Archive for January, 2010
91% in UK would install Solar Power - boosting Electrician training!
In 2009, a new survey published by the Centre for Alternative Technology reported that 91% of the UK population would consider buying solar photovoltaics (PV) to generate electricity at home.
With news of the UK just coming out of recession coupled with pressure for homeowners and industrial premises to install efficient green energy systems, the obvious boost to all those considering training for a new career in the electrical industry looks extremely positive.
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are one of the easiest renewable energy technologies to install on roofs and building facades with minimal disruption, and are generally liked and approved of by the general public.
The survey very clearly shows that there very high level of potential demand for solar power in the UK as homeowners see it as a proven, reliable, effective and easy to install technology. Government predictions suggest that it can make a significant contribution to the UK’s 2020 renewable energy targets and, at domestic level solar power, is a highly effective solution for delivering low carbon homes.
Solar PV has proven to be a very effective way of generating clean electricity in the UK as it relies on daylight not heat, requires little or no maintenance and will generate power for forty years plus. Many new homes are now being built across the country with solar electric roof tiles - a new and innovative way of replacing traditional roof tiles with solar power that can be installed and be virtually unnoticeable on buildings.
Many thousands of new green jobs will be created in the solar power sector in the UK and skills training for the installation of energy efficient forms of heating and lighting are going to be a very necessary and vital part of a trainee student course.
Able Skills - in conjunction with NICEIC, CITB and City & Guilds – are helping to lead the way with the opening of a dedicated Energy Saving Training Centre to provide the necessary approved training in installing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems :
City & Guilds 2372 Level 3 Certificate in Installing and Testing Photovoltaic (PV) Systems provides invaluable knowledge and practical installation training for qualified practising electricians who wish to learn to install grid connected domestic photovoltaic systems that are either integrated into, or retro fit onto a domestic dwelling.
All electrical course training facilities, workshops and classrooms – especially for City & Guilds 2330 level 2, full time and weekend training - are self contained in a dedicated new wing at the AbleSkills training centre. This means each student trains in their own working unit with all the necessary tools and equipment required.
PlumbingPlus Training With Gas and Energy!
A great distinguishing factor of a trade skills training centre like AbleSkills is the insight into genuine student learning requirements and the care and attention to detail when putting together their training courses. Not only is there great flexibility in providing training times and course lengths, but also the types of skills training that can be obtained either in a complete package or followed in sequence under a duty of care administered by AbleSkills course trainers and assessor verifiers.
This has been made possible by the longterm, progressive development of the training facilities into custom built workshops and classrooms, individually dedicated to individual key trade skills. This means that for students embarking on either the City & Guilds NVQ Plumbing ( 6129) or City & Guilds NVQ Electrical ( 2330), they each have their own, fully equipped learning environment.
As a result, AbleSkills have considerably extended their existing remit to help cater for students who want to learn a greater level of all round knowledge and related subjects associated with the particular skills being learnt. Often there are many subjects which naturally go hand in hand.
This requirement most applies to students who wish to train to be a plumber.
AbleSkills has joined together a Complete Plumbing Package of related subjects, aimed at students who want to be able to offer a full plumbing service once qualified to begin their new career in the industry. This ultimately, will be of great benefit to both those who will be employees and self employed, as the value of the additional qualifications to required regulations boosts future employment prospects, service skills and earnings potential.
Able Skills ability to offer ongoing skills structure progression means that having achieved the City & Guilds 6129 Level 2, eligibility to go on to train on the other courses and qualifications is available within the Complete Plumbing Package.
As specialist training providers, opportunity is offered to obtain 5 recognised and required qualifications - plus - training to pursue a route into working within the gas industry.
The Complete Plumbing Package comprises:
• City & Guilds 6129 Level 2 - An 8 week, full time instructor-led course in Basic Plumbing Studies (Technical Certificate), a mixture of practical and theory in the required 11 knowledge units.
• Energy Efficiency - The CITB/IDHEE Energy Efficiency for Domestic Heating Certificate, a recognised qualification, aimed at professional heating installation within domestic properties, provides tuition on condensing boilers controls, hot water system and current legislation.
