This past week saw the northern regional meeting of the Property Care Association. Bradford, West Yorkshire, was the venue and what a great success it was.
These meetings bring together the cream of the preservation industry for training and business development work. Damp, woodworm, basement waterproofing, wall ties and dry rot is always on the menu.
PCA general manager Stephen Hodgson arranged a packed schedule, with presentations covering structural waterproofing, Construction skills training and Asbestos awareness training.
Waterproofing was covered by the PCA’s resident expert Phil Hewit, who talked delegates through new improvements to the CSSW examination. The Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing qualification is only a few years old and has now been beefed up with a further module for candidates to pass. The new Health, Safety and Law module will bring additional credibility to the CSSW, enabling it to stand alone, without the need to already have sat the CSRT; Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments. Those like us, who have already sat the CSRT have passed the new module as part of that examination. From now on, all candidates must have demonstrated competence in this module at least once, which is the case with all CSRT holders.
Construction skills specialists were on hand to take members through additional training options and our MD Bryan Hindle CSRT CSSW is excited and eager to take these further.
Steve took us through the Green Deal and it was the general opinion that condensation and mould growth issues will increase, as an unfortunate by-product of the new scheme. PCA members are well placed to help clients who suffer these problems and over the past three years we at BT Preservation have massively increased our diagnostic and treatment skills in exactly this area, dealing with mould and damp problems all over the north of England.
PCA Health & Safety consultants Stellard Kane then presented their Asbestos Awareness training to delegates and their staff.
It was a really valuable and worthwhile day in Bradford and further confirmation that the Property Care Association is going from strength to strength under the management of Steve Hodgson and the very capable chairmanship of Martin Hughes.
Martin waved goodbye from the chair and is replaced by Les Meikle for the next two years. We wish Les well and note that he has a tough act to follow and all members were very appreciative of Martin’s superb contribution during his time at the PCA helm.
Our PCA membership is one of the ways we use to keep challenging ourselves to improve in every way we can.
