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Home Energy Advice training underway in Wales and the South West
Asset Skills launched Home Energy Advice training programmes in Wales and South West England this month.
These programmes have proved popular with learners and the increase in demand for Green Skills training illustrates that learners are preparing for the future and Government initiatives such as the Green Deal.
All the training is based around the level 3 Energy Advice (Home) certificate, offered by the Awarding Body of the Built Environment.
In Wales approximately 70 learners from across Wales have started the course, delivered through Neath Port Talbot College, Coleg Llandrillo and the University of Glamorgan (in partnership with the Energy Savings Trust).
Commissioned by the Welsh Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot, the programme aims to provide learners with the skills to conduct energy advice visits within domestic property and accrue additional learning in Welsh Government initiatives, such as the Arbed and Fuel Poverty.
In South West England, as part of the government's Joint Investment Programme, Somerset College has started training 10 learners to achieve the Level 3 certificate.
This part-funded course will be running a second intake of learners in August with costs of £1,000-£1,500 per learner, depending on experience.
If you would like to register or need further information on these courses, please contact Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org or call 01392 423 399.
Asset Skills prepares for the Green Deal
National Occupation Standards
In preparation of the Government's Green Deal, launching in October 2012, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have commissioned Asset Skills to review and revise the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Energy Assessment and Advice.
The Green Deal is a financial arrangement to implement energy saving measures with no upfront cost to the property owner/tenant. This is achieved by using the savings on the energy bill to pay for the cost of the measure over the duration of the Green Deal finance arrangement.
Developing the standards will define the skills and qualifications required for Energy Assessors and Advisors to make assessments of properties and recommend what energy savings measures would operate within the Green Deal mechanism.
As part of the project, Asset Skills will be maintaining a database of informed contacts who will feed into the steering committee, working groups and wider NOS consultation. If you are interested in participating please email Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org.
The Green Deal Skills Alliance and Competency Framework
As part of the Employer Investment Fund project Asset Skills is working with two other Sector Skills Councils, Construction Skills and Summit Skills to form the Green Deal Skills Alliance.
The success of the Green Deal process requires an accredited and qualified assessment and installation workforce. The Skills Alliance will aim to develop common standards to sit across all aspects of Green Deal assessment and installation.
This Green Deal Competency Framework will also tackle a wider remit of issues surrounding Green Deal implementation. This will include a series of nationwide roadshows to raise awareness and help facilitate the Green Deal process.
For more contact Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org or call 01392 423 399.
Apprenticeship News - England and Wales
Asset Skills is pleased to announce that Local Environmental Services (LES) is now a pathway within the Cleaning Apprenticeship.
The LES qualification is a combination of cleaning and horticulture units and would be suitable for a wide range of settings and organisations.
The qualification is currently used by local authorities where apprentices work in the following settings - parks, cemeteries, public rights of way, countryside recreation sites and open spaces around people's homes and council buildings.
To reflect this new pathway the apprenticeship will now be called Cleaning and Environmental Services.
The re-formatted Surveying Apprenticeship will also be available from the 16 August. This framework now includes a Level 3 BTEC knowledge qualification with a new Surveying pathway and is expected to take two years to complete.
New Surveying Apprenticeship available in the North of England
Leeds College of Building specialise in construction education and training and cover all areas of construction from entry level through to degree. The Faculty of Higher Education and Construction Management (HECM) delivers further and higher level courses in a variety of academic areas, including the newly launched Advanced Apprenticeship in Surveying.
The Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship consists of:
The programme has been designed to ensure apprentices learn the latest advancements in this field. Modules such as sustainable construction cover renewable technologies, including solar hot water and photovoltaics, and building surveying brings in the practical elements with the use of moisture meters, salt analysis kits and thermal imaging equipment.
Throughout the programme functional skills (numeracy and literacy), science and the latest health and safety regulations and requirements will be fully embedded together with employment rights & responsibilities and personal learning and thinking skills.
The service the college provides includes all off-the-job/classroom delivery from a skilled and qualified team of tutors as well as support from an assigned on-site assessor and work-based learning adviser. The role of the assessor/adviser is to review the learner's progress at least every 12 weeks, ensuring that each learner is progressing as planned, set targets for work to be completed and where appropriate will fast-track learners through their course.
