Welcome to our June 2023 newsletter update.
Our Birmingham networking event is just around the corner. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals in your industry. Tickets are still available, so make sure to secure yours before they're gone. We’re very grateful to Bruton Knowles and WSP for generously sponsoring this event.
In addition to the Birmingham networking event, we're thrilled to announce our upcoming Manchester networking event. We also have three summer sporting socials planned, where you can engage in some friendly competition.
In our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact, we are proud to support Global Action Plan's Action for Clean Air initiative. As part of this effort, we have organised a series of coordinated events, including a webinar just before our Birmingham networking event.
Another significant milestone is our first-ever cross-industry workshop which will bring together representatives from 12 organisations to discuss and shape the future of our industry. Led by professional facilitator Jim Harvey, this will be a platform for collaboration and innovation that will shape our industry's future. We have shared the purpose, desired outcomes and agenda of this workshop below.
Our careers committee has also been making strides in promoting our practice and connecting with potential future colleagues. They have been actively attending careers events, sharing our vision, and showcasing the value our services offer in the wider infrastructure area.
None of our this would be possible without the consistent support of our committees, representatives, sponsors, employers and clients, so a big thank-you to all of you!
Can you help?
We are looking for a communications assistant from within our community who could spare a couple of hours per month to coordinate digital communications from across our committees. If you're interested in supporting, please drop a line to hello@SoLR.org.uk or speak to one of our directors.
Community
To support Global Action Plan's Action for Clean Air, we have arranged a number of events and activities including a step challenge, litter-picks and a webinar. All events are listed below and you can find out more about Clean Air Day and our step challenge here.
Manchester Litter Pick for Clean Air Day
Well done to Alex Singleton, Chloe Barrett, Christine Brooks, Dan White, Dipesh Patel, Gabby Podmore, Jayesh Mistry, Krishna Chauhan, Lorna Friswell, Michael, Davenport who got together on Thursday 1st June to pick litter around Manchester's Philips Park and thanks to employers for supporting the volunteers with time to take part!
Upcoming Events
Fantasy Football Finale | SoLR: League of Champions
The first SoLR Fantasy Football league came to an end last weekend with the Championship Trophy going to Liam Heeley and his team Dial G for Goals. Having lead the league for pretty much the whole season, with other chasing teams getting nowhere near, Liam finished top at a canter, winning by 163 points from second placed Mark Aanensen. What was even more impressive was Liam’s overall rank of 561st in the world out of 11 and a half million players! Congratulations!
With the title race a foregone conclusion, eyes turned to the race for European spots and the battle for places 3rd – 6th. Places changed throughout the day, but a last gasp Mo Salah assist for Sukhi Singh Samal meant his score of 52 points for the week was enough to finish 3rd, 3 points ahead of Alex Sutcliffe in 4th and the final champions league spot. 4 points behind Alex, and having to make do with Europa League football next season was Elliot Pateman and sneaking into 6th place was James Bouch.
Also decided on the last week was the SoLR: League of Champions cup final. In a low scoring, cagey affair, Alex Walkers team, Wichita Linesman, overcame Joel Allibon's team, Sticky 1 Still, by 35 points to 33. Congratulations to Alex on his cup win.
We hope all winners will be able to make it to the Birmingham Social Event for the trophy presentations.
Industry
Land Referencing Industry Workshop
An industry first, 12 organisations will be coming together on 29 June in London for a professionally facilitated workshop to collectively, build and articulate the identity, purpose and value of our niche practice, develop an action plan and agree the role on SoLR in this. This face-to-face session follows the initial virtual workshop in Dec 2022.
We have shared the full agenda, which includes:
Event details
Workshop purpose
Desired outcomes
Timetable for the day
We currently have representatives confirmed from Aecom, Ardent Management, Bruton Knowles, Dalcour Maclaren, Jacobs, Land Assembly Services, Mott MacDonald, Savills, Sizewell C, SoLR, Winckworth Sherwood and WSP.
If your organisation is not yet represented, and you would like to participate, please contact thanasis.skentos@aecom.com. We look forward to sharing the outcomes with you soon.
Careers
SoLR members Sophie Quitmann, Jenny Keay and Krishna Chauhan represented us at the Birmingham City Council Jobs Fair at St. Andrew's Stadium last Wed, promoting our practice to over 1k attendees alongside local businesses.
These events are a meaningful way of engaging with young people seeking their next steps. If you'd like to represent SoLR at any of the upcoming events below, please contact Victoria Sherwin - careers@SoLR.org.uk.
13 Jun - Year 10 Mock Interview Day | Kingsbury School, Tamworth Road, Kingsbury
15 Jun - Leamington Jobs & Provider Fair | the Pump Rooms, The Parade, Leamington Spa
16 Jun - Mock Interview Day | Aston Manor Academy, Phillips Street, Birmingham
21 Jun - "The Big Bang at School" | Colton Halls Community School, Jeremy Road, Wolverhampton
22 Jun - Cannock Jobs Fair | Civic Suite Beecroft Road, Cannock
27 Jun - Year 10 Mock Interviews | Waverley Studio College, 470 Belchers Lane, Birmingham
28 Jun - Washwood Heath JC Jobs Fair | 29 295 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham
3 Jul - Alderbrook School Mock Interviews | Blossomfield Road, Solihull
7 Jul - Careers Fair | Waverley Studio College, 470 Belchers Lane, Birmingham
7 Jul - Year 12 (Sixth Form) Mock Interview Day | Holyhead Schooler, Milestone Land, Holyhead Road, Birmingham
11 Jul - Jobs 22's Community Café | Eliot Park Innovation Centre, Barling Way, Nuneaton
11 Jul - Veterans Contact Point Recruitment Event | The Veterans Contact Point, Armed Forces Centre, The Horsa Building, Bentley Road, Nuneaton
Land Referencer Apprenticeship
Following a two-month consultation period, the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI), which currently hosts the Level 4 Land Referencer Apprenticeship will cease operations on 31 July. This is clearly not the outcome we were hoping for, however we are pleased to have an agreement in principle from the Ofsted 'highly rated' Dudley College Institute of Technology to adopt this standard, and move learners and their tutor (Yinka Fedden) across, with a target completion date of 31 Jul. Whilst boasting excellent performance, Dudley IoT's model is to be employer led, which is a great fit for our employers who have demonstrated consistent support of the apprenticeship in terms of development, promotion and collaboration through SoLR. We're very grateful to Yinka, all of our apprentices, as well as all the NCATI staff, Dudley IoT and employers who have remained supportive in safeguarding the apprenticeship's future. We expect to have a hybrid model of delivery at college, online and from employers' offices, to limit extra travel.
Recruitment for the next Land Referencer Apprenticeship cohort is ongoing with vacancies across various employers. These are great opportunities for young people and people looking to change career:
Can you contribute to our next newsletter? We'd love to include thoughts, views and project updates. If so, please get in touch: hello@SoLR.org.uk