Buck & Hickman, a distributor of tools, maintenance and health and safety products, has shown its commitment to helping develop the UK’s skills base and supporting the tradespeople of the future.

The company’s Mobile Centre of Excellence paid a visit to TMC, TyneMet College’s new construction training facility at Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The construction students took the opportunity to tour the Mobile Centre which features hands-on product displays and video demonstrations from 25 of Buck & Hickman’s supply partners including 3M, Honeywell and Kimberley-Clark.

Members of the Buck & Hickman team demonstrated some of the latest tools and personal protective equipment (PPE), providing tips and guidance on how use PPE and other key safety products such as hand and skin cleansers.

Dave Melville, area sales manager at Buck & Hickman, said: “The students we met were really receptive to the technology demonstrations – especially the hand tools and power tools - and safety guidance provided by the Buck & Hickman team. In any trade, health and safety is of paramount importance, and this applies equally to students undertaking practical training, so we were delighted to be able to provide advice to them on this.

“Events such as this are just one of many ways in which we as a company are continually forging closer links with tomorrow’s tradespeople.”

Alan Kennedy, head of TMC, TyneMet College added: “We’re working with a number of businesses to help students develop relationships which will be valuable to them as they enter their chosen trades. This visit was a tremendous success, generating great enthusiasm among the students, and we are really grateful to the Buck & Hickman team for the time and effort they put into the day.”