The last 12 months at AbleSkills have been busier then ever! After much careful preparation, planning and organisation, the opening of our fully approved and accredited 2 storey Renewable Energy Centre in November represents a significant development in creating a much needed, vital added dimension to the future direction of construction trade skills training throughout the UK, but especially here in the South East.

We are all aware that a new type of ‘green skill’ workforce is urgently required to meet the European emission reduction targets set for the UK over the next two decades. In addition to providing established and wide ranging options in NVQ electrical courses, plumbing courses, tiling courses, gas training and plastering in their own individual classroom workshops, the opportunity is now available at AbleSkills for candidates of all levels of experience and abilities to undertake City & Guilds, BPEC and NICEIC accredited renewable energy courses comprising Solar PV, Heat Pumps, Underfloor Heating, Vented & Unvented Hot Water, Woody Biomass and Rainwater/GreyWater Harvesting.

The increasing vital importance for construction trade trainees to receive the best possible renewable energy course training cannot be underestimated. A huge shortfall exists in the necessary skills required, which needs to be urgently remedied in order to meet the installation and maintenance of the rapidly emerging environmental technology systems and appliances.

To this end, the National Skills Academy has been established, led by Summet Skills, to ensure that the construction industry develops and delivers the correct training in environmental technology through approved and accredited renewable energy courses. This year saw The College of North West London announce that they would be the latest institute of education to join forces with Able Skills to play a major role at the leading edge of high quality, renewable technology training providers.

The story doesn’t end there!

Over the Xmas period, Able Skills will be putting the finishing touches to a refurbished and greatly expanded tiling centre, which will provide a greatly extended space facility to drive forward the tiling courses curriculum at a maintained high standard of training provision.

From January, first time students beginning on a 5 day Introductory tiling course or on any of the NVQ tiling courses of differing durations and learning modules will immediately feel the benefit!

Application for approval to deliver the CAA Diploma at level 3 in 2011 will be a significant accreditation, which will enable AbleSkills to take tiling students to the top level of knowledge and skill attainment. Obtaining a Level 3 qualification demonstrates that a candidate is able to master complex wall and floor tiling to the highest degree of competency.

And of course, if you haven’t noticed already, our website has been refreshed and upgraded, which we hope reflects the progressive changes that have been made at AbleSkills to make the entry and qualified career progress into the industry as clear and straightforward as possible – hopefully, you will let us know your thoughts here in 2011!

Seasonal Greetings to all our regular and new readers – thanks for your continued support!

Rapid pace of change has been following the Government’s 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, with its’ stated target to achieve 15% renewable energy in operation around the UK by 2020. As green energy schemes, such as Feed-In Tariffs, have been introduced to encourage take up, many building service companies have become interested or seek to be more fully involved in renewable technology, but currently do not possess the necessary training and knowledge to undertake the work.

The demand is steadily growing, and according to a recent Building Services and Engineering report, there are currently not enough trained and qualified electricians and plumbers to adequately handle the rising demand expected in the next ten years for the installation of technologies such as solar water heating, ground source heat pumps, and Solar PV panels

Despite of the cutbacks, investment in green energy training has been steadily increasing and as the demand for renewable energy sources has risen, a considerable gap has also opened up between supply and demand.

Skills training in both plumbing and electrical courses are increasingly reflecting the urgency of rolling out renewable energy courses to comply with government deadlines for emission reduction. A vital step is to first gain a broad understanding and overview of renewable energy from its different types, applications and limitations to market conditions, investment costs and payback periods.

The BPEC Renewable Energy Awareness Course provides a valuable and instructive insight for interested individuals keen to extend their knowledge base, e.g. heating engineers, plumbers, builders as well as others seeking a mid career change. The two day course can also be undertaken in the workplace, anywhere in the UK, and provides a nationally recognised qualification which embraces the key renewable technologies.

Entry into the installation industry itself for electrical course students is on the City & Guilds NVQ 2330 level 2 course, which also can be taken in a complete course with the NVQ 2356 level 3. Plumbing students begin their training on the NVQ 6129 level 2, which provides complete foundation knowledge and practical skill learning in order to progress their career development to the next level.

Able Skills are looking forward to welcoming a host of dignitaries to the official opening of our Renewables Centre tomorrow.

Mayor of Dartford Patrick Coleman will be in attendance along with college faculty directors and numerous members of the local and national press as the red ribbon is cut at the state-of-the-art facility.

