Vincentian Joiner shares experience with Scottish construction firm

(Business Insider) The sun-kissed island of Bequia is one of 32 islands that make up St Vincent and Grenadines in the Caribbean. Only seven square miles, the island is home to fewer than 6,000 inhabitants and boasts unspoiled white sand beaches, hidden lagoons and turquoise waters.

While it is a tranquil getaway place for tourists, it’s now the training ground for a specialist Scottish development group.

FM Group is launching a programme aimed at upskilling participants from the Caribbean in different sectors such as construction, agriculture and hospitality, by bringing them to Scotland. The six week programmes are an exchange of knowledge and work practices, providing participants with new skills, which are transferable to different workplaces both in the Caribbean and in Scotland.

Randolph Hackshaw, a 39-year-old from St Vincent and the Grenadines, is the first participant from the Caribbean. He has 20 years of experience as a joiner, lives on Bequia with his family of four and works as a joiner for FM Group.
He is maintenance manager for the FM Group luxury resort The Liming in Bequia, a five-star hotel, hotel, beach cottages and villas with private beach, restaurant, marina and tennis court. The resort offers luxury real estate giving buyers the possibility of renting their property to visitors when unoccupied. While Hawkshaw has been improving his expertise he is also helping to train his Scottish colleagues.

The scheme is also being supported by Liming JV investor K-Group and the intent is to expand this throughout the Caribbean.

Hackshaw has taken part on large construction sites with a value of £35 million involving over 130 flats which has given him experience in steel frame construction, cranes and pre-fabricated construction through supply chain partners. He is currently working on FM Group’s projects at the former Scottish Power Cathcart House, in Glasgow, and the historic Dalnair Castle and Estate, Croftamie near Drymen, both being refurbished into luxury residential developments.

Through the Caribbean Training Programme, the company aims to establish a closer relationship initially with the community of St Vincent and the Grenadines, but reaching out to the Eastern Caribbean in general.

Graeme Lurring, chief executive officer of FM Group, said: “We are delighted to be playing a major part in launching this training programme, allowing skills and experiences to be shared between Scotland and the Caribbean. There is already a strong Scottish presence on Bequia and it is great to be strengthening these ties. (insider.co.uk)