IQ Climbing Challenge Captures Imagination
A timed climbing challenge captured the imagination of visitors at Hillhead 2016 as over 80 people tried their luck on the Institute of Quarrying (IQ) Skills Wall, with the winning time a highly credible three minutes 30 seconds.
85 people attempted the climb over the three days with an overall average time of one minute 55 seconds.
The fun challenge was designed to encourage visitors to scale new career heights by conquering the rotating and tilting climbing wall. Challengers braving the wind and rain included the IQ’s chief executive Phil James and Hillhead event director Richard Bradbury, who clung on for a respectable one minute 16 seconds and one minute 27 seconds respectively.
The winner of the Skills Wall challenge with the best time across all three days was Jo Banner from the IQ’s North of England branch, who climbed for a standard setting 3 minutes and 30 seconds. All competitors taking on the challenge received IQ branded giveaways, including pocket torches and metal drinks bottles.
IQ CEO Phil James said: “Our Skills Wheel is all about working to gain and develop personal and professional skills in order to maintain a path of CPD, and this is reflected in the Skills Wall which challenges those who attempt it to push themselves to keep climbing for as long as possible.
“Despite the turbulent weather we’ve had a lot of interest with many different visitors and members, who have then moved on to ask about what the Skills Wheel and our new IQ Academy has to offer.”
Hillhead Event Director Richard Bradbury said: “The IQ Skills Wall has been a great way to open visitors’ eyes to the IQ and has really brought out everyone’s competitive side - everyone wants to get onto the leaderboard!”.
The Skills Wall was used in conjunction with the launch of the IQ Skills Wheel at the show, a new program which aims to help individuals and operators develop relevant industry-specific and vocational skills to aid CPD progression.
IQ also promoted its IQ Academy, a ‘centre of excellence’ for people working in the sector to access relevant and rigorous continuous professional development with over 200 industry-specific development modules on offer. It is due to be officially launched later this year.
To find out more about the Skills Wheel or the IQ Academy and the programmes available contact IQ on +44 (0) 115 972 9995 or email quarrying.org%20">mail@quarrying.org or visit quarrying.org">www.quarrying.org