It promises to be an excellent event as after months of construction, Able Skills are now in a position to help fill the skills gap in the emerging microgeneration renewable energy sector.

The new centre will allow trainees the opportunity to achieve accredited qualifications needed for jobs in Britain’s growing renewable energy sector through solar PV courses, heat pump courses and biomass courses.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are set to be generated through government schemes and Able Skills are committed to ensuring that our renewable energy courses give engineers a recognised route into the market.

Our NICEIC, BPEC, CITB and City & Guilds- approved courses will provide the new generation of renewable energy technology installers with the highest standard of skills and a support network to ensure a positive customer experience.

The flagship facility boasts a unique six-strong mobile training rig suite so that solar PV, thermal and heat pump technologies can be taught onsite by our team of experienced, highly-skilled and approachable instructors.

The government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is at the heart of the centre and Able Skills has developed a two-day MCS Quality System Manual & Workshop course to help engineers through MCS approval.

The drive to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions over the next ten years, by introducing renewable energy systems such as solar heating and ground source heat pumps, is increasing the demand for trained electricians and plumbers qualified to be competent installers across the domestic residential market.

Many new builds and property renovations have been also turning to the installation of underfloor heating (UFH), which consume between 15 – 40 per cent less energy than traditional heating systems and have seen widespread use in northern Europe for over thirty years. The UK market, although much younger, saw rapid growth in the early part of the decade, gaining popularity in the self build and luxury sectors of the house building market in particular, and has been steadily increasing to its present 5 per cent of the total UK heating market.

Underfloor heating works by separating areas into zones, usually one zone per room, and each is heated and controlled independently. A controlled flow of warm water is pumped from any heat source through plastic tubing embedded in the floor, which itself becomes the heat emitter and the heating of the room is thus, from the floor up. A traditional central heating system operates by the heat emitters being radiators mounted on the wall and the room is heated from the ceiling downwards. As the emitting area is large, sufficient warmth is provided, even on a cold winter day, with no need for supplementary heating.

Underfloor heating uses water heated to a lower temperature than conventional water central heating (typically 50°C rather than 60°C plus), which makes it ideal for use with a high efficiency condensing boilers. The lower operating temperature also makes it more suitable for use with heat pumps or solar water heaters. In new builds with solid floors, the heating pipe/cable is normally embedded in the floor screed.

Where the electric element is to be laid on a surface rather than embedded in screed, electric underfloor heating normally uses heating mats which are usually just the cable attached to a flexible, mesh backing to ensure that the cable remains adequately spaced.

Heating and plumbing engineers, HVA contractors and Heat pump/solar installers can add to their present service skill offering by undertaking a 2 day underfloor heating installer course, which has been developed by BPEC in association with the Under-floor Heating Manufacturers Association (UFHMA) and is recognised by IDHEE (Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers) at Able Skills Renewable Technologies centre.

An approved and accredited course for electrician training will show the trainee electrician how they can be of help to the domestic householder with providing advice on energy efficiency and reducing costs. This can translate to replacing obsolete and inefficient electrical appliances and heating systems under the various schemes now available, with the installation of a renewable energy system, such as solar PV panels.

Today, the big message is to reduce carbon emissions and save on energy bills at the same time. Most householders begin the process by buying energy-efficient light bulbs, contacting electricians or plumbers to install insulation in their homes under a Government scheme and even having dimmer switches installed in their homes.

It should be noted that whilst a dimmer switch may control the level of brightness, the same amount of power is still being consumed and the rest of the energy given off as heat! Using a dimmer switch will not make a significant difference to overall energy emission or cost saving! Installing energy saving bulbs for the entire house is still the most efficient method – and could mean a saving of around £45 per year.

Those households who do have dimmer switches already fitted, special dimming energy saving light bulbs can be purchased too and candle shaped energy saving light bulbs to fit into chandelier light fittings.

The phasing out of the tungsten filament bulbs began in January 2009 with 75-100W A-shaped type, followed in January 2010 by the 60W A-shaped type. As from January 2011, both the 40W A- shaped and 60W Golfball-shaped and candle-shaped types will be the next to be made no longer available.

Those men and women interested in enrolling on one or more electrical courses in order to work within the electrical industry are recommended to begin on the City & Guilds NVQ 2330 level 2, from which they can progress their career learning onto the NVQ 2356 level 3 and onto other skills knowledge courses.

