Ductwork apprenticeships within the m&e sector have received a welcome boost in the form of a new alliance.
Leading national training provider, Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) has announced a partnership with specialist ductwork training provider, QTS. BEST & QTS will be working together to produce a full framework delivery programme for ductwork apprenticeships, as part of the BEST national apprenticeship programme.

In the past, ductwork apprenticeships have typically seen low entry levels and success rates, because of a lack of consistent quality training. The new alliance will support a growth in ductwork apprenticeship uptake and improved success rates, by offering flexible on-site training to apprentices. On-site training will utilise a combination of work-based assessment, backed up by mobile teaching resources, equipped with computers running all the up-to-date training software needed for the apprentices.

'We are very pleased to be able to offer this new training service combining the established BEST apprenticeship model with the experience and expertise of QTS,' said Mark Brenner, CEO at BEST.

'All apprenticeship programmes will benefit from available government funding and high quality support to ensure high learner retention and optimum completion times. Our relationship with QTS builds on the already proven success of training and qualification schemes for existing ductworkers under the BEST skills pay operation,' he added.

'QTS is very pleased to enter the apprenticeship partnership with BEST to deliver training and assessment for the ductwork industry,' said Jon Howlin, managing director at QTS.

'The partnership will have many benefits to an industry which has lacked the opportunity for formal training for a number of years. The future of the ductwork industry is very bright now as the partnership begins to deliver quality training and development for which it deserves.'

QTS is a specialist ductwork training company, and will be delivering the ductwork apprenticeship programme throughout England and Wales. The ductwork apprenticeship will be a rolling start programme running throughout the year, which will be flexible to suit the needs of the employer and learner.

There are fewer than 10 ductwork apprentices joining the industry each year, so creating a very noticeable skills shortage of new ductwork entrants into the industry.

Working together BEST and QTS will seek to address this impending skills crunch and give ductwork apprentices the best possible start towards a successful career.