With experts estimating that 35,000 gas engineers still need to update their accreditation before the new F-Gas legislation comes into force in July 2011, Develop Training has launched a new e-learning training package.
The package differs from other training courses since half is completed at home. 'This,' said Develop Training, 'makes it easier for people with less time to get the accreditation they need, reduces the downtime required for such training and means that Develop's trainers can see twice as many people each week.'
It will run in addition to the traditional five-day course, which can be held at either a Develop training centre, at the customer's own site or at one of 100 other possible sites across the UK.
Mark Dougall, Director of Electrical, Mechanical and Building Services at Develop Training, warned: 'There is no shortage of courses out there, but as the deadline gets closer, places will become few and far between - and prices may well rise in line with this demand.'
He added: 'We realise that many may have put off training up until now due to concerns over downtime or expense, so we created the E-learning course to minimise those impacts on business, especially those independent business owners and small traders. We hope this will make it easier to prepare for the legislation changes well in advance.'
The legislation is part of the EU F-Gas Regulations, the first part of which was introduced in April 2007. Since July 2009 any company which employs engineers working under F-Gas Regulations must have a company certificate; from July 2011 this will be extended to individuals.
Anyone carrying out service, maintenance, recovery or leak checking on refrigeration equipment covered by the regulations must have completed one of the updated national qualifications.
For further information, visit www.developtraining.co.uk/promotions/fgas.asp