Water Schemes and Programmes - Energy & Utility Skills

Water Schemes and Programmes

We facilitate a number of nationally recognised training and assessment schemes, available to Water industry employees.

Water Schemes and Programmes

Our Schemes

National Water Hygiene      

The National Water Hygiene Scheme (or ‘blue card’) is effectively mandated across the UK by water companies, in ensuring that anyone entering operational sites can demonstrate an understanding of safe drinking water practices and protect public health. It is supported by a 24/7/365 EUSR digital platform to allows companies to check the validity of registrations. The blue card operates through manual and e-training and acts in cooperation with the UK drinking water regulators. The Scheme has been refreshed in 2017 and water companies sit on its Steering Group.

Safety Health and Environmental Awareness (SHEA Water) Scheme         

Developed in conjunction with water companies, this Scheme provides a uniform approach to health, safety and environmental awareness training across the utilities sector, in line with HSE guidelines. The water scheme is designed for all employees involved in the operational activities of the water industry who require access to sites, both permanent and temporary. The new and redeveloped scheme was launched in January 2018.

Competent Operator Scheme

This scheme was originally built by Water UK and the Drinking Water Inspectorate in 2005, to ensure that every licensed operator was working to minimum standards of operational good practice and compliance. The refreshed and mandated scheme was signed off in 2017 by all the water companies, via Water UK. Water companies sit on the Task & Finish Group implementing the scheme and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and Energy & Utility Skills act within the group and as part of the final external quality assurance process.

The Competent Operator Scheme uses established best practice criteria to ensure any water company can have its existing competency management system evaluated and approved to the agreed industry criteria. By conducting an objective third party measurement against a range of key processes, Energy and Utility Skills will provide value and assistance to the organisation by approving a system that works for them.

Licence to Control (L2C) Competence Framework            

The Water UK Water Control Room Forum (W-CRF) set out in 2017 the industry need for a competence framework, specifically to bring consistent best practice to water utility control room employees. Facilitated by Energy & Utility Skills, the new competence framework will be hosted on the web based EUSR platform.

Scottish Water Distribution Operations Maintenance Strategy (DOMS) 

This scheme is hosted by Energy & Utility Skills for Scottish Water, for use across Scotland to ensure good practice in those working on company sites. The DOMS scheme is part of a wider quality framework to protect public health and optimise drinking water standards.

Water Process Technician Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (Level 3)          

Under the English apprenticeship system, every employer is required to select an independent end-point assessment body and then contract with them either directly if appropriate or via their approved training provider. The Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service End Point Assessment body is the accredited body for the water industry, built by the sector for the sector, and is approved on the Government Register of End Point Assessment Providers. The service has just accredited the first ever water company apprentices under the Trailblazer system, and is contracted to the UK water companies and power, gas and waste sectors.

Other Schemes

Please click on the links below for more information or get in touch with an approved Training Provider.

Drainage Schemes

Find Out More

If you have a training programme that you would like to be endorsed by Energy & Utility Skills, please click here to visit our approval and delivery webpage.