Issuer Newsroom

Essential Site Skills

Wire Volume: 13 Disclosures

Corporate Disclosures & Press Wire (13)

‘No Kitchen Worktop Is Worth a Worker’s Life’: Safety Specialist Warns After Shocking Silica Dust Investigation
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‘No Kitchen Worktop Is Worth a Worker’s Life’: Safety Specialist Warns After Shocking Silica Dust Investigation

Essential Site Skills is urging UK employers to address dangerous silica dust exposure in the engineered stone industry after a Sky News investigation revealed significant health risks, including silicosis and deaths. The Health and Safety Executive found safety concerns in 58% of businesses inspected, prompting calls for a ban on engineered stone used in kitchen worktops. Essential Site Skills emphasises the need for better dust control and training across construction and related trades to pre

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Years on Site Should Count, but Experience Is No Substitute for Competence, Warns Construction Training Specialist
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Years on Site Should Count, but Experience Is No Substitute for Competence, Warns Construction Training Specialist

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a consultation on recognising construction workers' skills developed on the job, potentially allowing them to gain formal recognition without completing new qualifications. Essential Site Skills supports the initiative but emphasises the need for rigorous independent assessments to ensure workers meet industry standards. This proposal aims to help experienced workers advance their careers and address the construction sector's skills ch

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Primark Halloween Asbestos Recall Sparks Warning to Construction Industry: ‘The Danger Hasn’t Disappeared’
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Primark Halloween Asbestos Recall Sparks Warning to Construction Industry: ‘The Danger Hasn’t Disappeared’

Primark has recalled Halloween decorations over fears they contain asbestos, prompting a warning from construction health and safety experts about the ongoing dangers of the material. Despite being banned in 1999, asbestos is still present in many older buildings, posing a risk to construction workers who may disturb it. Essential Site Skills emphasises the need for proper training and awareness to prevent exposure and protect workers' health.

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25 Construction Deaths Highlight Risks Facing Workers in Their First Weeks on Site
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25 Construction Deaths Highlight Risks Facing Workers in Their First Weeks on Site

Twenty-five construction workers died in Great Britain last year, highlighting the risks faced by workers, particularly during their initial weeks on a new site. Essential Site Skills is urging the construction industry to focus on the vulnerability of new workers, as they are more likely to have accidents due to unfamiliarity with the site and its hazards. The organisation emphasises the importance of ongoing supervision and communication beyond initial inductions to ensure worker safety.

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Construction Firms Urged to Check Training Plans Ahead of October Funding Deadline
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Construction Firms Urged to Check Training Plans Ahead of October Funding Deadline

Construction employers with active CITB Skills & Training Fund agreements are being reminded to review their training plans as the October 2026 deadline for completing funded activities approaches. Any unused funds from these agreements must be returned, and businesses are advised to ensure all planned training is completed and documented before the deadline. This reminder comes as CITB shifts its support model, with Employer Networks now the primary route for training support for smaller constr

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What Really Happens Before Water Reaches Your Tap - and the Hidden Workers Keeping It Safe
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What Really Happens Before Water Reaches Your Tap - and the Hidden Workers Keeping It Safe

Essential Site Skills is emphasising the crucial role of workers in the water industry who ensure the safety of Britain's drinking water, as scrutiny over water quality increases. The Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR) has highlighted the importance of decisions made by these workers, from procurement to installation, which can impact water quality. The EUSR's training scheme aims to enhance understanding of regulations and best practices for those involved in the water supply chain, ensuri

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Energy Bill Warning as Business Costs Rise 25% and Further Increases Loom
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Energy Bill Warning as Business Costs Rise 25% and Further Increases Loom

Energy costs for businesses have risen by about 25% since February, and household bills are expected to increase further in January. This situation is forcing businesses to either raise prices or absorb costs, impacting profit margins and potentially affecting the broader economy. The rise in energy prices is attributed to factors like higher wholesale prices and global market pressures, and experts advise businesses to improve energy efficiency to mitigate these costs.

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“Issuing a Mask Is Not Enough”: Construction Safety Warning After London Underground Asbestos Report
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“Issuing a Mask Is Not Enough”: Construction Safety Warning After London Underground Asbestos Report

Construction employers are being urged to reassess their respiratory protection measures after reports indicated that London Underground workers may have been exposed to asbestos without properly fitted masks. Essential Site Skills emphasises that simply providing masks is insufficient; they must be correctly fitted and tested to ensure worker safety. The Health and Safety Executive has highlighted similar concerns across the construction industry, stressing the importance of proper face-fit tes

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Under-25s Nearly Three Times More Likely to Be Out of Work as Construction Warned to Stop Waiting for ‘Job-Ready’ Recruits
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Under-25s Nearly Three Times More Likely to Be Out of Work as Construction Warned to Stop Waiting for ‘Job-Ready’ Recruits

Nearly one million young people in the UK are not in employment, education, or training, with under-25s almost three times more likely to be unemployed than the general population. The construction industry, facing skills shortages and an ageing workforce, is urged to stop waiting for fully trained recruits and instead provide opportunities for young people to gain experience. The UK is examining the Netherlands' approach, where early vocational education and support for disengaged youth help ma

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Schools Urged to Show Young People the Full Scale of Construction Careers
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Schools Urged to Show Young People the Full Scale of Construction Careers

Schools and construction employers are being encouraged to collaborate to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of careers in construction, following updated careers guidance in England. The guidance aims for students to receive two weeks of work experience during Key Stages 3 and 4, starting in 2026, to challenge outdated perceptions and highlight the wide range of opportunities in the construction industry. This initiative is seen as a way to help young people connect their educa

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Construction Industry Must Turn Technical Education Reform Into Long-Term Career Progression, Says Essential Site Skills
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Construction Industry Must Turn Technical Education Reform Into Long-Term Career Progression, Says Essential Site Skills

Essential Site Skills, a construction training provider, emphasises the importance of turning technical education reforms into long-term career progression opportunities for young people entering the construction industry. Following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's education reforms announced on 27th July 2026, which aim to enhance access to technical education and work experience, Essential Site Skills highlights the need for clear career pathways and ongoing development to address the constructio

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Water sector reforms reinforce need for stronger drinking water product knowledge
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Water sector reforms reinforce need for stronger drinking water product knowledge

Essential Site Skills is urging water companies and related organisations to enhance their understanding of regulations concerning products used in drinking water systems. This follows a government initiative to strengthen drinking water regulations and quality assurance. Recent enforcement actions have highlighted the need for compliance with these regulations to ensure water quality, prompting Essential Site Skills to offer a training course on the subject.

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One fall can change a life forever, warns Essential Site Skills
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One fall can change a life forever, warns Essential Site Skills

Essential Site Skills is urging construction employers to reassess their safety protocols for work at height after CCTV footage showed a scaffolder falling through a skylight, resulting in severe injuries. The Health and Safety Executive fined two companies £79,300 for failing to adequately plan and supervise the work, highlighting the need for better risk management and supervision to prevent such accidents. The incident underscores the importance of recognising and mitigating risks associated

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