Investment in skills and local talent on display at St Austell College
Carl Olver exemplifies TClarke’s approach and values. Now Health and Safety Adviser for Devon and Cornwall, he has a deliberate ‘can-do’ attitude – and that’s on display at St Austell College, one of TClarke’s flagship regional projects.
“I completed my electrical apprenticeship with TClarke and, fifteen years on, I’m H&S Adviser for the region. My whole approach is built on two things: first, the powerful, ingrained safety culture and systems we have across TClarke; and second, my experience as a TClarke electrician and my desire to find a way to solve any issues and keep the job moving forward.
“I think the fact that people know me is critical. Good safety is about systems and standards, but it is also very much a human and cultural thing. I need to be able to persuade people, and it helps that they know I’m not ‘reading from a book’ but that I actually understand all the issues.
“Here at St Austell College today, we have four young apprentices on site: Charlotte Puttnam, CJ Wood, James Blackshire and Jack Smith working with our experienced engineers and developing their skills as TClarke professionals.
“Bringing on the next generation through apprenticeships for local people is obviously something we believe in. Within this group of apprentices, we have one – CJ Wood – whose father, Christian Wood, and grandfather, Darren Francis-Lang, are both TClarke professionals. It helps give us a genuine family spirit.
“I’ve been here for 15 years; I’ve got so many colleagues with 20+ years with TClarke at every level, and some who have been with us for as long as 30 years. That longevity and establishment count for a lot in the detail of how we deliver. As a TClarke Health and Safety Adviser, my professional satisfaction comes from keeping our people safe and up to date on their skills and standards – and also from providing the kind of experienced, proactive approach that helps our clients get their jobs delivered safely and on time, the TClarke way.”