• Unvented Hot Water Systems - A course structured to enable plumbing and heating engineers to confirm their competence in unvented hot water storage systems including the installation and safety requirements of all Unvented Hot Water Systems up to 500 litres capacity and to meet Building Regulations (G3).
• Water Regulations - This course covers the Water Regulations 1999. The course does not require the candidate to undertake prior learning as all the requirements will be covered during the course. Upon completion, the successful candidates will receive a certificate and card which will allow them to apply for approved plumbing contractor status with the Water Authorities. This course is certificated by the CITB and is WRAS approved.
• Solar Heating - This 2 day course is to give an entry level qualification for experienced domestic heating installers or plumbers, wishing to extend their work scope into solar heating.
• Gas Training - A 3 week,.in depth course covering flues, ventilation, combustion and controls, provides the necessary knowledge to undertake the statutory core gas safety assessment. Intended for operatives with plumbing, heating, pipefitting or similar skills which can be transferred to the gas industry.
AbleSkills training – flexible choice of courses to suit you!
If you’ve made your mind up and are ready to train for a brand new career as an electrician or plumber, the likelihood is that you have already worked out your available time schedules. Now all you have to do is find a training centre that offers you the right course over a period of time that suits your needs!
There may not be a training centre nearest to you that is able to offer different training length options for your chosen course. More importantly, they may not be approved to run recognised professional entry level industry courses - like Electrical NVQ 2330 level 2 and level 3 and Plumbing NVQ 6129, also levels 2 and 3. It is now essential that these courses must be fully accredited by the statutory bodies like City & Guilds, Building Engineering Services, EAL,IPHE, CAA, NICEIC and ISO and Gas Safe registered. AbleSkills is firmly established and one of the foremost recognised and approved training centres for City & Guild accredited course in South East England.
Whatever your circumstances, from long experience as a training provider, AbleSkills will most likely have already an ideal training schedule for the course you wish to take that will fit your specific needs. Even if are currently working full-time and can only spare the weekends to train or are about to go part time and wish to train on the days you will not be working. It may even be that you have a set period of time off due to you and you would like to train then.
Whether you are looking for a key electrical or plumbing courses, there are many flexible training options from weekend courses, to full time courses over a different number of weeks depending on whether you wish to train over periods from say, 2 days, 5 days, 10 days to 2 weeks or 20 weeks, and even options to take a break and split your training periods ! Similarly, our other construction trade course like tiling and bricklaying are also flexible.
For all those who are still considering the best training route, AbleSkills also offers a number of certificated introductory courses that cover set skills for DIY, home improvement as well as introductory electrical/gas and plumbing training. Most of these course last just two days or over the weekend, so are a great way to test your practical abilities.
For many students, once achieving an NVQ level 2, they will almost certainly want to progress to level 3 and onto associated skills, e.g. plumbing on to gas training, Able Skills will help you to assess and advise on your best options, timewise. Similarly, for those already in one of the trade skill industries and who wish to upgrade their knowledge on the latest requirements or undertake a learn a further skill then the same flexible options are still available to you.
This especially applies to the developing green energy courses AbleSkills offer. With an eye on future green technologies and employment, training on a solar course (PV) or air/ground source heating should be seriously considered as they increasingly form an important part of key trade skills knowledge.
It’s vitally important that you get good advice first. Always call and to ask to come down and take a look at what is being offered, which will best serve your requirements. AbleSkills will give you the time of day and speak with you! Not only that, they will invite you to come down and have a look around their extensive training centre. With expert advice and your questions answered, you’re bound to find the right course get you started in your new career!
Electrical Training - First Questions To Ask Yourself.
For many seriously thinking about a career change, most will have a good idea of the new area of work they would like to retrain to gain the necessary skills. The majority will have either been working in similar fields or possibly taking up an area of long held interest as a fulltime living. The current recession may represent an opportunity to make the move into a new working direction.
For all those looking at the construction trades, training to be a fully qualified electrician is probably one of the most wisest of career move choices. Despite the long economic downturn, skilled electricians are always demand in both domestic and commercial sectors. Recent announcements by both Government and private industry of a renewed upsurge in large scale building projects means the ‘work is there’ , i.e. for all those fully trained and qualified to meet the requirements.
