3 minute read
The ECS goes digital
SKILLS FOR SECURITY
The ECS course goes digital
Skills for Security takes Systems Operative ECS course digital. David Scott explains more about the training programme
As many are aware, the occupational qualification structure for obtaining ECS cards was developed in 2018 and rolled out last year to the sector. This structure was to align with the future skills requirements of the FESS sector and the apprenticeship in England, with changes to the Scottish requirements currently undergoing a similar process.
These changes were also brought in by a desire to professionalise the sector and meet the Construction Leadership Council’s move to ensure all CSCS Partner Schemes, such as ECS, are issued against a recognised qualification standard. For those who have been working in the industry for many years without formal qualifications, it was agreed that an assessment would be developed for a FESS Systems Operative to meet these sector requirements. The ECS FESS Operative assessments launched in July 2021, and questions are aimed at Level 2, covering aspects of installation, maintenance, and planning across each of the above pathways. Since the implementation of this, pass rates have been low, with ECS working with sector professionals to develop a bank of questions to help those seeking a card an opportunity to study in advance.
Skills for Security appreciated that access to high-quality CPD training for engineers at this level is scarce so quickly created a bank of technical CPD accredited courses for each pathway to help improve pass rates and knowledge of our engineers across the sector. Since its development, we have seen over 100+ engineers complete our one-day course to help them prepare and pass the ECS systems operative assessment. With pass rates of over 80% this is proving popular throughout the sector.
With demand for the course rising, Skills for Security’s technical director has been working with the team at SfS to develop a digital online course that is fully accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Over the last few weeks, we have seen over 50 candidates complete this training via our LMS with positive feedback of over 95% of the content and quality of the course material. The course covers all aspects of the Systems Operative assessment and takes approximately 6 hours to complete. At the end of the course, all candidates will complete a mock assessment that, once passed, releases a CPD certificate for them to download. Like all SfS courses, they are priced with accessibility in mind, removing the challenges and barriers to high-priced CPD courses for engineers to complete, that is why this course has been priced at only £99 + VAT, and if you are a BSIA member or a partner of SfS you will attract an additional 20% off this fee.
As an approved ECS training provider, we are also able to put all engineers through the Systems Operative assessment via the ECS portal. So able to offer an end-to-end service for all of our employers and service providers.
You can read more about the content of each pathway here:
YOUR SKILLS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
As part of this column you can ask David questions directly about training and apprenticeships. We will aim, to publish the question and answer in the next column. If you want to participate in this, then email info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk
We are struggling to recruit young people to join our company as trainees or apprentices
SfS offer a free recruitment service where we advertise on the Government webpage and indeed to help locate the right young person for your business. This also forms part of our pre-apprenticeship programme where we bring young people in from school and put them through a 14 week programme of fire and security training. We currently have over 60 young people looking for placements across England. www.skills4security.com