A recent prediction from BEAMA (British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association), the UK’s independent forum for the electrotechnical industry, stated that 1.4 million heat pumps are required to be installed by 2020 to meet the Government’s aim for reaching the UK’s longer term emission reduction target of 80 per cent by 2050.

A positive forecast that calls upon the very necessary high numbers of trained plumbers or electricians who will have qualified on renewable energy courses to be skilled and competent for the installation of solar hot water systems and ground source heat pumps in the many millions of homes across the UK.

The prediction comes just shortly after last month’s good news that the Government has repledged its’ commitment to developing the renewable heat market in their announcement that they intend to launch the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) from June 2011, and the start of the Green Deal just 24 months later. The Government’s announcement underlines its’ own 2050 Pathways Analysis in July, which signposts towards a future dominated by the electrification of heat and transport to both meet renewable targets, and helping to build a solid heat pump market.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the £860 million RHI funding will reposition renewable heat to the mainstream, thereby, transforming the industry. The desired increase in the roll out of green energy heating by ten times over the coming decade delivers another important confidence boost to the plumbing training sector and all those about to begin plumbing courses.

Plumbing NVQ 6129 level 2 is the recognised and approved industry course which provides all the mandatory foundation theory, knowledge and introduction to practical skills. Successful assessment can lead to the next necessary stage, Plumbing NVQ level 3 before being verified to be competent and industry-ready to begin valuable working experience.

Did you know that the entire electrical market now accounts for 3 per cent of the UK’s Gross National Product ? The complete dependence on electricity and the electrical industry for just about every appliance and working system that humans use increases all the time through to the latest development of renewables technology for example, Solar photovoltaics, driving the emission reduction, energy efficiency economy.

Even with the present uncertainties being faced by ongoing public sector cutbacks, the country’s infrastructure will always depend on the skills and knowledge of trained electricians for the installing, maintaining and testing of electrical systems, equipment and appliances in both domestic and commercial premises.

Electrical installation is one employment area that is constantly announcing fresh initiatives for the implementation of either government, local authority or private schemes to install green energy systems in the effort to reduce the nation’s collective carbon footprint.

Retraining as an electrician is probably now one of the most surest career paths to take, and for those individuals at a crossroads in their working life, undertaking to study and qualify on approved electrical courses should be viewed as a landmark opportunity. Irrespective of previous knowledge, experience or skills, the right accredited skills trainer will provide the necessary learning and practical training necessary to become an industry-ready competent electrician.

It’s worth knowing that whilst many electricians are employed by big companies on regular eight hour week day shifts, earning an average wage of between 24K and 29K a year, a self-employed electrician serving the domestic market can expect to earn much more, but being more flexible in their working hours.

In the UK, the two recognised and approved relevant trade certification boards are EAL and City & Guilds in a variety of different course lengths, from weeks to months, and some condensed into intensive courses, or even weekend courses, aimed to accommodate those with special time and work commitments.

The City & Guilds NVQ Electrical 2330 Level 2 course, is the required introduction to all the necessary comprehensive knowledge and required practical skills before proceeding on to Electrical NVQ Level 3 in order to be considered industry ready.

Both levels 2 and 3 can be taken in one complete course plus courses can be taken which incorporate many additional knowledge areas such as Part P, the EU Building Regulations qualification,  and the City & Guilds Certificate IEE Wiring Regulations, 17th Edition.

A two year pay deal has just been agreed for the 10,000 for workers employed under the Joint Industry Board (JIB) for plumbing and mechanical engineering services. A 3 per cent increase to rates and allowances from January 2011, repeated from January 2012, together with improved holiday pay and overtime hours, is aimed at increasing stability and security for both workers and employers at a time of widespread spending cuts and uncertainty in the current economic climate.

The JIB or Joint Industry Board was first set up in the 1960′s as a mediation service between union and employers associations, and today grades individuals according to their experience and qualifications, as well as setting national standards regarding wages and health and safety issues. Grading can range from apprentice upwards anyone studying the apprentice route or the adult trainee route automatically fulfils the criteria for membership and grading.

The JIB pay deal announcement is good news that will have positive effect on the future security of the plumbing industry as a whole, even though research studies tend to always confirm the continued shortage of skilled plumbers, especially in renewable energy technology. Trainees on current plumbing courses or those thinking of a career switch at this time are assured that with the increasing development of popular green energy ground source heat pumps a rewarding future with job satisfaction and earning potential in prospect once qualified and fully experienced.