As a result, there are many electrician courses - combining both ‘theory’ and ‘practical’ - being offered by many different types of training institutions. The City & Guilds NVQ Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology Level 2 (2330), followed by undertaking NVQ Level 3 (2336) is recognised as an industry standard foundation training to proceed along your chosen career path.
The key to knowing which trainer to choose, and which course – with full accreditation - is most appropriate for your particular requirements is asking yourself the ‘right’ questions!
A Full Time Career or DIY’er?
There are two types of training – national qualification courses ( NVQs) aimed at full career electrical training and development for all those wishing to enter the industry proper at domestic through to commercial. Then there are certificate electrician courses, which are designed for electrical home maintenance and repair, which provide basic knowledge so that you can fix fuses , repair switches, extend cables and carry out other similar basic DIY electrics around the home.
Can You Set Aside The Time ?
You need to find out if there are different course lengths and training times right for your particular circumstances. Some qualification levels can be taken over a matter of weeks, others over days and there are even weekend courses.
Are You Starting Out Or A Trained Electrician?
If you are starting from scratch, then you are required to start with the NVQ level 2 , which covers all topics beginning with fundamentals of electricity and how to use tools. Further development may be pursued by taking the 2336 and then move onto specific specialisations. If you are already a trained electrician and wish to update your knowledge within a specialised field, say, PAT testing, then you should opt for the relevant NVQ or certificate course.
Construction Projects Looking Good For Trade Skills Training!
It’s not all bad news in the UK economy! In between news of the country’s slow and painful climb out of recession, there have been announcements by Government and private planners of exciting new construction industry projects. The good news is they are almost guaranteed to provide solid future employment for electricians, plumbers and other trade skills personnel such as plasterers and bricklayers.
Here are some recent examples of newbuild projects that will bound to be recruiting for trained and qualified electricians and plumbers:
Barratts Developers report an improvement in the house building market by a 43 per cent yearly growth in forward sales of its houses in the six months leading to December 2009. The company also revealed that, with margins growing, it expects to deliver 12,000 units during the next financial year.
In the largest spend on local housing for at least twenty years, the Government has announced a £ 500m public investment to build more than 4,000 new energy efficient council homes for 8,000 people in a programme for 73 councils covering every region of England. Importantly, for the first time, all councils receiving Government funds will be required to offer apprenticeship and local job recruitment schemes, creating 7,500 jobs and around 100 new apprenticeship places.
Thirty-five of the 73 councils receiving funding will extend their council house building work which is already underway, while 38 councils receive this government backing for the first time.
Education building schemes are also in the frame in 2010! Partnerships for Schools have also recently announced 12 Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects are shortly to begin across the UK. In the early months of 2010, refurbishment or rebuilding work will get underway on schools in Darlington, Brent, Norfolk, Wakefield, Devon, Kingston & Croydon, Sefton, Havering, Lancashire, Plymouth, Tameside and Warrington.
According to Partnerships For Schools, “…delivering new schools facilities … is set to help safeguard tens of thousands of jobs on the ground in the construction and related industries.”
Further long-term prospects for those training to qualify as an electrician or plumber were also given an extra boost when it was also recently announced by Partnerships for Schools that £12 million is to be invested by the government to install new smart energy meters in institutions across Britain.
Focusing on the capital, the London Gateway project , currently standing at £1.5 billion, has begun construction, driving up an enormous potential for job creation in the South East. Latest estimates forecast a total requirement for 36,000 skilled personnel with 12,000 short-term opportunities to workers in construction and logistics.
Learning Plumbing at Home saves you Time and Money!
One of the biggest obstacles to making a long overdue career change is finding the time! Almost invariably, training to learn new skills has to occur outside of current job hours – and not upset any necessary domestic routines!
Many of those who will enter the construction industry by enrolling at a training centre will find they will be required to be tied to fixed course times and duration. But the good news, there is another way!
There is a great opportunity for all those wanting to take the City & Guilds 6129 Plumbing Level 2 Technical Certificate to simply study the theory part at home!
