Jamie Dickie was one of the first people in the country to complete the ECITB’s newly extended Giving Supervisors the Edge training programme after sitting the pilot of the new fourth module at Rewards Training in February 2025.
Having been promoted to the role of construction supervisor at Altrad Motherwell Bridge at the age of 34, Jamie’s Operations Director enrolled him on the programme to develop his supervisory skills.
As well as completing the existing three modules, Jamie also completed the ‘Supervising for effective on-site safety’ fourth module, which was developed by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) at the request of employers in 2024.
He says developing his skills to lead teams safely and effectively “really helped” in his new role.
Jamie supervises teams that work for the international leader in the design, inspection, engineering, construction, repair and maintenance of some of the world’s largest diameter storage tanks, specifically on nuclear and refinery sites.
The ECITB training programme is ideal for developing chargehands, team leaders, lead engineers or supervisors, like Jamie. It focuses on the most important areas for supervisor development, as perceived by employers.
The supervisor training’s four modules, which can be delivered in-person or via a virtual classroom, provide practical knowledge and skills for those moving into supervision or for those looking for a refresher.
He said: “The course was a bit of an eye-opener. There were lots of different things I learned, particularly around rules and responsibilities.
“It was one of the better courses I’ve been on. The modules were well set out, which made it easy to take in and the instructors made sure we were getting involved.
“I would certainly recommend it for other people moving into supervisor roles like I was, because it gives everyone the same understanding of what’s needed.”
Extra confidence to supervise
After leaving school, Jamie trained as a car mechanic but soon realised it wasn’t the right fit. His father, a general supervisor with Altrad, introduced him to the engineering construction industry.
At 19, Jamie began as a semi-skilled labourer, gradually gaining experience before completing the ECITB Improvership Programme. This led to several promotions, eventually becoming a construction supervisor after finishing the supervisor training programme.
“The good thing about the training programme is you have to introduce yourself and who you work for, which helps give you confidence to speak in front of people,” Jamie added.
“I’ve grown more confident over the years. Every time we go on site, like at a nuclear power station, we attend regular briefings and need to introduce ourselves, even if everyone already knows us. It helps build confidence.”
Supervisor training programme helping meet the needs of industry
With effective supervision skills being vital to the successful running of engineering construction projects and effective delivery on site, the training programme has remained among the ECITB’s most popular courses for more than 15 years.
It is part of the industry-led skills body’s offering of supervisor and leadership courses, which have been developed and adapted in partnership with engineering construction companies to ensure they meet the ever-evolving needs of the industry.
The newest, fourth module is a two-day course covering the responsibilities of a supervisor, the elements needed in directing a team to work safely and completing effective site risk assessments.
Learners that complete all modules gain the ECITB’s silver card for supervision and while completion of all four is recommended, this is discretionary, and they can be completed in any order.
Due to the specialist nature of the course, only specific ECITB-approved training providers are licensed to deliver the programme. These are ACTTnow, Rewards Training, 3t Training Services, Wright Engineering and Comet.
The four modules and how many days they take to complete
- Module 1: Taking the lead (3 days)
- Module 2: Achieving performance (2 days)
- Module 3: Sustaining success (2 days)
- Module 4: Supervising for effective on-site safety (2 days)
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