The starting point for all plumbing training, is the City & Guilds Plumbing NVQ 6129 level 2 which provides a foundation knowledge of plumbing principles and an introduction to the various basic skills areas necessary needed to practice as a competent, qualified plumber. Moving onto Plumbing NVQ Level 3 is the next stage in career development and from there the option to learning to install gas central heating systems and solar heating courses.

Registration for the CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Efficiency Scheme, which began in April, begins the process of a series of Government measures aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% before 2050 for around 20,000 large public and private sector, participating organisations.

All organisations signing up by the end of September are now locked into legal compliance until March 2011 to fully monitor their emissions and buy ‘allowances’  - which will initially be sold by the government – for each tonne of CO2 they emit, or risk severe penalties. The sale of ‘allowances’, from April 2011 to March 2012, is intended to raise an amount of revenue based on a performance table rating, which will be recycled back to the organisations.

Under the slow climb back from recession, this could be perfect timing for those men and women either about to begin or are currently engaged on approved NVQ plumbing courses , as the UK shortage in sufficiently trained and qualified plumbers able to work with renewable energy systems, such as ground source heat pumps , is estimated to be over 30,000.

Whilst it was the case that Colleges did not have the capacity to train the annual requirement of new plumbers, under the present public sector cutbacks, established and accredited training centre like AbleSkills now play a vital role in supplying fully qualified and skilled resources to the nations’ plumbing industry.

Their recently opened, expanded training facility is aimed to accommodate the increasing demand for plumbing with key energy renewables knowledge and skills, and is fully equipped to provide serious students with an unrivalled opportunity to begin or retrain in a viable new career.

Trainee-focused courses have been structured so a natural career progression can be followed to obtain the requisite knowledge from the required plumbing 6129 level2 City & Guilds course through to plumbing 6129 level 3 and onto dedicated renewable energy training.

Surviving the current changes to the UK’s working economy may mean now seriously looking to retrain on an entirely new career path. The current demand for green energy technology driving the renewables sector is set to increase as Government carbon reducing initiatives in both the private and public sector continue to be rolled out.

Key to keeping up demand in the future growth in both consumption and supply will be the training of qualified electricians capable of being both a green energy assessor and competent systems installer.

NVQ Electrical courses are the foundation knowledge learning for any individual who wishes to enter the industry. To get an idea of the basics you can train over a set number of days, or weeks and obtain a Diploma. Embarking on an entry level City & Guilds Electrical NVQ 2330 level 2 course prepares you with the necessary theory and practical skills to go on to the next stage to becoming a full-time qualified electrician, Electrical NVQ 2356 Level 3. Course flexibility even enables taking the syllabus over consecutive electrical weekend courses for those without time during weekdays.

One of the key important areas of basic knowledge learning includes a property’s consumer unit which controls distribution, in other words, the fusebox! It’s when an electric circuit suddenly ‘trips out’ in a household that problems can get out of control, which can lead to serious risk of personal injury or even electrical fire damage to the property.

Understanding the different types of circuit breakers and how each function is vital. Essentially, they are designed to trip and turn off power when any of the following dangerous situations occur:

Circuit Overload – has more connected electrical load than it is supposed to have.
Short Circuit – the hot wire touches another hot wire or touches a neutral wire. And if there is a break in a wire in the circuit.
Ground Fault – when the hot wire touches the ground wire (bare copper) or the side of a metal socket box (because the metal socket box is connected to the ground wire).

Circuit breakers are rated for different currents. A 15 Amp circuit breaker protects a 15 Amp circuit, but if 20 Amps of current start to flow through it because of too many appliances connected to the same circuit and on at the same time – even if in different sockets – then the circuit breaker trips to prevent overheating of the circuit. Short Circuits are caused by faulty wiring in the circuit or plugged-in appliance.

Electricians often find ‘fuse boxes’ in dangerous states of neglect or bodged disrepair. Many are long obsolete and need to be replaced with modern RCD units. It is estimated that only 25% of consumer units in the UK include an adequate level of RCD protection! Since mid-2008, an integral part of any new installation will be the rewire or replacement of a consumer unit, as there has been a requirement in the UK Wiring Rules to provide RCD protection for virtually every socket-outlet and circuit in a domestic dwelling.

The future work schedule of a fully trained and qualified electrician looks assured!