Andrew Eldred, ECA Director of Employment & Skills, explains why the updated Apprenticeship Standard in England includes green and digital skills to prepare for the UK’s Net Zero future.
In May of this year, the Installation & Maintenance Electrician became one of six English apprenticeships recognised as a ‘gold standard’ for green skills. The award was part of the Coronation celebrations and reflects King Charles’ long-standing interest in sustainable technologies and renewable energy.
It’s great to see our sector recognised for its essential role in helping the UK transition to a low-carbon future as we switch from fossil fuels to increasingly green electricity. And this has been one of the reasons behind upcoming revisions to the electrical apprenticeship standard.
Apprenticeship reflects low carbon technology
As of September, the Installation & Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship in England has introduced several changes, some of which reflect the growing need for electricians who can help to achieve the country’s Net Zero Carbon goals (which have, albeit, been amended recently). For example, it will include the foundation and cabling connection skills needed to install electric heat pumps.
In addition, apprentices will learn to install EV charging points in most settings, such as large-scale residential, commercial and industrial areas. Completing apprentices will also receive an EV charging point qualification along with their ECS Gold Card.
One of the most important points is that the apprenticeship will also provide a broader understanding of sustainable building solutions, so electricians can help their customers and clients choose products and installations for project requirements.
In addition to sustainable skills, the updated apprenticeship recognises that the construction and built environment industries are adopting digital tools more widely. Apprentices will discover how to use these tools for business communication and collaboration and make the most of digital learning platforms.
The AM2S end point assessment will reflect the new content but. as always, the focus remains on providing the best possible learning process for apprentices and employers. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education estimates that the apprenticeship will take 48 months to complete, an increase of six months that reflects the additional content.
Commercial and domestic skills
Another significant change is that for the Installation and Maintenance apprenticeship, at least one of the on-site performance assessments for certain units must be in a commercial or industrial setting. This reinforces the point that, for employers and learners in England working in a wholly domestic context, the alternative Domestic Electrician apprenticeship standard, launched in September 2022, is now the more appropriate training route.
But new skills are not just for the new entrants to our industry. The Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) allows practitioners at a more advanced career stage, but without industry-recognised qualifications, to refresh their knowledge and skills and gain certification.
Routes for experienced workers
The EWA is for individuals who have worked in the industry for at least five years (not including training) but have not completed an apprenticeship or gained an equivalent Level 3 vocational qualification. The content of the EWA is the same as the Installation and Maintenance apprenticeship, and the end point assessment is the AM2E, similar to the AM2S.
An equivalent Domestic Electrician EWA, aligned to the domestic apprenticeship, was also launched this summer. Those who successfully complete the Domestic EWA (including the relevant AM2) will be entitled to apply for a ECS Domestic Electrician Gold Card.
A key benefit of both the original and domestic EWAs is that existing skills, experience and qualifications can be taken into account, so only gaps have to be filled with further training. They will become an excellent way to learn new low carbon and digital skills while topping up other areas – and gaining an ECS Gold card.
As infrastructure, homes and commercial properties decarbonise and ‘go electric’ with EV charging, heating and on-site energy generation, there has never been more demand for fully qualified and competent electricians.
Our industry is seeing growing interest from experienced individuals who want to gain a recognised qualification. This has been partly driven by changes in the requirements for Qualified Supervisors under the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS). The need to appoint a suitably qualified person within an enterprise has given an impetus to those who want to take the next step up the ladder or for sole traders who must take on that role themselves.
ECA aims to open a pathway for an individual to become an “Electrician Plus”, building on the core trade competence achieved from the apprenticeship or EWA and growing their qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience over their entire career.
Get further details on the EWA and find out how to start here