It couldn’t be easier! All you need is find somewhere quiet in your own home, such as the spare bedroom or the garden shed for an hour or so at least once a week, or over the weekend. How you progress will be purely up to you! There’s no pressure – you are able to learn at your own pace as well as in your own time.
There is no having to work your way through several different reference books. AbleSkills have very carefully compiled an integrated work manual that gives you all the required knowledge units you will need to pass the 6129 Level 2 Theory – in one folder!
Everything is laid out clearly in simple sections with illustrations, diagrams and photographs to back up the descriptions, which are written in plain and easy to understand English. Because you know that everything is all there together, it is a real incentive to getting down to completing each learning unit – you know you have not left anything out!
In addition, at the end of each unit, you can test yourself with self–assessment questions. Once you feel confident that you have memorised and understood the unit you have studied, you can proceed to the next section. Full assessment by an approved examiner is up to you - and only when you feel you are ready!
Once you have satisfactorily passed the theory, then you get hands-on move into the practical part. This means attending the workshop course. The good news again is you have options here as well and you can take the 6129 plumbing practical course over different time periods, including weekends.
For those seriously thinking about a career change into the lucrative plumbing trade, then the training schedules could not be more open, easy and flexible at AbleSkills.
Credit-Based QCF 2357 Replaces NVQs in 2010.
City Guilds NVQs are about to be transformed with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in September 2010. The good news for all those thinking of enrolling on a City & Guilds course is that the new system will not fundamentally alter the level of knowledge and training requirements, as they are intended to greatly improve learning capability by making the course units easier to understand, more flexible and allow for interchangeable – or ‘combination’- skillsets.
The relevant qualification relating to trade skill training is QCF 2357, which will directly replace the current NVQs for Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology (2330) and Electrotechnical Services (2356) qualification. In addition, a new QCF plumbing qualification will replace the Technical Certificate in Plumbing Studies Level 2 (6129).
Under the new system, a ‘credit value’ which measures the estimated number of hours it takes the average learner to complete all the learning outcomes and ‘difficulty’ level assigned to every unit. The values will be used in a set rule of ‘combination’. This means some units will appear in more than one qualification and the credit can be transferred between qualifications, as long as it forms part of the ‘rules of combination’. This will allow for more flexible career pathways, with reduced repetition, as learners can build on previously ‘banked’ credit as they move through sizes and levels.
The new qualifications will not affect the ability of AbleSkills to take you through a structured course development, in order to train you through the required levels to be fully ready and industry compliant within your chosen occupation.
You will still be able to commence at entry level and train through to obtain the necessary qualifications - and this also applies if you are in a mid career change. As in the current NVQ system, both the Plumbing and Electrical QCF 2357 , which would be available at levels 2 and 3, will require the undertaking of a series of knowledge units, progressing onto practical units and a final competency assessment would need to be successfully achieved before a qualification certificate is issued.
At AbleSkills, training courses will still enable any student to progress from ‘domestic-through-to-commercial’ in the key trade skills of electrical, plumbing, gas installation, tiling or associated building trades, such as bricklaying or plastering.
Solar Heating – Training For The Growing Demand!
Seen initially as capital intensive investment, inevitable rising fuel costs, the accelerating drive towards adopting renewable technologies and a radical reduction in CO2 emissions is seeing the demand for using Green Energy push the interest in installing Solar Water Heating. The importance of solar energy means it is a significant category in the World Energy Renewable Network (WREN) which is a network of worldwide organisations promoting environmentally safe and economically sustainable renewable energy.
As a result, the heating installation market is changing and the new technologies are not just for heating private swimming pools or for supplementing the water heating systems of those already actively supporting alternative energies, it is now being used extensively, not only in the domestic sector but also in the commercial and local authority/housing association developments, including schools and colleges.
This is good long term employment news for those either in the plumbing or electrical trades who wish to upgrade their skills and knowledge or about to enter the industry by training to be a electrician or learning to be a plumber.
Although the installation of a solar system may be more capital intensive than a straight forward boiler system, the fuel cost savings will be progressively higher year on year and maintenance should also be reduced. With the Government emphasis now firmly on whole life costing, the initial capital cost has much less significance than before and running costs much greater importance.
