Bridging the skills gap with Rock’s apprentice programme

Rock’s apprentice programme is central to our strategy for future growth. On the one hand, it ensures that the skills of our workforce are renewed and extended for many years to come. On the other, it helps raise standards in general throughout our industry, and demonstrates our willingness to creating employment opportunities in areas neighbouring many of our projects.

Rock has been closely involved on a number of schemes in the West Midlands in partnership with Lend Lease, and in the London Borough of Southwark with Mace and Costain. The local authorities in each have specified the use of local labour and apprentices in their respective areas – an initiative which Rock fully supports. To this end, we have taken on two new apprentices, one from Birmingham and one from Southwark, to support them as they study at Hackney Community College for a Mastic Asphalt NVQ Level 2.

Hackney Community College is, in fact, the only further education institution in the country that offers this traditional skill. Hayden Vigers, our apprentice from Birmingham, told us, “The facilities are excellent, with a specialist workshop and all the equipment we need to master what is a highly skilled trade. The staff have been great too, as they’re friendly and helpful and clearly very experienced. I’ve also really enjoyed working with the team at Rock, and look forward to applying my new mastic asphalt skills to a variety of projects, especially those that involve regeneration.”

Rock provides case study for co2balance

At Rock, we help building owners and developers reduce and mitigate their contributions to climate change through more intelligent use of roof areas. Green roofs and renewable technology incorporated into the design of roofs can play an important role in helping buildings significantly reduce any negative impact on the environment.

Established in 2003, co2balance is an organisation which offers carbon footprint calculation, carbon management and reduction services and an ethical way to offset greenhouse gas emissions through Gold Standard energy efficiency projects.  Rock spoke to co2balance about our own environmental programme and the ways in which we are meeting the demand from those customers wishing to embrace the CarbonZero agenda.

To read the article, please click here, where you will find a piece titled ‘Rock’ among those listed.

The Shard

The Shard is without doubt the capital’s most anticipated and, quite literally, high profile building. In September 2011 a final crane, the tallest ever assembled in Britain, rose 317 metres above ground level to complete the top 23 floors.

Rock has been responsible for waterproofing the Shard and for providing temporary waterproofing to protect it throughout construction. But our involvement doesn’t end there. As the final pinnacle, named ‘the spire’, takes shape, Rock has been contracted to dry line the lift shaft by installing Firestop plasterboard. This product is a gypsum board specially formulated with glass fibre and other additives to provide superior fire resistance, guaranteeing an effective fire barrier for at least one hour. Superior waterproofing and protection from fire are clearly essential features of the Shard’s overall design. We are delighted that Rock’s excellent working relationship with Mace has resulted in our close association with such an inspiring and ground-breaking project.

Although the Shard will have a viewing gallery, stunning night-time vistas from the 35th floor can already be enjoyed thanks to professional panoramic photographer Will Pearson. Go to willpearson.co.uk and follow the link to the photographer’s blog.