ECA News
Clampdown urged on substandard training courses
THE ECA IS CALLING ON GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP down on substandard apprenticeships and ensure taxpayer cash goes to courses that will get people jobs, following the publication of a report on adult apprenticeships. The National Audit Offi ce report, published in February, acknowledges that the rate of return on adult trainees is £18 for each £1 of government spending and that this could be increased by more astute targeting of resources. Iain Macdonald, the ECA’s head of Education and
Training, said: ‘As long as short-course and low-level apprenticeships receive government funding, the economic return from taxpayer investment won’t fulfi l its potential. The ECA believes that funding should only be used for courses that really do prepare an individual for a career, whether in a catering fi rm, a manufacturing plant or as an electrician. In the craft sector, the home of apprenticeships, the minimum standard for working independently is completing a Level 3 apprenticeship. A rigorous Level 3 apprenticeship can not be compared to a 12-week training course that, in the ordinary course of events, would be funded wholly by the
employer as a basic training and staff induction activity. It is ridiculous that 20 per cent of so-called “apprenticeships” can be completed in less than six months, yet are considered as worthy of funding equivalent to a four-year advanced apprenticeship that is acknowledged by industry as being the standard for entry. Despite rhetoric, part of the problem is that government has been slow to clamp down on apprenticeships that don’t even last a year.’ The ECA says that industry should take a leading role
in defi ning what constitutes an apprenticeship. ‘Ultimately, apprenticeships are about preparing people for work, so it should be obvious that employers should play the lead in defi ning them. Industries like construction have a proven track record for training. These industries need specialist support, and the NAS is too thinly spread to have a meaningful impact on quality. The government should transfer the functions of the NAS to the relevant Sector Skills Councils, if it is determined to give taxpayers real value for money and give people a qualifi cation that will genuinely lead to a career,’ concluded Macdonald.
BUILDING REGULATIONS CONSULTATION 2012
THE BUILDING REGULATIONS minister, Andrew Stunell, recently announced the launch of the 2012 consultation on changes to the Building Regulations.
The consultation builds upon ideas and suggestions provided by the ECA and our industry partners as part of a review that began in 2010, to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and ensure that Building Regulations remain proportionate and fi t-for-purpose. The consultation outlines changes, from deregulatory proposals to provisions to further improve the energy effi ciency and safety aspects of the technical Building Regulations. In addition to this, it also explores a number of changes to improve the effi ciency and effectiveness of the building control system. The consultation is presented in four sections: ■ Section one: outline of the 2012 consultation approach and proposals to change various technical aspects
of the regulations;
■ Section two: proposals to increase the energy effi ciency of buildings;
■ Section three: proposals in relation to electrical safety in homes; and
■ Section four: proposals to the building control system. The consultation will remain open until 27 April, although responses on aspects that link to the Green Deal proposals in Section two are requested by 27 March 2012. The ECA encourages its members to participate in this consultation. Full details of how to provide feedback are provided on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website at:
www.communities.
gov.uk/planningandbuilding/ buildingregulations/ buildingregulationschanges/ ■ For further information or for any technical queries, call the ECA Technical Helpline on 03333 218222.
Management help
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON questions the ECA receives on its helpline is: ‘Can you send me a quality policy, as I am doing a pre-qualifi cation and they are asking for it?’ Many members are missing a great opportunity by treating quality as something that’s only considered when requested. Instead, why not consider having a comprehensive management system addressing your product?
Many of us are running around producing risk assessments and method statements and missing the all-important subject of business effi ciency (quality) – because safety compliance is a legal requirement, while having an effi cient business isn’t. So why not use the requirements of ISO 9001 to develop your own in-house management system and get your company running as effi ciently as you possibly can? The ECA’s management system helpline is there for members to get guidance – so use it. Call 01277 363 653 or visit
www.eca.co.uk
How much are standards costing you?
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS need to comply with industry standards for all types of electrotechnical installations and systems. When purchased as hardcopies, these standards can potentially cost thousands of pounds. To help its registered members reduce
their operational costs, the ECA website now features an online library of up to 72 key standards. Developed with the BSI, it enables members to save the standards relevant to their business to their local PC(s) for an annual fee of £108 (inc. VAT) for up to fi ve licences/users, or £180 (inc. VAT) for up to 10 licences/users. These fees represent exceptional value
for money. If members were to purchase hardcopies of the recently revised Earthing Standard (BS 7430) and Emergency Lighting Standard (BS 5266), for example, they could expect to pay approximately £276. Buying hardcopies of all 72 standards would cost more than £8,000, even with the usual ECA discount applied. Making the ECA’s library even more
attractive, ELECSA, NICEIC, BSI, NSI and SSAIB recently agreed that electronic access to standards is acceptable for their respective certifi cation schemes. In other words, registered members who are subscribed to the online library no longer need to purchase
hardcopies of the standards. To subscribe to the library, registered members simply login to the ECA website and go to the ‘Account Management’ section. If members have any queries, they should contact the ECA head of Technical Services, Giuliano Digilio, on 020 7313 4825. Typical standards now available via the ECA online library include: ■ BS 7430 Earthing; ■ BS 5839 Fire detection and fi re alarm systems for buildings;
■ BS 5266 Emergency lighting; ■ BS 6701 Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling; and
■ Many more, including ICT and Hazardous Area Installations.
14
ECA Today March 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72