Heating and Ventilating

A deal signed by Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) and Electrical Assessment Services (EAS) has given birth to a one-stop electrical training shop.
Christened with the name - BEST Electrical Assessment Services, at its launch on Thursday 8, the new service offers technical electrical courses and assessments.

Before BEST and EAS agreed to team up, the HVCA's training portfolio was limited when it came to electrical courses. The deal means HVCA's BEST can offer m&e training and assessment provision.

The planned convergence of the HVCA and Electrical Contractors Association will also benefit from the EAS deal, since they share over 130 members who want m&e training and assessment.

EAS is a work-based training provider and assessor established three years ago. Martin Payne, managing director of EAS said 'With the HVCA collaboration, we can now offer employers a whole suit of training'.

BEST Electrical Assessment Services was born to respond to industry's needs to adapt, with the incorporation of new legislation including the 17th edition wiring regulations.

Both organisations expect the collaboration to kick-start a period of educational discovery to develop more courses tailored to meet employer needs.

Established by the HVCA in 1990, to develop training for the building services engineering sector, BEST offers training for apprentices in areas heating and ventilating, service and maintenance, refrigeration, air-conditioning, plumbing, gas installation and building services engineering.

A spokesman for the HVCA said the deal reflected the convergence of heating and ventilating with electrical services to cater to building services industry demands. Demands that included hitting carbon emission targets by providing enough skilled engineers to install and maintain micro-generation technologies.

'This is an exciting time for the BSE sector and the labour force in general, with the Leitch Review citing the need for five million more skilled jobs as the UK enters the biggest transformation in employment the economy has seen for 100 years,' said Mark Brenner CEO for BEST.

BEST is 'leading the way on proposals to double the amount of apprenticeships available by 2020', added Brenner.

The number of UK apprenticeships offered by BEST is set to increase by 50% next year.

BEST expects to place more than 1,000 school leavers on programs in the next year.

Refering to an editorial by Heating and Ventilating Review's Editor Paul Braithwaite, describing a lack of passion shown by building services outside of the industry, Brenner said BEST hoped to spread passion out to the schools and colleges across the UK.
'It's true passion is shared within the industry but it is not shown outside industry.

'We need to get the passion out'.