Acorn Structures is reaffirming its dedication to elevating event site safety standards by collaborating with the Event Structures Industry Training Scheme (ESITS) to provide extensive training and accreditation for its employees.
This initiative comes ahead of the 2024 festival, concert, summer sports, and outdoor event season, highlighting Acorn’s proactive approach to industry safety.
ESITS was established to address a significant gap in specialised training for professionals working within the event industry. Existing scaffolder qualification schemes fall short in covering the diverse skills required for Temporary Demountable Structures (TDS) used across various event sites. Acorn took the lead in committing to ESITS by enrolling its employees in comprehensive training and qualification programs.
In early 2023, Acorn conducted the inaugural one-day General Event Crew Operative (GECO) course, followed by the intensive 10-day Temporary Demountable Structures trainee course, and concluded with the TDS Technician (Staging) Assessed Route of Entry.
Recently, Acorn furthered its support by piloting the 10-day Temporary Demountable Structures Technician course, a key part of their 2024 training investment program.
Acorn’s commitment to improving site safety is driven by Co-founder and CEO Andy Nutter and Technical Director Igor Pacejs, who have collaborated closely with SIMIAN to develop the ESITS qualification.
Their efforts were supported by HR and Payroll Manager Becky Williamson and Construction and Event Manager Craig Morland, who played vital roles in coordinating training administration. The ESITS accreditation process is overseen by a Board of Governors, Training Committee, and Industry Interest Group, ensuring the scheme’s relevance and quality.
“We have been working with Simian for almost 20 years,” stated Andy Nutter from Acorn’s Head Office near Leeds, where the company’s training takes place. “We jointly developed System Scaffold training with CISRS, which was then adopted by the NASC and the construction industry. I hope the events industry will join Acorn and other early adopters like IPS and Actavo in supporting ESITS qualifications to ensure improved site safety in the temporary event structures sector,” he added.
Mike Dean, ESITS Scheme Director, expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing partnership with Acorn: “At ESITS, we are thrilled to work with Acorn Events on their mission to upskill their workforce and raise competency standards across the events industry. By providing comprehensive training programs and certifications, we can equip event professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver exceptional experiences.
Together, we are committed to driving innovation, professionalism, and excellence in Temporary Demountable Structures.”
