TRAINING
assessment or renew their existing qualification. This is not the case. Whilst we cannot speak for all training providers, we have discovered that by moving the training online and by rearranging our Practical Training Facilities, we have been able to increase our efficiency and capacity, whilst maintaining our industry- leading quality standards.
The Hackitt Report on the Building Regulations and Fire Safety was commissioned after the dreadful tragedy of Grenfell Tower and asks for a greater emphasis on “competency”. To be competent, you must have the correct skills, knowledge and wherewithal to carry out your tasks. Qualifications within the appropriate subject go some way to proving competency. It is therefore important to ensure the qualifications you gain are at a suitable and sufficient level. As an industry, we have concluded that the
minimum level of qualification that a Technician is required to hold is Level 3. All national qualifications have a difficulty level, and in the UK, there are 9 levels of qualification, Level 1 being the lowest and Level 9 being the highest. There are many Level 3 qualifications available for the RACHP industry. These include: ■ City and Guilds 6090 Trailblazer Apprentice- ship scheme – Guided learning hours: 372 ■ LCL Awards level 3 RACHP Certificate – Guid-
www.acr-news.com
ed learning hours: 133
■ LCL Awards level 3 F-Gas Category 1 – Guided learning hours: 31
The F-Gas Regulations are currently being reviewed and even though we are no longer part of the European Union, this review will impact UK legislation. One point of contention is the inclusion of mandatory training with alternative refrigerants. To get ahead of the game, you could adopt the LCL Awards route for F-Gas Renewal. In 2021 this scheme will include Training and Assessment on the use of flammable refrigerants (A3, A2, A2L) at no extra cost or time. The LCL Awards flammable qualification has been written in line with the ACRIB specification, thus meeting industry standards. Training providers are required to employ qualified and experienced training staff to conduct the training. These front of house staff are supported by adequately qualified internal assessors, who carry out the assessment of the candidate. The assessors are themselves audited, to ensure consistency by Internal verifiers, and this whole process in turn is quality assured by an external verifier, independent of the assessment centre. The awarding body is also regulated by the Office of Qualifications & Examinations
Regulation (OFQUAL). This Government body ensures that qualifications, such as LCL Awards and City & Guilds F-Gas Certificates, meet the requirements of the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations of 2015 and therefore are suitable proof of competency. Business Edge is constantly developing various methods to improve training and to provide alternative ways for students to learn effectively. We appreciate that every student is different in the way that they absorb information. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to explore less conventional means of training, such as our 'live' video streaming of practical methods and procedures. The camera enables the students to see much closer detail as we can zoom in and point to key components that the trainer wishes to focus upon. Combining this with student feedback in real
time increases the effectiveness of the learning process. Most of our candidates have found the webinar process to be a more flexible and convenient method of learning. When the pandemic is over, we will be able to combine online and traditional face-to- face training, thus increasing the choices for candidates. We can then provide training and certification in a way that will best suit their needs, making learning more comfortable and enjoyable for all.
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