Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
In one of the last acts before Parliament was been dissolved ahead of the General Election, the outgoing Minister of State for Business and Industry, Nadhim Zahawi, has praised Talasey Group after hearing how it is helping to raise standards, skills and knowledge in the landscaping industry.
The Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon attended a Parliamentary Innovation Reception held at the House of Commons by national trade body the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) and spoke to the team from Talasey Group who were exhibiting.
Malcolm Gough – group sales and marketing director of the Doncaster-based company, which is one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of landscaping solutions – spent time with the MP telling him about the £500,000 investment the company has made to create Talasey Training Academy (TTA) to champion skills and drive up standards. 
Mr Gough – along with sales directors Tim Rushton and Shane McCormick – said that the MP was genuinely interested in the innovative approach that Talasey Group has taken to create the academy, which delivers six City & Guilds-accredited courses that are primarily aimed at professional landscapers and garden designers but are also open to general builders, builders’ merchant staff and committed DIYers.
“Talasey Group was delighted to be invited to the BMF’s Parliamentary Innovation Reception to showcase TTA and meet MPs and other influential figures from Westminster to talk about skills and training,” said Malcolm.
“Nadhim Zahawi MP took the time to listen to why we as a business felt passionate enough to create TTA as part of our commitment to raising standards, skills and knowledge about landscaping products.
“He commented on our committed approach and said that improving sectorial skills chimed with his own vision for a continued drive to upskill industries right across the UK.”
TTA currently offers six City & Guilds-accredited courses, which it runs from purpose-built facilities at its Doncaster headquarters. Courses cover the installation of porcelain paving, clay paving, stone paving, artificial grass, resin-bound aggregate and basic site setting out and preparation. Each course has a series of defined aims, learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the accreditation.
Reflecting on attending the event and meeting the great and the good from Westminster, Malcolm added: “Getting such esteemed recognition has only strengthened our resolve to keep developing the TTA for the benefit of the industry.
“It has already surpassed all our expectations from when we launched it a little over a year ago. Not only have we now trained nearly 300 people but also TTA was chosen this summer as the pre-tournament training camp for the UK Landscape and Gardening Team entrants who came fourth out of 20 in the WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia, this August.”
The event was organised by the BMF, and CEO John Newcomb said that the reception was held to shine a spotlight on the investment and innovation happening in the builders’ merchant industry and its supply chain.
“The building materials sector in which our members operate is currently valued at £56 billion and directly provides more than 330,000 jobs across 23,000 companies in the UK. 
“The sector makes a significant contribution to the economy, and it’s important for us to reinforce the message of its value and significance – and we were delighted that Talasey Training Academy joined us at the event and supported us in delivering that message.”
