Building energy management system (BEMS) manufacturer Trend Controls
Systems Ltd* and leading vocational training provider Apprenticeship
Training Ltd (ATL)† have developed and are now jointly delivering
the UK’s first ever qualification for building controls technicians.
The level 3 NVQ Diploma in ‘Installing Building Energy Management
Systems’ is awarded by EAL†† and endorsed by SummitSkills – the
sector skills council for the building services engineering
industry. It is the only nationally recognized award specifically
designed for those wishing to embark on a career in BEMS design,
installation and commissioning.
The BEMS Diploma became available at the start of this year and
complies with the regulatory arrangements laid down in the
government’s newly introduced Qualifications & Credit Framework (QCF).
Involving a combination of on- and off-the-job training it requires
completion of a series of knowledge and performance units. The
former are done at college and are the equivalent of the old
‘technical certificate’ element of an apprenticeship. The
performance units are carried out in the workplace and require the
learner to demonstrate that they have the practical skills to apply
the knowledge they have gained.
Trend’s Learning and Development Manager, Phil Prosser, is in no
doubt about the significance of the new BEMS Diploma: “The previous
lack of a proper qualification in building controls has deterred
people from entering the industry, which has led to skill shortages.
Until now the only study options available to them have been general
courses leading to technical certificates in electrical or building
services technology, parts of which had no relevance to our sector.
In contrast, the college course element of the new diploma has been
precisely tailored to aid subsequent workplace learning by focusing
on the underpinning knowledge required by a BEMS engineer. This was
made possible through close cooperation between Trend and ATL and,
in particular, by ATL’s willingness to listen to the needs of our
industry.”
The first people to gain the diploma will almost certainly come from
the latest group to join Trend’s award-winning ‘Attitude’ Advanced
Apprenticeship scheme. They have already started their college
studies at two of ATL’s regional centres, where they will spend all
of the first ten weeks. Their on-the-job training and assessment
will be done either with Trend or one of its system suppliers, with
the whole of the diploma programme completed in around 30 months.
Nick Hayward, MD of ATL, believes that the basic structure of the
BEMS Diploma course will prove important to its success: “Both we
and Trend were very keen that the course should begin with an
intensive period of study, since the trainees would then be an asset
to their employers as soon as they entered the workplace. They will
be able to make a worthwhile contribution immediately, rather than
getting in the way and only being capable of menial tasks. One
consequence of this is that they are less likely to drop out.”
The EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in BEMS is made up of 18 knowledge and
performance units. The topics these cover include health and safety,
environmental legislation and technology, overseeing and organizing
the work environment, system planning, preparation and installation,
construction of control panels, system inspection, testing and
commissioning and diagnosis and correction of electrical faults. The
final unit to be undertaken involves a holistic assessment of
occupational competence where learners have to demonstrate that they
have the knowledge, understanding and skills to perform the job of a
BEMS engineer, safely and in accordance with approved industry and
technical standards and working practices.
All 18 units must be completed to achieve the 125 credits needed to
be awarded the BEMS Diploma. It has 854 guided learning hours.
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