RMC Topmix recently held its first one-day course called 'Readymixed Site Practice,' in conjunction with the Institute of Concrete Technology and the Concrete Society from the UK.

The course, offered free-of-charge, covers both theory and practical presentations and has been designed to train individuals on the placing, handling and site testing of readymixed concrete, the three most important aspects of handling concrete on a construction site, said a spokesman for the Dubai-based firm. It includes sampling of fresh concrete, slump testing and cube making and testing. It allows site personnel to better understand concrete and apply this knowledge directly to their operations, he added.

All successful course participants received an official certificate from the Institute of Concrete Technology.

This also represented the first stage of obtaining 'Technician Membership' of this body.

In total, 15 participants from four construction companies and one consultant, successfully completed the course and received their certificates from Peter Tyrrell, group director and Nigel Harries, RMC Group sales and marketing manager at a ceremony at the Metropolitan Hotel in Dubai.

The next Site Practice course is scheduled to be held in January.

Harries also announced that RMC is also running a City and Guilds of London Institute course, "Concrete Technology and Construction".

He advised that this course would also be open to all sectors of the industry and will be specifically tailored towards technical, operations and sales staff employed within the construction and readymixed concrete sector.

The course, which is a distance learning programme, involves 30 lessons and self-assessment exercises and four two-day workshop designed to reinforce material covered in the lessons. The workshop and final exam will be held at the RMC Training Centre in Dubai and the successful participant will receive a City & Guilds Diploma.

"In recent months, we have increased our commitment in this region with the opening of new plants in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. This means that it is imperative that we take the lead in addressing some of the quality issues in the construction industry and this can only be achieved through continuous education and training," concluded Tyrrell.