The college, in partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University have created progression routes for apprentices on to the Higher National Diploma. Participating apprentices will also be eligible for RICS trainee membership and upon completion of the apprenticeship and two years concurrent work experience, together with successful completion of the Associate Assessment will qualify as an RICS Associate.
Additionally the college is able to assist employers with their recruitment needs, whether it is from their existing full-time learners or through the National Apprenticeship Service's 'Vacancy Matching System.
Details on funding are provided below:
If you would like more information on the apprenticeship, please email wbl@lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6023.
Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England and Wales
The Facilities Management, Housing and Cleaning and Environmental Services Apprenticeship frameworks which meet the new standards are available on our website. The frameworks include new details on guided learning hours and personal, learning and thinking skills for England, and on training hours for Wales.
For more on the LES apprenticeship visit: http://www.assetskills.org/Cleaning/Cleaning.aspx and for Surveying visit: http://www.assetskills.org/PropertyAndPlanning/PropertyandPlanning.aspx
Alternatively contact Gill Spatcher at gspatcher@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2888.
Big rise in apprenticeships in cleaning and support services
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of apprentices in the cleaning and support service industry, as highlighted by the Guardian newspaper.
It reported figures from the House of Commons Library showing there were 1,930 apprentices created in cleaning and support services in the academic year 2010-11, compared with 360 in the previous academic year.
It is thought the rise has been fuelled by a surge in apprentices aged over 25. Read the full article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/14/increase-in-apprentices-over-25
The Prince's Trust and UPP team up to help Exeter's young unemployed
A leading provider of university campus infrastructure, student accommodation and residential management services in higher education, has teamed up with youth charity The Prince's Trust to offer a new course to help unemployed young people into work.
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) and its university partner, the University of Exeter, have hosted 12 unemployed 16 - 25 year olds on The Prince's Trust 'Get into Facilities Management' course.
During the course, participants gained experience in a range of facilities management roles, including reception duties, housekeeping, maintenance, and administration. Accredited training in cleaning, health and safety, fire safety and first aid were incorporated into the course, providing valuable and tangible skills for future work in the facilities management sector.
At the end of the course, participants gave presentations about their experiences at a celebration event, sponsored by the University of Exeter, to mark the end of the two-week period.
Following on from the success of the programme, UPP is now hoping to provide further training in facilities management for two of the young people who took part. Other young people will be supported by The Prince's Trust into further education, work or training.
Mark Ware, who had a place on the 'Get Into Facilities Management' programme, and attended the celebration event said: "I took part in the programme to gain experience and develop my skills, to enable me to get a job. I am really happy to have been given this opportunity, and found the course insightful and refreshing."
Rick Libbey, regional director for The Prince's Trust in the South West said: "We're delighted to be working with UPP and the University of Exeter to help unemployed young people into work. Both organisations are hugely passionate about providing training opportunities for young people and as such are a great example to other employers in the city."
Jilly Court BA (Hons) MBA, Deputy Director of Campus Services at the University of Exeter, said: "The 'Get in FM' scheme is a great opportunity; providing valuable experience for young people which will assist them in finding employment in the future. The University of Exeter has a large Facilities Management team which provides key services for students, staff and visitors, it is important that we are able to encourage people to consider Facilities Management as a worthwhile career, as such we are delighted to be able to support this initiative of the Prince's Trust and UPP."
Sean O'Shea, Chief Executive of UPP said: "Our long-standing partnership with the Prince's Trust continues to provide more young people with the opportunities they need to build a career. As the leading provider of student accommodation and asset management services, we are dedicated to providing training opportunities for young people on our sites, and investing in the communities in which we work. We are delighted to be working with the University of Exeter on this programme, and would like to thank them for all their help and support."
UPP is the UK's leading provider of managed on-campus university accommodation. Working in partnership with universities, UPP provides specialist residential management services, including facilities management.
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 14-to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. More than three in four young peopled helped by The Prince's Trust move into work or training.
For more contact Karen Waterlow, Specialist Adviser - FM & Cleaning Services, Asset Skills at kwaterlow@assetskills.org or call 07733 224 902.
The future of the housing sector
A final report has been published which explores how housing organisations will need to transform in order to thrive in the future.
