Training

JTL LAUNCHES FIVE NEW TRAINING CENTRES

JTL has recently opened five new training centres. All five of the new centres are now actively recruiting apprentices at locations in Hull, Worthing, Eastbourne, Norwich and Telford. All sites deliver JTL apprenticeships in electrical engineering, with the sites in Hull and Norwich also offering apprenticeships in plumbing and heating.

JTL works with employers to provide the training to support their apprentices with off-the-job learning and the knowledge elements of their apprenticeship programme, including both classroom and practical workshop learning, as well as monitoring and assessing apprentices in the workplace.

JTL also supports the apprenticeship process in matching learners with a local employer, providing a dedicated training officer and supplying each learner with a free toolkit and study books.

Employers that take on JTL apprentices receive assistance with the hiring process, guidance on the financial support available to them, and the management of the apprentice’s continued performance via a dedicated training officer.

JTL, jtltraining.com

GOODWE URGES TRAINING INVESTMENT AMIDST SOARING DEMAND FOR SOLAR INSTALLATIONS

With soaring energy bills and spiking interest from homeowners for solar PV installations, GoodWe is urging installers to invest in training to ensure they are prepared to meet demand.

The number of small-scale installations, excluding solar farms and large businesses, in May was 11,000, up from 5,000 the same time last year, according to Solar Energy UK. Meanwhile, the number of eBay searches for solar panels and solar power batteries increased by 54% and 134% respectively in June compared with same period last year, The Guardian reported. This wave in interest and installation is expected to increase further as the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will run out in April 2023 and consumers will again be exposed to the volatile energy price cap.

To help meet demand, GoodWe has launched a new professional training initiative in the UK. Known as GoodWe PLUS+, the programme is designed to allow current solar installers to sharpen their skills around design, installation, commissioning and troubleshooting of inverters and batteries. It also offers a route into the industry for those looking to add solar energy to their portfolio.

Eugene Lucarelli, Marketing Manager at GoodWe UK, says, “We know interest is surging from homeowners around solar installations, and it’s no surprise given the skyrocketing energy price rises. For installers, this represents a great chance to capitalise on the market’s opportunity.

“This is why we’ve launched our new training scheme and are encouraging installers to sign up. By doing so, they can ensure quicker installation timeframes, and greater confidence in commissioning and troubleshooting. Along with this, they can further increase their knowledge and expertise around complementary solar solutions, such as EV chargers, battery and home storage solutions, hybrid inverters and building integrated photovoltaics, all of which are set to grow in demand.”

Phased over three separate modules, the GoodWe PLUS+ scheme currently offers live training that can be undertaken in person or virtually. Taught by a professional technical specialist from GoodWe, each module lasts approximately one hour, and upon completion, installers will see receive certification as a GoodWe PLUS+ installer.

“We know the great challenges that are facing the UK’s homeowners and installers right now, and with the payback period for solar rapidly declining because of soaring prices, it makes sense to invest in solar right now,” says Eugene. “At the same time, we also realise there’s a skills gap in the market and a shortfall of installers able to take on the work, which is where GoodWe PLUS+ comes in.

“With our scheme, not only will delegates achieve recognition as a GoodWe PLUS+ qualified installer, but they will also be well equipped to answer homeowners’ enquiries on the latest technologies. With GoodWe’s portfolio as well, installers have access to a complete solar solution and benefit from dealing with one manufacturer and one single point of contact for any technical enquiries or after sales support.”

TENDER WRITING FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS IN THE UK

Preparing bids to win electrical contracts, whether for the private or public sector, can be expensive and time-consuming. Busy electrical contractors are often occupied with the day-to-day operation of their company, and can often overlook, or underestimate, the importance of refining and developing their bid writing processes. In this article, Jason Cooney, Director of Tsaks Consulting UK advises on best bid writing practices, along with some helpful tips to successfully bid for tenders in the electrical industry.

Electrical tenders often come with strict criteria that must be met according to industry regulations and project specific requirements.

When bidding for electrical contracts, the quality of your services and the prices you offer are going to be similar to your competitors, and evaluators are going to be assessing numerous bid submissions. Apart from showing that you are an experienced and licensed electrical provider, who is compliant with all regulations, it is important to make yourself stand out with a well-planned and professional bid submission that demonstrates how you will provide real value. So, what can you do to win?

Here are some helpful tips to win your electrical bid:

A high-quality bid strategy will put you ahead of your competitors at each step

Carefully read the documentation and understand the requirements

Having a clear understanding of the client’s needs and what they are looking for better places you to write a compelling bid that will be appreciated by evaluators. Having a thorough understanding of the documentation also ensures you will satisfy all their technical and delivery concerns. It will also be a good guide for you to assess your ability to fulfil these requirements.

If, for example, you are bidding for a maintenance tender over a three-year period for 22 government buildings, and you only have a team of two electricians, you may not be able to meet the demands of the contract. When putting forward your submission, if you do elect to bid, it would be worth talking about your recruitment processes and how you will recruit new electricians to meet the new demand, should you be successful.

Accreditation and qualifications of staff

Considering that you are applying for an electrical tender, the most important step in ensuring your progress is demonstrating your accreditation and qualifications from relevant industry bodies. Failing to add these items guarantees you not passing the initial selection stage. When you put forward your staff bios, ensure you tailor their experience to the type of project you are bidding for. For example, if you are bidding for a contract to refurbish and rewire a number of schools for the government, put forward your experience working on government jobs and any projects in the education sector.

The importance of timing and the value of your service

Most electrical tenders are part of construction projects with strict deadlines. It is vital that you gain the clients’ confidence by demonstrating your experience and ability to fulfil everything set out in your submission. When you write your methodology to outline how you will deliver the project, ensure that it is feasible and achievable. This will help build credibility in the eyes of the reader. Also, elaborating on the expertise you have to complete the project above the clients’ expectations proves your value, especially if your price is higher than your competition.

Detailed management information

For tenders that do not have deadlines and are focussed on providing ongoing maintenance services, you need to present a detailed management information (MI) plan. This is one way to put you ahead of your competition, as many businesses overlook this important aspect of documenting activities, interactions, and relationships their company has during the lifecycle of the contract. Providing evidence of how you have successfully used MI for previous projects will prove to the client your ability to provide high-quality services.

Using your previous experience and testimonials

Providing testimonials and case studies from previous projects you have completed successfully will make the procurement teams job much easier when choosing you as their next service provider. Showing evidence from organisations similar to theirs will tick a lot of boxes when it comes to risk management concerns. Provide detailed and accurate information on the services you provided, the problems you faced and how you solved them. Remember, when providing a case study, you want to showcase the broad range of capabilities your company utilised to deliver a project similar in depth and scale to the project you are bidding for.

Putting it all into writing

The most important part of a successful bid is gathering all the information and experience above and organising it all into a concise, positively written document, tailored to the project.

The evaluating team will be made up of highly professional and experienced electrical and procurement professionals. A high-quality bid strategy will put you ahead of your competitors at each step.