Jill Nicholls, Director of Competence and Compliance
EAL (Excellence, Achievement & Learning) is a leading awarding organisation specialising in engineering and building services qualifications. This accreditation enables BESA Academy to submit its training programmes for EAL approval, providing additional reassurance to learners, employers, and regulators that its courses meet rigorous industry standards.
The first courses to be submitted for EAL accreditation will be Heat Networks 1: Installation and Maintenance and the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) training. These courses have been developed in line with industry needs and government-backed standards and will support the rollout of low-carbon heat network projects across the UK by ensuring engineers are properly trained and qualified to deliver them safely and effectively.
The announcement comes at a time when the building services sector is under increasing pressure to demonstrate competence and compliance in line with the Building Safety Act and wider regulatory reform. As part of BESA’s Competence and Compliance strategy, the Academy is committed to delivering practical, accessible, and high-quality education that helps the workforce stay up to date with changing legislation, technologies, and best practice.
Being recognised as an EAL Centre marks a key step in BESA Academy’s development, allowing it to align its growing portfolio of training with nationally recognised benchmarks of quality and rigour.
Jill Nicholls, Director of Competence and Compliance at BESA, said: “Achieving EAL accredited Centre status marks an important milestone in the Academy’s journey. It reinforces our commitment to supporting the industry with credible, robust training that helps individuals and businesses meet their obligations under the Building Safety Act. This accreditation gives learners and employers confidence that the qualifications we offer meet recognised national standards and directly contribute to improving competence and safety across the built environment.”
“We are pleased to welcome BESA Academy as an EAL accredited Centre,” said Gareth Williams, Global Sales Manager at EAL. “BESA has a long-standing reputation for championing quality and professionalism in the building engineering services sector. We look forward to supporting the Academy as it develops training that helps raise standards, improves safety, and equips the workforce with the skills needed for the future.”