With the Energy & Utility Skills member base representing a wide range of major employers across the energy and utilities industries, we are uniquely placed to convene trailblazer groups for new standards and to gather employer views on developing, reviewing and amending existing apprenticeship standards and end-point assessment (EPA) plans.
Working with industry employers, we help ensure standards approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) meet employers’ needs, have fit-for-purpose EPA plans, and come with the maximum possible funding.
In addition, Energy & Utility Skills has worked with IfATE to establish an employer advisory panel. This is the first sector group of this type and provides a direct link between the energy and utility employers to represent their needs first hand to IfATE.
Invitation to Trailblazer Groups
Energy & Utility Skills is now convening three trailblazer groups to develop the following new apprenticeship standards:
- Drainage Network Operative
- Water Asset Maintenance Technician
- Power Generation Asset Maintenance Technician
Energy & Utility Skills invites employers and contractors to join trailblazer groups relevant to them and have their say on how the standards are created to ensure they are fit for purpose. Simply email Paul Carter on paul.carter@euskills.co.uk or Caroline Costelloe, Senior Product Manager at IfATE, on Caroline.COSTELLOE@education.gov.uk.
Drainage Network Operative
We are pleased to announce that the IfATE’s Engineering and Manufacturing Route Panel approved the Occupational Proposal for a Drainage Network Operative standard. This Level 2 standard will cover the use of CCTV and jetting or other unblocking equipment to deal with sewers and drainage pipes. If you are interested in joining the Trailblazer Group, please contact Paul or Caroline.
Water Asset Maintenance Technician
The IfATE’s Engineering and Manufacturing Route Panel has agreed that a Trailblazer Group can be formed to develop a new apprenticeship for a Water Asset Maintenance Technician, which will eventually be a replacement for the Maintenance and Operations and Engineering Technician (MOET) standard and the Utilities Engineering Technician (UET) standard. To join the trailblazer group for this unique standard specifically for the Water Industry, contact Paul or Caroline.
Power Generation Asset Maintenance Technician
The IfATE’s Engineering and Manufacturing Route Panel has also agreed that a Trailblazer Group can be formed to develop a new apprenticeship for a Power Generation Asset Maintenance Technician. As with the standard above, this will eventually be a replacement for the Maintenance and Operations and Engineering Technician (MOET) standard. To join the trailblazer group for this unique standard specifically for the Power Industry, contact Paul or Caroline.
More information on trailblazer groups can be found on the IfATE website, if you have not worked on a trailblazer group before.
Additional proposed new standards
Energy & Utility Skills is also currently in dialogue with industry employers around the possibility of two additional apprenticeship standards:
- Cable Jointing (for IDNOs) Level 2/3
- Water Industry Operations and Management Level 4
If you have views on the demand for these potential standards, please contact paul.carter@euskills.co.uk.
Existing standards currently under review
IfATE has requested a review of the following standards:
- Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer Level 2
- Gas Engineering Operative Level 3
- Power Network Craftsperson Level 3
The Trailblazer Groups have been reconvened, supported by Energy & Utility Skills and IfATE and the review of these standards is well underway.
Following a request from water industry employers a review of the Water Network Operative Level 2 standard to include new content is also underway.
If you would like to add your views or expertise to any of the employer discussions that Energy & Utility Skills is currently facilitating, please talk to us.