GOLDCAST Academy has revealed to Project Plant that it is in the process of launching a simulator as part of a multi-million-pound project which will allow the business to virtually mimic the goings on of sites to a level it says is yet to be found elsewhere in the UK.
The move comes as the Lanark-based training academy looks to cut its carbon emissions, improve site safety awareness and ramp up its offering to young people and those looking for a career change into the plant sector.
Expected to launch towards the end of this year, the simulator will see operators at Goldcast’s site use VR goggles to properly immerse themselves in operating real machinery. The product is so detailed that it even involves putting on a seatbelt, checking blind spots, and other plant in operation.
Speaking to Project Plant at the firm’s Lanark base, which neighbours Mouse Valley Plant Hire (MVP), Tom Orkiszewski, director of Goldcast Academy, spoke of his belief in the ability of young people to learn to operate plant machinery.
Tom’s 14-year-old son Jakub recently passed his CPCS ADT test at the academy alongside 13-year-old Jay Currie, son of Cullen-based Currie Contractors’ director James.
“My then eight-year-old son Niko jumped on a simulator at ScotPlant,” Tom added. “I explained how the joystick worked and he started unloading the truck — it was easy for him, despite him never having been on a simulator before.”
Jakub and Niko both visit the academy frequently to help the team curate training programmes for young people, with Tom rewarding the pair with a couple of hours on the site’s plant machinery as a thanks for the work!
“We just want to show that it’s not rocket science (for young people to pass),” Tom explained. “Teenagers can get the tickets and everything will be done to the same standards (as with adults). The quality monitor came out to site like they would with an adult to see Jakub and Jay and everything was deemed fine, so it’s not like corners were cut.”
Heaping praise on the duo, Justyna Kaminska, general manager at Goldcast Academy, underlined the importance of having young people onboard to showcase the wealth of opportunities in the plant sector.
“They’re the real influence,” she stated. “Young people can relate to boys and girls their age a lot more than they can to an adult. Jakub and Jay are great influences – they’ve already done the training, they can tell young people first-hand how they found it, and how passionate they are about it.”
Currently in early, but positive, discussions with South Lanarkshire Council, the firm hopes to visit local schools to initially showcase the sector to youngsters before later taking them out on site visits and fitting the simulator into a van to give them first-hand experience of operating the machinery.
“The alternative of not going to university (after school) is usually retail,” Justyna continued. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but not everyone wants to go into retail either — so we want to catch those young people because there’s real potential in them.
“It must be hard when you’re 16 and you’ve got to pick a career as, let’s face it, all you have ever done is school so that can be a big jump,” she added. “Whilst some have great influence from their parents or uncles, aunties, or friends, others need that extra information — they need that extra opportunity, so if we can even capture 10% of that I think that’s good enough because of the future.”
It’s not just young people the firm is targeting, but also older individuals perhaps looking for a career change, especially at the moment when the cost of living crisis is prompting many to re-evaluate their career prospects.
One recent Goldcast success story was a warehouse operative in his mid-50s who undertook the company’s 60 Days Challenge. Described by the business as its ‘best’ package for anyone looking to start a career in the construction sector, the six-day course includes a CITB health and safety test, as well as training on an excavator, lifting operations, and a forward tipping dumper.
The programme then moves onto how to perform daily tasks on site, the correct procedures, how to look for jobs, create a CV, and also accountancy training in case the operative wants to work as a sole trader.
The name stems from Goldcast’s belief that the training can lead to the trainee finding work within 60 days of the training being completed. In the case of the former warehouse operative, he was in full-time employment in the plant sector within a week.
“Age is no problem,” Tom emphasised. “The first couple of days can be a real challenge as they are stressed because it’s something new, but by the final day everyone passes and we’re all happy.”
I was shown how daunting operating a machine for the first time can be when Arkadiusz Bak, director of Goldcast, insisted I have a go on a mini-excavator. The message was clear: move the levers slowly and steadily. However, the racing thoughts of operating such a powerful and unfamiliar machine — all whilst being photographed — meant this was a bit lost on me!
Nonetheless, Arkadiusz showed a great deal of patience as I rapidly swung the arm forward, before eventually helping me nail the composed movement and joking that it’s time to start the process of switching from writing to plant operating!
Although I may not be over the age of 50, our photographer Craig is. Despite his protests, Justyna insisted that he also have a go on the machinery. Like Tom and Arkadiusz, she is a big believer that age is no barrier to learning how to operate plant.
“I sometimes think that if you are in your 50s it potentially works to your advantage, contrary to the popular opinion,” she explained. “At that age, you will have had experience working with many, many people in so many jobs — you’re a very well-rounded person and your demeanour as a new operator will be different because you have that life experience.”
Currently boasting a 98% pass rate, the academy’s success is naturally put down to the expertise of trainers and the nature of the training. However, a great deal of effort is also put into ensuring that the training area features different terrains that not only create differing challenges, but also mimic what a real-life site can be like.
The academy also insists that trainees operate machinery at the same time as each other, to again give that feel of a busy site with hazards.
Credence has been given to location, with the training base situated a ten-minute drive from Lanark town centre, meaning there are few distractions. Goldcast has an agreement with several local B&Bs and hotels to provide a special price for trainees, with them able to return to their accommodation and study the theory side.
“The surroundings here are so beautiful and people always say it helps them learn because it’s so serene,” Justyna added. “Some of them come from really busy cities and they come here and say it’s so calm, it really helps them relax.
“They can really switch off here; we have a really good pass rate of 98% — so I think it’s partially thanks to the fact they’re extracted from the daily hustle and bustle. They come here and focus just on training — if they’re not 100% confident, we’ll stay behind to make sure once they go (for their test) they’ve had everything possible delivered to them.”
The allure of the training and surroundings was personified when a trainee from London ended up extending her stay at the academy from six days to three weeks, during which time she was able to obtain six different tickets.
Although impressed by her ability, Tom said he isn’t surprised. He revealed that women generally excel on the machines and are more likely than men to come in and do multiple tickets to get a feel for what works best for them.
However, only around 10 to 15% of trainees in 2022 were female. The firm is aiming to boost that number this year and is hopeful that its work in promoting the sector to the youth and also those considering a career change can help in doing that.
“If you enjoy your work and at the same time earn good money, then what’s not to like?” Tom concluded.
