BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association) and ECA (the Electrical Contractors’ Association) have responded to the announcement that SummitSkills will close from March 2017.

The two trade bodies originally helped to set up the sector skills organisation.

BESA chief executive Paul McLaughlin said: “The great legacy of SummitSkills will be the specific focus it created on skills for our specialist sector, which ensured that our training provision was not wrongly regarded as simply an extension of wider construction.”

ECA ceo Steve Bratt added: “We are now at a stage where employers in our sector are taking the lead and running apprenticeship trailblazers themselves, which is extremely positive. The ECA, the BESA and other key partners will continue to support building services engineering contractors who offer highly technical apprenticeships, through specialised advice and expert guidance.”

Both men said: “The BESA and ECA are extremely grateful for the hard work of SummitSkills staff in raising skills standards, and we will build on that legacy for the good of future generations of building engineering professionals.”

SummitSkills has spanned the building services engineering sector, including the electro-technical, heating, ventilating, and plumbing air conditioning and refrigeration disciplines – providing detailed guidance for each.

Mr McLaughlin concluded: 'Trade associations will continue to work closely with other industry partners, employers and skills providers to secure the success of the government-backed ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeships, and to further develop short course competency training and assessment. This and other joint activity will continue to ensure sector skills provision following the spring 2017 closure of SummitSkills.'