Yeulet is new BESA training head
7th February 2020
UK: The training arm of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has appointed Helen Yeulet as its new director following the departure of Tony Howard.
Yeulet was previously skills director at the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS) – the trade body for the interior fit out industry – and is a director of the charity YouthBuild Ventures, which provides career pathways for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Tony Howard was appointed in 2016 and had previously spent nearly 10 years at the CITB, latterly as head of new business development.
BESA chief executive David Frise thanked Tony Howard for his “significant contribution” to BESA training and the skills sector as a whole.
“He worked tirelessly to reshape training provision in the building engineering sector and leaves a substantial legacy for us to build on,” he said.
“It is important to acknowledge that our industry faces a severe skills shortage that is predicted to worsen in coming years as the rate of retirement exceeds the rate at which younger workers join,” said Helen Yeulet.
It has also been announced that BESA Training will focus on apprenticeships in Wales and Scotland from this April, withdrawing from English apprenticeships as part of a new business strategy for BESA in England.
“We are refocusing our resources into developing a new strategy where we can make the most impact,” Yeulet explained. “This new direction means BESA Training will become the ‘bridge’ between employers and training centres in England and will encourage employers to get involved in course development to ensure the training model meets their requirements.”
It was confirmed that BESA would be putting more resources into short courses and experienced worker programmes in order to support much needed growth in adult training and upskilling across the sector.
