A leading property consultancy has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for an innovative training video which will save utility companies thousands of pounds.
Fisher German has been shortlisted in the Innovation category of the West Midlands RICS Awards 2018 for its Toolbox Talk Video which provides specialist training on construction projects.
The pioneering video created by the firm’s Stafford office typically costs utility companies just a few thousand pounds, compared to costs running to tens of thousands of pounds to receive bespoke one-off face to face training in multiple locations.
Fisher German advises utility companies on land and planning matters relating to infrastructure projects, but a key weakness in design and build schemes was identified as the specific requirements of soil and land management are not always known by contractors undertaking the construction.
To combat the issue and prevent what can often be expensive mistakes, the firm created the video as an effective risk management tool to reduce risk of damaging property as well as the client’s reputation in infrastructure projects.
The entertaining video story shows the impact of best practice versus poor practice on landowners, contractors, clients and health & safety on water pipeline projects.
The training video was developed with Severn Trent Water and is in the process of being rolled out to its contractors operating across the Midlands, Gloucestershire, Mid Wales and the Humber, and is already attracting interest from other major utility clients.
George Simpson, of Fisher German, said: “We are delighted that our specialist training video has been nominated for an RICS Award.
“The video was developed working alongside Severn Trent after a training requirement was identified but the sheer scale of it made face to face training sessions unfeasible, particularly with work being carried out by multiple contractors in locations across the UK.
“It can deliver a large amount of information quickly, concisely and consistently and production costs are extremely modest in comparison to those of bespoke training sessions.
“The video acts as a risk management tool which will not only help reduce costly mistakes, but also reduces the reputational damage to the utility company itself.
“It has been trialled with a number of contractor and client teams and has been very well received. As a result, we are now in talks with a number of major utilities about adopting it as a mandatory requirement for work in private land.”
For further information, contact George Simpson on 07810 378185 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
