The training itinerary ‘Artisan elaboration of products and works of craftsmanship, laying of natural stone and prevention of occupational hazards’ given by the National Reference Centre (CRN) of Piedra Escuela del Mármol de Fines has finished with a group of eight unemployed people who have completed their training to access the labour market in the stone sector.
This training action has been developed between May and December of this year, with a total of 635 teaching hours focused on the elaboration of final products in natural stone, artisan elaboration of works in stone, placement of singular elements of this material and basic prevention of occupational hazards in construction. In addition, the itinerary has been complemented with training in labour insertion and job search techniques.
The territorial delegate for Employment, Enterprise and Self-Employment, Amós García Hueso, highlighted «the quality of the training provided by the CRN de Piedra Escuela del Mármol de Fines, adapted to the demands of qualified personnel from companies in the sector and related activities». He also remarked that «improving the skills of the unemployed is key for them to have more opportunities to access the labour market» and, in this sense, he recalled «the important commitment of the Andalusian Government to promote a more useful, effective, flexible and innovative model of Vocational Training for Employment», pointing out that the budget for this item in 2023 will increase to 252 million.
The Escuela del Mármol de Fines is a National Reference Centre (CRN) in vocational training in extractive industries since 2019. It is one of the CRN Schools of Andalusia attached to the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE) of the Ministry of Employment, Enterprise and Self-Employment. It has an average level of insertion of its students of around 70%.
The CRN of Piedra Escuela del Mármol de Fines is finalising its 2021-2023 programme, which includes eight actions (seven itineraries of different specialities and a course of teaching of the FPE). The programme totals 3,910 teaching hours, including work experience in companies, and is aimed at 120 unemployed people in total. The training responds to the needs of natural stone companies and the occupations most in demand in the sector.
Currently, the Fines centre is providing the last two training actions included in the 2021-2023 programme. These are an itinerary of programming and handling of numerical control machines and another itinerary of auxiliary operations in natural stone processing plants.
The first itinerary «is the only one of its kind offered in Spain and is a highly demanded training by companies in the sector», according to the Employment Delegate. Since October, 15 unemployed people have been taking part in it and are receiving 615 hours of training leading to a level 2 certificate of professionalism. The students will have the option of doing work experience in non-labour companies in companies in the area with which the School has collaboration agreements. Students are also learning how to handle loads, as well as job placement and job search techniques.
The training itinerary in auxiliary operations started in November this year with 15 students and will last until 29 March 2023. It includes 415 hours of theoretical training and non-labour professional internships in companies in the Marble Region with which the CRN de Piedra Escuela del Mármol de Fines has collaboration agreements. It also includes 60 hours of training in basic digital skills and another 15 in labour insertion and job search techniques.
The students of these training actions are entitled to receive the grants and aids established for unemployed people participating in training actions of Vocational Training for Employment for transport, meals, accommodation and reconciliation with the care of children under six years old or dependent family members, and grants for assistance to people with disabilities and certain groups of unemployed people established by the SAE and that require a differentiated action to facilitate their qualification or requalification to enable their participation in specific programmes.