Meet the Team - Mick Norton BEM Cert Ed, Tech IOSH, MITOL

Mr Mick Norton OPERC President 2004-2005, Chairman OPERC 2005 -

Started life as a Plant Operator with the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1962 and currently enjoying 46th year on the learning curve. During 32 years service in the Army, worked world-wide on road and airfield construction with a great deal of, "hands on", experience on a wide range of heavy earthmoving and construction equipment.

As a Junior Non Commissioned Officer, (JNCO), formative years spent in Far East and Western Pacific. Most notable of these tours was 12 months in the Solomon Islands supervising the construction of 25 mile of feeder road and improvised bridging to open up areas of tropical rainforest for agriculture. Awarded British Empire Medal, (BEM), for meritorious service regarding latter project. Near East, Middle East and African tours of duty followed with supervising/planning/managerial responsibilities, as a Military Plant Foreman, (MPF), at all levels of project work. Commissioned from the ranks, 1986.

Retired from the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1994 and continued to be involved with the training and assessment of Plant Operators working with a Yorkshire based training provider accredited to the Construction Industry Training Board, (CITB). Worked as Group Training Manager (Plant) at the training division of Roger Bullivant Limited at Burton on Trent from 1996 until 2007 where he was heavily involved in foundation training and assessment of candidates throughout the UK in Specialised Plant and Machinery Operations, Piling Operations and Underpinning. Earlier in 2008 graduated at Bradford University in the Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Training and Development.

Currently self employed running Norton Training and Testing at Wakefield where his qualifications as a CPCS Tester and Trainer and LANTRA Instructor see him travelling extensively throughout the UK assessing and training plant operators.

Chairman of the Royal Engineers Association (Plant Branch).

Have been given great support by wife Trish in military and civilian occupations, which has often necessitated long periods away from the family unit. When at home in Wakefield major relaxation is gardening, and family history.