SELECT, Scotland’s trade association for the electrical, electronics and communications systems industry, is taking a significant stake in the future with the establishment of the new ground-breaking Scottish Environmental Technologies Training Centre.
The state-of-the art training environment, facilitated by Birmingham-based intelligent heating solutions business Vaillant and Skills Development Scotland, will bring electricians, heating engineers and plumbers up to speed with the latest developments in energy-saving technology, and is a first for the association, placing it at the forefront of 21st century carbon reduction thinking.
Photograph - Left to right - Drew McNeice (SQA), Sarah Wicks (HVCA), Robert Orr (Skills Development Scotland), Jim Mather (Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism), Peter Kelly (Vaillant), Keith Marshall (SummitSkills), Tom Mitchell (SELECT) and Alan Wilson (SNIPEF)
The initiative will provide all the training equipment and instruction, for 2/3 days courses in four distinct disciplines: solar hot water; photovoltaic cell technology; ground source heat pumps; and air source heat pumps. These courses are based on National Occupational Standards developed by the industry’s sector skills council SummitSkills and will lead to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) qualifications. Once the courses are up and running, by autumn 2010 SELECT will be able to offer training for up to 1000 qualified tradesmen a year.
David Forrester, SELECT’s Head of Services, said: “The current emphasis on the reduction of the carbon footprint is a welcome step forward. All the technologies we are highlighting on these courses make a contribution to generating energy from micro-renewable and sustainable sources. This is a really meaningful initiative which will not only bring tangible benefits to our members but will also have a positive impact on the built environment in the UK.”
The courses will be run in conjunction with the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association and the Scottish and the Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation, and will be linked in to new building standards schemes relevant to that sector.
David Forrester added: “There is no doubt that these technologies are the future and it is important that we maintain SELECT’s position at the forefront of new technology. Our members are proud of their commitment to staying abreast of, and in advance of, new developments in the industry and these courses will significantly aid that ambition.”
Gordon Rodgers, SQA’s Head of Industry and Business Qualifications Development said, “SQA are delighted to be involved in the establishment of Select’s ground-breaking Scottish Environmental Technologies Training Centre, which will offer the industry qualifications in the latest energy-saving technologies. SQA are committed to working with industry to provide high quality, flexible and relevant qualifications and assessments.”
Robert Orr, Strategic Relations Manager of Skills Development Scotland, said: "The Renewable energy sector is a vibrant area in Scotland and one which has great potential for employment, training and skills.
“Creating a well trained, highly skilled workforce will be absolutely critical in ensuring that Scotland and its people benefit from the growing importance of renewable energy, including microgeneration, and SDS is delighted to be involved in the launch of this Centre which will help to ensure our people are equipped with the skills needed to realise their own potential and contribute to the growth of a key sector which could create a significant number of jobs over the next decade."
For more information please contact David Forrester, Head of Services at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, tel. 0131 445 5577.