Catharine Hinton, Specialist Adviser for Housing at Asset Skills, was part of an expert panel in the joint project between the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Orbit Housing Group which investigated the future role of housing providers.
The report can now be viewed at: http://www.cih.org/news/view.php?id=1455
For more contact Catharine Hinton, Specialist Adviser - Housing, Asset Skills at chinton@assetskills.org or call 07554 452 286.
There is growing interest among housing employers and social landlords in running new apprenticeships in housing at levels 2 and 3. The Asset Skills UK Academy for Housing can help employers by offering a direct brokerage service.
Read more in Society Guardian's feature on housing apprenticeships here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/19/how-to-get-ahead-in-housing
For more information, contact Catharine Hinton, Specialist Adviser - Housing, Asset Skills at chinton@assetskills.org or call 07554 452 286.
Scottish Government funds the recruitment of cleaning staff
Asset Skills Scotland has received funding from the Scottish Government to deliver a pilot programme to help up to 60 candidates out of long-term unemployment and to guarantee them at least a genuine cleaning job interview.
Scottish employers who currently have full-time vacancies, or will have before the end of March 2012, are invited to get involved now in this fully-funded programme.
Candidates recruited on to this programme will undertake the 'Cleaning Sector Employability Routeway'. The programme has two core elements:
The Scottish Government funding is great news for cleaning employers. The placement programme gives the prospective employer a three-week long opportunity to assess the candidate and their suitability for future employment with their organisation. Secondly the candidate comes to your organisation already having undertaken an introductory training programme, all fully-funded.
Asset Skills will be working with four groups of candidates at locations throughout Scotland. The programme will be completed by March 2012.
There are a maximum of 60 places available, so spaces are likely to be booked quickly.
If your organisation will have full-time vacancies at any time between now and the end of March 2012 and you would like to benefit from this programme, contact Tim Pogson, Head of Asset Skills Scotland at tpogson@assetskills.org or call 0131 667 2448.
British Cleaning Council Conference 2011
A conference held at Kings Place, London will explore how we can work in a more efficient, sustainable and socially engaged way, to the benefit both of our industry and society.
The conference is to be held on 11 October. There will be the opportunity to find out more about your social responsibility: working together ethically in tough economic times.
For more see www.britishcleaningcouncil.org/cleaningconference.
BIFM supports new code for internships
BIFM has endorsed a new best practice code which aims to improve the quality of workplace internships and access from across the social spectrum.
The code was launched in July 2011, with the support of Universities Minister, David Willetts, and the full backing of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The 'Common Best Practice Code for Quality Internships' encourages fair and equal access particularly to the professions and emphasises intern recruitment in an open and rigorous way.
The code defines high-quality internships as typically around three months' duration, although they can vary from at least six weeks to no longer than 12 months, depending on individual needs.
Internships must comply with all the provisions of current employment legislation, including the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The legislation ensures that all workers in the UK who are over compulsory school leaving age are entitled to be paid at least the NMW, unless they are covered by an exemption.
The code sets out six principles of best practice: preparation; recruitment; induction; treatment; supervision and mentoring; and certification, reference and feedback.
For more information on the code visit: http://www.bifm.org.uk/bifm/knowledge/resources/library/filegrab/common-best-practice-code-for-high-quality-internships.pdf?type=documents&ref=4292
Or contact Richard Byatt, BIFM Corporate & Public Affairs Director at richard.byatt@bifm.org.uk or call 0845 058 1356.
New mentoring scheme for British businesses
A new scheme will offer support on a range of issues faced by businesses covering the whole of the UK.
British businesses will now have access to more knowledge and support as a new mentoring scheme launches, and through a brand new web portal, www.mentorsme.co.uk. The Government has worked alongside the private sector to improve access to, and stimulate the demand for, mentoring.
For more visit: http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Jul/uk-business-mentors
Facilities management training survey
Leeds College of Building is carrying out a survey on the training of facilities managers.
The survey is aimed at employers who either deliver facilities/asset management services or facilities management departments within an organisation. Its purpose is to appraise the different methods of training available for facilities managers in order to determine its effectiveness.
The survey should be completed by anyone responsible for the training of facilities staff.
You can access the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZTG6NR6
For more information please contact Nigel Chilvers at nchilvers@lcb.ac.uk
