News
Green light for National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies
A new nationwide network of accredited training provision for low-carbon and renewable skills has been given the go- ahead by government.
The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies will provide training in the design, installation and maintenance of technologies, such as solar thermal, photovoltaics, heat pumps and water harvesting and recycling. It is being supported by employers across the building services engineering sector. More than 80 colleges and other training providers across England have been accredited under the National Skills Academy banner. Together they will deliver a range of environmental technology courses that have been approved by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering. Additional technologies such as biofuels and micro-CHP will be available in the near future.
‘The National Skills Academy marks a new way forward for environmental technologies training,’ said Keith Marshall, chief executive of SummitSkills. ‘At present, training provision in this area is patchy across the country, and is not recognised as meeting the industry- recognised competence level. With the network structure of the Skills Academy, employers can now be confi dent that they can gain accredited renewables skills in a location closer to their business.’ The Skills Academy will consist of an initial 14 leading ‘hub’ colleges across the country, working in partnership with other training providers to offer the environmental qualifi cations to upskill existing workers in the BSE sector. Training will also take place for new entrants as part of their apprenticeship. The government’s skills minister, John Hayes, commented: ‘Government, employers and training providers must
work together to deliver the skills that will enable our economy to achieve truly sustainable growth. By giving the industries that design, install and maintain green solutions for homes and buildings access to world-class training, the Skills Academy will help ensure that the UK not only meets its emissions targets but leads the world in innovation.’
MK Electric unveils
Masterseal Plus MK Electric is replacing its award-winning Masterseal range with a collection of enhanced IP-rated products called Masterseal Plus. Scientifi cally sealed and tested by MK well in excess of British Standards, new Masterseal Plus protects the electrical supply in the harshest of environments. As with its predecessor, it is specifi cally developed for use in both outdoor and indoor environments, and where wiring devices and accessories would be at risk from penetration by dust or water.
Schneider Electric hits Clarity and parity for vocational training
Ann Watson, managing director of specialist engineering and manufacturing awarding organisation, EAL, has called on the government to build on the momentum generated in recent years to
fi nally put vocational training on a par with its academic counterpart. She said: ‘The last two years have seen a dramatic shift in the way government has viewed apprenticeships. For too long now, this country channelled our brightest and best down the degree route, suggesting it was the only option. University became the gold standard for school leavers at the expense of our skills sector. Today, the situation has changed and a degree is no longer the guarantor of a job in the way it was 20 years ago. In the meantime the skilled sector is crying out for new blood, and it can provide life- long, engaging careers for students.’ Watson highlighted how the
HEALTH AND SAFETY CALL
Firms in the construction industry need to be more attentive to large-scale health and safety issues, a new report claims. The Preventing Catastrophic Events in Construction study, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), points out that the industry has a relatively high number of injuries because of the nature of its work. ‘These range from lost time injuries to fatalities.
There is also a high incidence of ill health among construction workers, including fatal diseases such as cancer arising from asbestos exposure,’ the report outlined. In addition, the research, conducted by the CIRIA and Loughborough University, said that construction companies need to devote more attention to the prevention of catastrophic events, which can lead to mass injuries or illnesses.
government’s latest initiative, the Specifi cation of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE), is likely to be highly detrimental to engineering and manufacturing industries when implemented. She concluded: ‘A one- size-fi ts-all mentality does not work for skilled industries whose apprentices require training programmes bespoke to their trade. We need to see both clarity and consideration when it comes to apprenticeships; clarity when it comes to the government’s plans for the future of the skills sector and consideration for the needs of the highly skilled industries which are vital to the country’s economy and industrial heritage.’
Carbon Trust Standard Schneider Electric has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of its excellence in measuring, managing and reducing its carbon emissions.
The mark of excellence is awarded to organisations able to demonstrate genuine year-on- year carbon reductions. In order to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, Schneider Electric had to prove its carbon emissions had reduced over three years. In addition, the company had to demonstrate it has effective carbon management procedures and processes in place, which included showcasing the investments made in energy- saving projects, as well as plans for the future.
Mark Jones, energy
manager at Schneider Electric, commented: ‘We are extremely proud of our achievement at being awarded the Carbon Trust Standard. This refl ects our commitment to energy management, which is not just something that we encourage our customers to do but something which we actively do ourselves.’
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ECA Today March 2011
SHUTTERSTOCK
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