Chris Atkin says don’t fall victim to bogus training providers. You could be putting your reputation and your customers’ safety at risk.

Proper training is the key to success for many electrical contractors. While it is good to see training so high on the national agenda currently, it is essential that the right kind of training takes place.

With the introduction of Part P of the Building Regulations, more contractors are turning to the Internet for information on training they need to undertake. Where the danger lies is that it is far too easy to type electrical training into the search engines of eBay and Google and be presented with a lengthy list of ‘bogus’ training courses and software. The vast majority of these courses are not accredited and some do not include examinations or certification.

It is also worrying that training materials can be easily bought off the Internet; while they may appear to be a bargain, they are not all they seem. Any training materials bought either online or in shops must, at least, reference the 16th Edition Wiring Regulations, BS 7671 No 1: 2002 and No 2: 2004. Electricians and electrical contractors should be aware that eBay has various get-out clauses that relinquish it from any responsibility for bogus materials or products.

Be wary of signing up to distance learning packages. If you decide to take this route make sure that the materials reference the 16th Edition Wiring Regulations; are downloadable without file corruption; are up to date with current procedures and regulations; and are not plagiarised from readily available books. Not only is it dishonest, it is against the law.

Bogus training is a disaster right across the board, but especially in regards to Part P. It affects your career and will have a massive impact on homeowners selling their property. From January 2007, homeowners will have to produce information packs when selling, including work completed after January 2005. If you have received dodgy training you could cost the homeowner thousands, not to mention damage to your reputation.

So, how do you distinguish bogus from accredited training? The first and most important port of call for anyone serious about electrical training is the City & Guilds web site: www.city-and-guilds.co.uk. Here you can research the different qualifications available and find courses to suit you. Having selected a course you can choose the location where you want to study.

Make sure that the training facility is City & Guilds approved. Ask the centre for their City & Guilds centre number and details of the schemes that they are approved to deliver, plus the scheme number.

The frustrating issue with bogus training is that there is no way of policing it – the customer has to make the right choices

When looking at a training company, size really does matter. There are reports of some training providers attempting to run courses with excessive numbers of delegates, resulting in poor pass rates. The recommended maximum number of delegates for best practice is normally eight per course. This allows for targeted training, with more one-to-one attention from the tutor so that all students can develop at a similar pace. Consequently, exam pass rates remain at a consistently high level.

Size is also important with regards to the number of courses a company can offer. As a general rule, look for a firm that offers a diverse range of specialist courses. Most Part P scheme providers regard City & Guilds 2381 as the benchmark qualification. For the time being, City & Guilds 2391 is not a requirement under Part P, however this qualification does show a high level of understanding in periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations.

In essence, the bigger the portfolio of specialist courses that the firm has, the more reputable the training is likely to be. It is important that your trainer focuses on what you say, what your needs are, and what you want to gain out of a course. Only then can they match your needs with the most appropriate training service.

The frustrating issue with bogus training is that there is no formal way of policing it. Consequently the onus is on the customer to ensure that they make the right choices. Proper investment in research will pay off and enable customers to receive the relevant skills that they need. With such a serious shortage in industry skills at present, this has become even more vital.

Chris Atkin is managing director at Total Communications Training.

What to avoid when considering training

  • Do not randomly search for electrical training – the City & Guilds web site should be your first point of reference when looking for any training provider (www.city-and-guilds.co.uk)

  • Try to avoid doing long distance learning – on-site trainer support is key to success

  • Avoid buying training materials on internet site eBay – it has a get-out clause should the materials be bogus

  • Avoid at all costs training centres that are not approved by City & Guilds

  • As a rule of thumb, don’t sign up to courses with more than eight students

  • Stay clear from courses that do not offer you an examination and certification

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor