NHBC BCI Academy Building careers
INTRODUCTION NHBC recognises the importance of recruiting, developing and retaining the best people. The roles of inspector and surveyor are critical to the on-going success of NHBC, and no-one knows better than you how hard it is to juggle the needs of our homeowner and builder customers with the needs of the business. NHBC recognises the importance of recruiting, developing and retaining the best people, and it s for this reason that we are developing the BCI Skills Matrix and Academy. It is being designed for you irrespective of your length of service or experience. Every inspector and surveyor working for NHBC will be in a position to choose their career path, subject to the availability of positions, and have the opportunity to continue to learn and progress towards their goal. You will see a definite career progression and opportunities within the Business Unit. The BCI Academy is designed to give you access to learning and development that: could help you to brush up on current skills meet the changing demands of your role may also help you to advance your career in other areas of NHBC. The BCI Academy isn t just another training course, it is a complete stepped development programme covering Role 1 4 job levels, and includes a wide range of development opportunities. Perhaps the best news of all is that you don t need to go on hundreds of training courses to learn things that you know already. Every inspector and surveyor will be asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire in conjunction with their manager, in order to identify their current fit within the new job framework. Afterwards you will receive a generic set of development opportunities to help you manage your career development. The Academy is based on ongoing development, therefore there are opportunities for you to attain a higher role level as well as being able to progress your career in BCI or NHBC of course this will need to be closely matched to business need. 1
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HOW DOES THE ACADEMY WORK? The BCI Academy covers three key elements recruitment, assessment and development for all technical staff. Recruitment As the volumes of work have been increasing, it has become necessary to step up the levels of recruitment. New recruits will join BCI and depending on their experience, knowledge and skill will be allocated to one of the roles. You may be able to help us recruit additional staff by telling people about the role of NHBC and the job/career opportunities and challenges within BCI. Assessment Everyone will take part in the assessment using the Skills Matrix. The matrix covers knowledge, skill and experience and is split into a number of areas. Skill descriptors support each skill area. You will be asked to assess yourself against the descriptors then your manager will be asked to do the same. Then the two of you will meet to discuss your assessments. Once agreed your assessment will be forwarded to the Project Manager for BCI Academy for matching against the BCI Role Definition List. You will be notified of your confirmed role and provided with your job description and bespoke training plan. If you are not happy about the role level, you have the right to appeal using the appeals process. It is important that your level is the correct one for you based on your current knowledge, skills, understanding and experience as the role will be linked to the type of work projects you will be working on. With the increasing complexity and diversity of development it is crucial that you are provided with the right training and development in order to undertake your job from a position of strength. You will need to have evidence that you have developed your knowledge, skills and understanding in order for a change to be possible. There are no rights or wrongs associated with the levels; they simply reflect the type of work you are required and able to fulfil based on your knowledge, skill, understanding and experience as well as a reflection of the type of work available in your area. It is important for the business unit that our skill base reflects the type of work being carried out. If you aim to progress to a different job role you may need to relocate in order to be positioned coincident with the demand for the type of work covered by the role but we will seek to match your aspirations with opportunity and support. It is quite possible, and in many cases preferable, to remain at the same role level but even where this is the case, the changing nature of developments will demand the development of the skill base. The self-assessment covers a range of work areas: Company matters Other functions Products BCI matters Technical Procedural IT systems Behaviour Management Qualifications All of which are relevant to your role. Under the work areas, there are a number of descriptors again all are relevant to your role. 3
BUILDING CAREERS Development BCI is very proud about the level of support, training and development provided to all the team and the BCI Academy formalises these opportunities through the use of: bespoke and generic training plans provision of vocational development membership of professional institutes mentoring and shadowing Remember in order to move up a role level, you will only need to study those areas highlighted on your assessment after the matching exercise has been completed. People who work for NHBC and have experience and expertise in their area of work will provide some of the development activities, although external providers will be used where appropriate. Wherever possible and practical training will be local, although depending on numbers there may be a requirement for you to travel to the training venue. corporate, business unit and area training activities. 4
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES What can the Academy do for me in terms of career opportunities? Building Control Surveyor Project Surveyor Trainee Assistant Building Control Surveyor Assistant Building Inspector Special Project Surveyor Special Project Building Inspector Health & Safety Training Services Claims Group Central Services Building Inspector Project Building Inspector There are very clear paths through the surveying or inspection routes, however it is possible, subject to available positions, market demand and you having gained the right level of experience to move from surveying to inspection or vice versa. NHBC also opens the avenues through the BCI Academy to other Business Units. If you hope to become a manager then the Management Development Centres provide excellent opportunities and feedback for you to achieve your ambition. If on the other hand you are happy within your role and do not wish to progress, this again is fine and we will help you to achieve your full potential in your role. The BCI Academy really is your oyster when planning and developing your career. 5
BUILDING CAREERS What topics are covered in the Academy-assessment section? The topics are split into a number of areas covering all aspects of your role: Company matters Purpose and function Structure H&S policy and procedures HR policies and procedures Other functions Claims Services Products Buildmark Building Control Conversions and renovations Solo Buildmark Choice Quality Management Services Trade Talks BCI matters Purpose and function Technical Legislation Marking Pride in the Job Building Regulations NHBC Standards and guidance Risk management and assessment Methods of construction BC plan appraisal experience Inspection of building work Procedural Inspection manual Surveying manual Warranty registration through to certification BC - into final certification IT systems ISSS FUSION Other IT systems Behaviour Assertiveness Communication Self directing Teamworking Consultative selling Problem solving/decision making Management Teambuilding Performance management Developing others Leadership Commercial and financial awareness Qualifications Academic and vocational qualifications Professional status 6
THE NEXT STEP The BCI Academy offers on the job development and the opportunity of a more satisfying career with NHBC. How will the BCI Academy help me? The BCI Academy gives you the chance to: gain external accreditation and recognition of your achievements improve your knowledge and skills increase the variety of your work be confident about making decisions improve customer satisfaction levels plan your development and career path earn more money being paid for additional skills you have gained. What do I need to do now? Your manager will be in touch shortly; in the meantime: think about your experiences and how you see your career developing complete the self-assessment questionnaire attend your discussion meeting and complete the final section submit your assessment to the Project Manager, BCI for matching review your matching together with the development opportunities discuss the next steps with your line manager. 7
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NOTES The BCI Academy career development in your hands... 9
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NHBC Building Control Services Ltd Ash House, Breckland, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6ET Tel: 0870 241 4306 Fax: 0870 241 4307 www.nhbc.co.uk HB1987 06/04