ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, has recently presented the National Demolition Training Group (Scotland) with £7,000 to mark its establishment as Scotland’s first independently operated industry training group.

The first instalment of the £28,000 grant given by ConstructionSkills is designed to allow the group to become independent and develop its infrastructure further in order for it to operate without administrative assistance from the Sector Skills Council.

The National Demolition Training Group (Scotland) was formed in 2001 by individuals such as Jim Caldwell, Senior, from the JCJ Group who recognised a gap in the market for demolition training. He saw the need to raise the profile of the demolition industry and also its standards.


Now, with a board of other influential members of the Demolition industry, including representatives from Border Demolition, MacWilliam Demolition, St Andrew’s Demolition, Forth Demolition Clyde Demolition and NDTG Forum National Representatives, the group has expanded to over 50 companies in Scotland.

Phil Ford, Company Development Manager at ConstructionSkills, said: "I am delighted to hand over the cheque today to the Group and I am confident they will continue to provide excellent training and knowledge to the demolition industry.

"The Group is working hard to improve the standard of workers in the demolition industry which is a benefit not only to the employers but to other contractors looking to hire a demolition company."

The incoming chairman of the group Craig MacWilliam, company director of MacWilliam Demolition, said:"When the group started in 2001, it delivered around 300 training days in the first year. In 2008 we achieved 748 days, which is a fantastic number, especially considering the current climate.

"The support that ConstructionSkills have given us over the last few years has been invaluable but we are ready to become independent.

"Right now, training is more important than ever and we hope to continue our education of the sector and train our employees up to the highest standard."

(GK/KMcA)