We have all read or seen on the TV, the horror stories that are reported when a Gas appliance was incorrectly installed as a result of a lack of knowledge and proper qualified training. Schemes have been set up by official trade bodies to try and help customers avoid the cowboy element of the trade […]
It’s official – new research suggests there has been a very dramatic increase in the number of homes in the UK that are being fitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This has now made the UK the world’s fastest growing market for this kind of technology!Figures released show that the installations of PV systems in […]
Even though, a major trade skills training centre will always see a regular small number of female students who wish to enrol on courses to train to be a plumber or learn tiling, it has been estimated that six per cent of people are unaware that female plumbers even exist!This is all the more remarkable, […]
There is always a shortage of qualified and trained trade skills personnel, whatever the economic weather! It’s been a consistent fact voiced many times and recently highlighted by a new document from the Commission for Employment and Skills, entitled ‘Ambition 2020’.The report suggests that Britain must dramatically improve the skills of its workforce in order […]
You can always tell the difference between an experienced, professional tiler’s finish and the DIY enthusiast. It’s invariably a case of ‘nearly but not quite’! There is no substitute for possessing real insider knowledge, trained skills, and investment in quality tools.How many times have we seen workmanship which leaves much to be desired? From a […]
It is an encouraging sign for both the recovering UK economy and the development of renewable energy, that the latest news of a heat pump system, installed to replace an out-dated coal fire in the North of England, looks like kickstarting the scheme operated by Community Energy Solutions (CES), in partnership with housing provider, Home […]
Once again, the persistent problem of asbestos is being highlighted in the media. Although the manufacture and working with asbestos and its products have been banned for 30 years in the UK, as well as many other countries in the world, there are developing countries, such as Russia, India and China, who have become prominent […]
City and Guilds have, this month, announced that the new QCF 2357 qualification, which was due to be phased in to replace NVQ 2330 from September 2010, is delayed until 2011. This means that all those who are currently thinking about taking the City & Guilds Electrical NVQ 2330 course can continue to do so.When […]
Last month, the newly elected Coalition Government reaffirmed that the urgent need to develop a low-carbon economy will remain a key issue in the years ahead, including the target to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10% within next 12 months and supporting an increase in the EU emission reduction target to 30% by 2020.The […]
Waterwise, the UK’s leading independent organisation on water efficiency and sustainable development, has just published its own White Paper, setting out proposals for the coalition government to help meet the challenges of climate change through wasting less water.Within the document, the important issues affecting the plumbing industry and all those who are now thinking of […]
Recent encouraging employment figures show that Britain is managing to hold the fragile recovery from recession. Coalition Government Budget concessions to private enterprise, although modest, are designed to help business start ups and SMEs to move forward, despite of cutbacks in other sectors.The prospects for those workers currently looking to move out of their current […]
From December 2010 the existing 6217 qualifications will be phased out and replaced with the new 6218 qualification.The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the new government framework which sets out how all regulated vocational qualifications are structured, titled and quality assured.It is replacing the existing National Qualifications Framework across England, Wales and Northern Ireland […]
