Blueprint Academy: Bridging the Gap in Project Controls Education
- Simon Kirkbride,
Managing Director
We've been navigating the world of project controls for quite some time now, and the landscape has changed a lot in that time - with different clients, changing economic conditions and shifting global concerns and priorities. But one thing that's been consistent over that time is the noticeable gap in skilled individuals in our field. Last year, we decided it was time to do our bit to address this and so, the concept of the Blueprint Academy was born. The idea was to focus on providing holistic, well-rounded project controls education and training.
Fast forward to today, and I can't tell you how thrilled we are to be announcing the launch of the Blueprint Academy. As we open our doors to the first wave of learners, I think it's important to take a moment to look back at the journey that's brought us here.
The Blueprint Academy isn't just another initiative. It's our answer to a call for change, an opportunity to bring fresh perspectives and new energy into our industry.
So, whether you're looking to boost your skills or know someone perfect for this, we’d love for you to be involved. This is our opportunity to shape the future of our industry, building a place where knowledge, experience, and innovation come together.
The need for the academy
Drawing from my experience in this field, it has become increasingly clear, to me and many others, that there is a growing skills gap. This is particularly apparent amongst the heightened activity in sectors such as Energy, Defence and Infrastructure, with the UK commitment to achieving Net Zero targets, strengthening our energy and national security, and rejuvenating our ageing infrastructure.
However, while all this exciting growth is happening, we're facing a real challenge in training the next generation of project controllers, due to the lack of awareness and education about project controls at schools and university level and beyond. The outcome? Limited access to specialised training, which means a lot of potential talent isn't being fully tapped into.
So, what are we doing about it? Well, we've rolled up our sleeves and started the Blueprint Academy. A programme focused on providing well-rounded project controls education and training. This is our way of tackling the challenge head-on. We're all about offering training that's not just exceptional quality but also obtainable to everyone – whether you're fresh out of university, a veteran who's served our country, or someone just looking to switch gears career-wise. Our mission is simple: arm a new cohort of professionals with the skills they need to come into this industry and take project controls to the next level.
Journey to opening the academy
Understanding the importance of improving project controls education, we arrived at a crucial juncture. With a dedicated team of experienced specialists from various project controls backgrounds, each boasting extensive project delivery expertise. I felt our team was ready to take the initiative in making a meaningful impact during this transformative phase.
Our goal has always been straightforward: we want to nurture and empower the next generation of project controls professionals, aiming to improve the entire project delivery landscape. As an academy, we're not just here to chip in with solutions for the ongoing skills shortage; we're determined to lead the charge in bringing up fresh talent from scratch.
Our journey, however, was not without its challenges:
AWARENESS:
In the world of project controls, there's a surprising lack of traditional education. This leads to a gap in awareness and missed opportunities.PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
We noticed that most courses out there are heavy on theory but don't quite cut it when it comes to skills you can use in the real world.CONSULTATIVE SKILLS:
It's not all about the technical stuff. Skills like communication, managing stakeholders, leadership, and empathy often get overlooked in conventional training.
To bridge these gaps, our academy has developed a comprehensive training approach that nurtures talent in a well-rounded way. We're leveraging the know-how of our consultancy team to make sure our students don't just get schooled in theory – they're getting a well-balanced education in project controls, combining hands-on experience with those crucial soft skills, preparing them to thrive.
Future goals and aspirations
Looking forward, I’m excited about what's next for the Blueprint Academy. My plan for the academy is for it to build connections that boost knowledge sharing and ramp up our influence. While the academy is currently based in the South West, we want to spread our wings, setting up new learning hubs all over the UK. This way, we can bring our programs to even more people and make our offerings more accessible and impactful on a national scale.
Ready to join us?
Are you ready to be part of the solution with the Blueprint Academy? We’re not just about shaping careers; we're about crafting the future of project controls. Explore our courses, engage with our community, and step into the future of project controls. Join us at Blueprint Academy here, and together, let's bridge the gap in Project Controls education.