged to be effective, and a collaboration agreed between CIHT and the SCSLG.
In the spring of 2023, SSL1 launched. Consisting of nine modules, SSL1, addressed all the skills gaps that had been identified, and the new training was made available for all in a smart, modern and more accessible format.
SSL1’s focus is to provide easily accessible training for an individual who works in one team, and who directly controls a small operation.
Endorsed by National Highways, and approved as a competency for Highways Passport, SSL1 has gone from strength to strength, widely acknowledged as the go-to training benchmark for all trainees and supervisors in the highways sector.
More recently, due to demand for the course, CITB has approved SSL1 for 70% grant funding via its employer network scheme. CITB agents can arrange this. Alternatively, all paying members of CIHT can access SSL1 content completely free of charge, or via CIHT’s new learner licence.
Supervisor skills level two (SSL2) will launch later this year and has been developed for an individual who oversees the work of a larger team, and who’s role encompasses a degree of co-ordination and management on a medium-sized site, including specialist subcontractors. Work begins on Level Three next year.
The development of the supervisor skills programme has been a fantastic initiative, and all who have been involved are immensely proud of this achievement. We encourage you to make contact, and to find out how you can access to this important course, for your company and its staff.