The Association of Ductwork Contractors and Allied Services (ADCAS) has welcomed the launch of new classroom-based courses for ductwork specialists to NVQ L2 and L3 by Alpha Building Services & Engineering.
Malcolm Moss, President of the Association, which represents both ductwork contractors and product manufacturers, paid tribute to the hard work of a team from Hotchkiss in the talks with Alpha.
'The new two-year courses will effectively replace those formerly available at Bexley College. Hotchkiss has lead the way and the new Alpha courses will form an integral part of the company's apprenticeship scheme. I hope others will follow.
'Ductwork is now a skilled profession and we need routes to qualifications that recognise those skills - particularly classroom-based courses that offer a better all round understanding of ducting systems.
'There are two routes to qualifications - the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) system, or college-based courses which require a certain amount of classroom time, usually day release or block release. Alpha has reinstated the second alternative.'
Alpha Building Services & Engineering is a Skills Training Centre established in 1982 to provide construction and related trade skills courses. The company is a training provider approved by City and Guilds, Edexcel, Logic Certification, Gas Safe Register and EAL. The fully equipped Alpha Training Centre in East London provides information, advice and guidance to any learner requiring course information, progression routes and career opportunities.
Training is a major ADCAS priority and the Association promotes courses for improving skills at every career stage from new entrants to mature operatives and those on the first rungs of the management ladder.