Solar water heating is based on the principle of heat from the sun being absorbed by a collector, which is transferred to a water system supplying a cylinder to preheat domestic hot water. Much development has been made with the design of the collectors and both system and collectors must be matched to each other – with the property - just as with any other type of heating.
Solar photovoltaic(PV) energy is simply the conversion of sunlight to electricity. It is a particularly attractive technology because there are no moving parts, no emissions, no noise and long life. It can be used to power pumps (for instance on a solar water heating system) and provide the power for low energy appliances and lighting.
Photovoltaics ranges from single stand alone systems to those which are fully grid connected, from a few Watts output to multi MegaWatt systems and even GigaWatt networks.
Electrical Training For A Great Career Move!
Changing careers or realising that you need to update your knowledge can sometimes mean a disruption to your everyday schedules.
The ongoing recession is being taken by some as an opportunity to increase their employment potential by opting to invest their time in learning invaluable new skills that aims to secure an increased revenue earning capacity on a new and steady employment path.
Although the days of a ‘job for life’ are considered long over, it’s true to say that a trade industry skill as an electrician is indeed one of the few remaining jobs that can be considered a lifelong career, as long as one continues to update to acquire the latest knowledge and skills as new technologies become available.
Retraining to become a qualified electrician as a mature student is now very much a routine path for anyone wanting to establish a new or improved working future for themselves. A mature candidate is often favourably recognised for their enthusiasm and motivation which helps to gain a foothold in the industry.
Many students with enthusiasm and commitment will go on to become fully qualified electricians and many more start up their own business. AbleSkills has established a long-standing tradition of being able to take in a student at any level of experience or knowledge and train them through the required trade skill courses to be fully industry-ready.
If you are retraining without an employer, you must complete a recognised training route and JIB registration and you will need to find an employer who completes at least 2 of the following types of work: Industrial / Domestic / Commercial.
If you are a mature student and not eligible for an apprenticeship scheme and not currently employed in the industry, you can take the City & Guilds Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology Level 2 (2330) and Level 3 (2336) . The Certificate is open to all ages and provides an excellent foundation to learning your craft as an electrician at Able Skills training centre.
Industry bodies strongly recommend that you gain a placement or employment with an electrical contractor as soon as possible after you start the technical certificate, so that you can complete the NVQ.
Most importantly – to cater for all types of candidate training time restrictions, AbleSkills offers a range of options to train over different time periods, which offers great flexibility - and weekend training courses are always available too!
UK Freeze Continues - Keep Your Central Heating On!
We all know that currently, the entire British Isles is in the grip of the worst winter weather for possibly 40 years. Yet incredibly, we hear that many households have been actually turning down their central heating systems in order to save money to pay for other household basics, against advice to ensure they keep their central heating running.
Surveys show that as many as one in four people admit to lowering the boiler or radiator thermostat in order to reduce heating bills, and thus save money to be put towards paying their rent or mortgage.
During this exceptional weather period, the recommendation is always for homeowners to avoid, where possible, leaving their radiators and central heating on a timer, but instead maintain a constant temperature, with radiators being left on in all rooms if possible, especially as the coldest time is the early hours of the morning.
This will reduce the risk of frozen and bursting water pipes. The current freeze is not expected to be over until the middle of the month, and with further falls of snow forecast over the coming week, temperatures are likely to plunge again as low as -20C in many parts of the country - which means this is the worst time for a central heating system to pack up!
Steps should always be taken to ensure the central heating is in top condition. Taking the time to bleed radiators and inserting a rear reflective panel boosts heat circulation. Meanwhile, a boiler service could ensure that the heating appliance will stay in good working order throughout the cold snap.
Anticipating that this trend may continue next year and beyond, this may also be a good time for many households to take advantage of the recently launched boiler scrappage scheme, which offers money off a new ‘A’ rated condensing boiler, saving as much as £235 a year on heating bills.
The emphasis on specifying and installing, efficient green energy heating appliances, which help reduce carbon emissions, are now very much a part of training to be plumber and trainees are introduced to principles of renewable energy on a City & Guild Plumbing NVQ 6129 level 2 and level 3 course.
