Institute of Demolition Engineers’ Midlands regional meeting restores faith.
The last time I visited an Institute of Demolition Engineers’ regional meeting, I was left with a feeling of having been short-changed; poor presentations coupled with a lack of engagement to create an impression that the CPD points earned by delegates were somehow cheapened; a reward for endurance rather than education.
What a difference tonight at the Institute’s Midlands region. In NFDC circles, the Midlands is widely viewed as a law unto itself; fiercely independent; and wilfully militant. Not so with the IDE where directors, engineers and operators (and one habitually cynical journalist) rubbed shoulders in a welcoming, convivial atmosphere.
But this was no social gathering. The presentations – including two from organiser Richard Dolman of AR Demolition – were blunt, informative and educational. And Caterpillar – whose Desford factory played host to the event – kept its presentations short, sharp and concise. Even the moonlit tour of the display machines and work tools was conducted with a welcome informality.
The 40+ delegates that gave up their evening will surely have left better informed than when they arrived. And when their CPD certificates drop through the letterbox in the coming days, they will have been earned, not endured.
