National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Apprenticeship Frameworks
National Occupational Standards are developed by employers and experts in our industries under the guidance of the Energy & Utility Skills Group.
What are National Occupational Standards?
National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe what an individual needs to do and know to safely perform a work activity, including the skills, knowledge and understanding required. They apply across the UK and underpin qualifications, apprenticeship frameworks in the devolved nations, and in-company training. NOS give employers confidence and provide individuals with portable recognition of competence.
Our Role
The Energy & Utility Skills Group is the recognised industry body leading NOS across the energy, water, and waste industries. We convene employers, regulators, professional bodies, awarding organisations and training partners to develop, review and maintain NOS so they stay aligned to real-world operations, safety, regulation and emerging technologies. Our remit covers the full lifecycle of standards, from identifying need through to implementation and assurance.
What we deliver
- Standards development and review – employer-led drafting, consultation and governance for NOS suites.
- Occupational profiling and mapping – connecting roles, competencies, training and qualifications to create clear pathways into and through sector careers.
- Framework alignment – ensuring NOS are the building blocks for qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks across the devolved nations.
- Quality assurance and adoption – translating NOS into assured training and assessment through industry-recognised endorsement.
Get Involved
Our Recent Impact
Utility Management Skills (Energy and Water)
A UK-wide consultation updated NOS covering planning, installation, operation, maintenance and incident response across utility networks. This ensured fresh alignment with operational practice and regulatory requirements.
Sewerage and Drainage Maintenance (Water)
The NOS suite was reviewed with employers, providers and professional bodies across the UK involved in maintaining public and private sewerage and drainage assets, to ensure they meet operational condition.
Scottish Qualifications Alignment (Scotland)
Our work links NOS review with Scottish Vocational Qualifications updates and occupational mapping, tightening the connection between standards, qualifications and workforce routes to competence.
Training Assurance and Delivery (Cross-Sector)
Energy & Utility Skills Recognition and Assurance schemes apply NOS as benchmarks for training programme endorsement. This provides external quality assurance and gives employers confidence that provision maps to recognised competence.
Working with Governments and Regulators
We work with UK Government and the devolved administrations to ensure NOS inform policy, regulation and delivery. Our standards activity and occupational mapping contribute directly to skills reform, apprenticeship levy developments, and infrastructure investment planning. This collaboration ensures that NOS remain practical, forward-looking and central to workforce resilience.
Why it Matters
- Safety and reliability: clear, industry-owned definitions of competence.
- Mobility and inclusion: portable recognition that supports careers and diverse entry routes.
- Consistency at scale: common benchmarks for qualifications, apprenticeships and assured training across the UK.
- Provides a rigorous foundation: for members and industry to accelerate competence.
Get Involved
Our Privacy Notice sets out how Energy & Utility Skills uses and protects any information you give us as part of your involvement in our reviews, including your contribution to consultations.
Employers, training providers, professional bodies and regulators are invited to shape current reviews and adopt the updated NOS in programmes, procurement and practice. To find out more or to get involved, please contact us by email, telephone or the online form below:
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