INDUSTRY COMMENT
Insight into BEMS Experienced Worker Assessment
Andy Reakes, director of growth and development at the JIB and ECS, and Peter Behan, director at Group Horizon, share insights into the BEMS Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA), successful completion of which results in the award of an ECS Gold card. They also discuss the importance of validating the competence of experienced workers and how to complete these assessments
assessment, before it expires. Completing all stages allows a candidate to build their portfolio and prove that they have the competency to hold and obtain an ECS Gold card.
The five stages for the BEMS EWA
EWA application - The first stage is to complete your online EWA application. You will need to provide the following: personal information, industry experience and/or qualifications, name and contact details of sponsor. A member of the Group Horizon EWA team will
Andy Reakes of JIB and ECS T
he Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) was launched in June 2024. It provides a solution for tradespeople in the building controls sector who previously had no formal
way of proving their competence, despite working in the industry for many years. These experienced professionals can now obtain an Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) Gold card upon successful completion of the BEMS Controls Engineer EWA. Feedback and support from the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), employers, training providers and other industry representatives contributed to the work on this EWA. This occupational qualification maps to the BEMS Level 4 apprenticeship standard and supports the framework for ECS cards in the building controls sector, updated in October 2023. The apprenticeship was launched in 2021, in partnership with the BCIA, to address an industry-wide shortage of BEMS Controls Engineers. It followed more than four years of work by the Trailblazer Employer Group. The BEMS Controls Engineer EWA is the latest addition to the electrotechnical EWAs currently available and is a crucial development for the sector. The importance of industry standards and building safety made it vital to get every detail of this assessment right. It enables professional engineers to prove the competence they have built during their years of working in the industry. This EWA has been delivered by Group Horizon, a national training provider offering a range of specialist training programmes which include Apprenticeships, Functional Skills, Jobseeker Short Courses and Workforce Development Programmes. ECS, administered by the Joint Industry Board (JIB), is the sole ID and competence card scheme for electrotechnical operatives in the UK and is recognised and endorsed by the industry.
The EWA route
An electrotechnical EWA programme aims to assess and validate the skills and knowledge of workers who have gained significant experience in a particular field but did not have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship or regulated training route. It offers a cost- effective way for skilled professionals, with industry experience, to be assessed to the
38 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2024 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk Peter Behan of Group Horizon
same nationally recognised standard as those completing an apprenticeship. Each EWA has been developed to mirror the relevant apprenticeship standard without requiring a return to college. It is important to emphasise that this is not a shortcut to getting qualified. Those who lack the range of competence and duration of industry experience after training will not have the skills or knowledge required to successfully complete the assessment. A number of EWA routes have been developed in recent years, including Installation Electrician and Domestic Electrician, which are based on the same content as their respective apprenticeships. This means that new entrants and existing workers are assessed and accredited against the same industry standard. For example, there are four pathways in the Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) sector; Fire, Fire & Emergency Lighting, Fire & Security, and Security, each with their own assessment. EWAs for Network Infrastructure Installers and Panel Builders are also in development.
EWA timeline
There are five key stages in the EWA process. Obtaining an EWA ECS card gives you a maximum of 18 months to complete the
review your completed online application form. Registration - After successful application, you will be able to register for the programme. You will be emailed a link to the Group Horizon online EWA portal which you will use throughout your programme. You will be provided further information, advice and guidance and be able to check if this is the right option for you. You will then be asked to submit a passport style photograph and your National Insurance Number. ECS testing - After completing and registering for the EWA, you will receive an email confirming your ECS Health Safety and Environmental Awareness test and ECS BEMS knowledge test. Please ensure you follow the instructions carefully; you could fail the test if you don’t. ECS Health Safety and Environmental
Awareness test (30 minutes) – You must achieve a pass mark of 86% (43 out of 50 questions). ECS Battery test (90 minutes) – You must achieve an overall pass mark of 60% (84 out of 140 questions) over the 14 sections. Upon completion you will receive a gap analysis on the areas you need to improve on. Assessment stage - There are three assessments that you are required to complete, covering the 15 duties, to be uploaded to the EWA portal. This can be done via the Skills Assessments, supported by Witness Testimonies. This must all be your own work and verified by your employer/sponsor. Each assessment will be reviewed and evaluated by a qualified assessor, to ensure a fair and accurate assessment process. Resubmissions are also possible. Interview stage - You will be invited to attend an online interview with an industry technical expert to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and competency. After completion of the interview, and sign off from the technical expert, you will be awarded your ECS Gold card. To find out more about the EWA and what’s involved, contact Group Horizon at: https://
grouphorizon.co.uk To find out about the different ECS cards available please visit:
https://www.ecscard.org. uk/card-types
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