Ruth Devine, ECA Vice President and MD of SJD Electrical, looks at why the Electrician Plus concept will lead the way for the future of competence in our sector.
The growing demand for low carbon technologies has led to various misinformed claims that a whole new set of narrow occupations are needed to install them, and this is not the case. A significant proportion of activity is firmly within the skills remit of qualified members of the existing workforce and more specifically, electricians.
Earlier this year the ‘Electrician Plus’ model was launched by TESP to highlight how the role of a qualified electrician is central to the design and installation of ‘green’ technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs).
Once someone reaches qualified electrician status, all that is needed is top-up CPD and qualifications in the relevant new technologies to enable safe, compliant and competent installations.
The new Electrician Plus logo will be used to endorse relevant qualifications to show they are industry approved, in terms of content and assessment, and can only be taken by electricians who meet the industry Level 3 standard.
Safeguarding the industry
Sitting at the heart of all this is a focus on competence and public safety; the Electrician Plus model is helping to safeguard against non-qualified and under-qualified personnel undertaking renewable installations and the potential safety and fire risk this poses. The Electrician Plus signposting will be in place to ensure that when electricians train, it’s with robust qualifications.
At a strategic level I was pleased to recently be appointed to the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) set up by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), who will drive industry to improve competence and increase the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours of those working across the built environment. The ICC has a role in advising both industry and the Building Safety Regulator and on matters of competence.
TESP is working closely with the Building Safety Regulator as they finalise the development of the Mandatory Technical Competencies (MTCs) that underpin Competent Persons Schemes. It’s encouraging news that the relevant future MTCs are expected to align with the Electrician Plus model, underpinning the importance of safe, quality installations by qualified electricians. Once the MTCs are updated, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) will be updated and reference the valid low carbon qualifications.
It’s exciting that the various facets of the industry and higher level government are starting to support the concept of Electrician Plus, with everything finally coming together in terms of quality qualifications, Net Zero, safety and competence.
Across all this activity, ECA Members and the wider industry can and should be at the forefront of the opportunities presented. Where there is public money for upskilling, ECA will be seeking to secure funding for the approved Electrician Plus courses.
Get more details on the Electrician Plus concept and approved upskilling qualifications here
