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Live wire Lifelong learning In a fast-moving landscape, electrical contractors can ill afford to stand still. That’s why Certsure is constantly reviewing the training it offers, with new courses on the horizon, says Alan Charlton
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their health and safety processes to ensure they are compliant with the new law. For the first time, it applies to all domestic projects regardless of the size, duration and nature of the work. We are still looking into the exact requirements this will mean for the typical domestic electrician, and, as with any course we deliver, we need to ensure it is not just an information exercise and that real benefit is added. As Einstein said, “Any fool can know, the point is to understand.” It is therefore about you, our customers, understanding the knowledge being imparted so that you are able to use this newfound wisdom to grow your businesses. If you think any of the above might be relevant to you then please email traininginfo@niceic.com and let us know your thoughts. We will be sure to let you know of any necessary training dates as and when they are ready to go live.
Alan Charlton is head of training and consultancy at Certsure. For more information about training courses available email traininginfo@certsure.com Illustration: Cameron Law
t can be quite easy for someone with the appropriate qualifications and years of industry experience behind them to sit back and think “that’s it, my training is done, no more learning for me”. But if there is one thing I have learned as head of training here at Certsure, it is that nothing ever stands still for too long. The electrical industry is constantly evolving and there is always the next thing to learn. Qualifications and experience will get you so far, but the reality is that only those who are willing to build on what they have, by learning new skills, grow their businesses and thrive. It is the same for us working here in the training team too. We are committed to helping contractors build their businesses by offering the latest developments in training. So it is important we are ahead of the curve and able to offer the latest courses that will help contractors develop new skills. There will always be a demand for traditional electrical courses, such as inspection and testing, and it’s important that contractors ensure they keep up with the latest developments in these areas. However, over the past few months there has been a growing demand for other courses that might once have been considered non-electrical but which, in fact, offer numerous opportunities for the installer looking to develop their skills in new areas. In particular, there’s fire alarm and emergency lighting. These are fundamental courses that provide basic design guidance for those who feel confident in positioning such equipment in compliance with the relevant British Standards. The fire alarm module has been so successful that we are now shortly about to offer a specific fire alarm installation module, as well as a maintenance module. Data networking for residential properties is also an area we are looking into. More and more homeowners are now asking about how electrical devices can interact with each other. The buzz word is for everything now to be “smart”, and electricians need to be in a position to benefit from this, and able to cope with installations that complement all that is happening in this digital age. Another course on the horizon is a guide to the recent changes regarding the introduction of the 2015 Construction (Design Management) (CDM) Regulations, which replace the old CDM 2007. As of 6 April this year all contracting firms should have reviewed
‘Over the past few months there has been a growing demand for courses that might once have been considered non-electrical’ Connections Summer 2015
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