Massive HVACR skills consultation gets underway

Latest News Thu, Nov 14, 2024 7:01 AM

A major task to update National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) sectors is taking place, and the industry is being asked to help by offering their insights through a public consultation process.

Building Services Engineering (BSE) Skills, is urging employers, employees and other stakeholders who can provide the expertise, experience and understanding of the sector to help them ensure the NOS are technically fit for purpose.

With the industry facing a growing skills shortage, BSE Skills said it was more important than ever that the standards which underpin training for apprenticeships and qualifications across the various professions for the whole UK fully reflect the evolving nature of HVACR.

The standards were last updated in 2019, and the current project seeks to reflect technology changes and new regulations since then, particularly those with implications for building safety because NOS play a part in ensuring workers are competent to carry out their specific tasks.

Each standard includes performance criteria and outlines required knowledge and understanding for each industry discipline. As a result, BSE Skills said this project would also play a major part in ensuring the industry can meet future customer demands and contribute effectively to the UK’s net zero targets.

The new NOS are now in draft form after a series of meetings with employers, employees and training providers from all parts of the UK and they are available to be reviewed via the consultation portal here. The consultation closes on November 29.

Technical areas under review and requiring expert feedback via the consultation include installation, maintenance, servicing, commissioning/decommissioning, fault diagnosis/repair of electrical and mechanical plant and equipment for heating, ventilation, refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.

BSE Skills is a not-for-profit company, established as a joint venture by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), SELECT and the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).

It was set up in June 2017 and manages NOS, qualifications and apprenticeships for the building services engineering sector across the UK, as well as addressing the wider skills needs of the sector. It cumulatively represents over 43,000 businesses and around 342,000 operatives.

“This is your opportunity to have a say in the training standards which underpin qualifications and apprenticeships in the sector,” said BESA’s director of competence and compliance Helen Yeulet. “This project will help us develop the skills framework that will underpin a safer, more sustainable built environment now and far into the future.”

BSE Skills added that it was fully focused on developing and promoting the skills agenda by working collaboratively with other key stakeholders “to deliver the type of skilled people that employers are looking for and that the sector needs”.

The consultation, which closes on November 29, can be accessed here.

Featured News

Specification news
Industry body calls for home cooling grants

This summer’s heatwaves have reinforced the need for wider use of residential...

Read More >>

Specification news
Galliford Try hands over Great Park Academy

Galliford Try’s Building North East and Yorkshire business unit has handed over the...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Retirement & Care Brochure

Retirement & Care
By AKW

Download Now >>

Kitchens Brochure

Kitchens
By AKW

Download Now >>

Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra super durable case studies Brochure

Colorcoat HPS200 Ult...
By Tata Steel

Download Now >>

Confidex® Guarantee datasheet Brochure

Confidex® Guarantee...
By Tata Steel

Download Now >>

Colorcoat Prisma® colour card Brochure

Colorcoat Prisma® co...
By Tata Steel

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

RAPIDFIT OFF-THE-SHELF CUBICLES
RAPIDFIT OFF-THE-SHELF CUBICLES

RapidFit range offers a quick and efficient solution for commercial washroom projects that require...

Read More >>

Washroom Cubicles
Washroom Cubicles

Washroom Cubicles to meet all needsRearo offers a range of stylish, functional, and durable washroom...

Read More >>

ParallelRoof 100
ParallelRoof 100

ParallelRoof 100 is a non-insulated conservatory system that provides the perfect solution for any...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Mira Vista Heatloop
Mira Vista Heatloop

Mira Showers is delighted to introduce the new Mira Vista HeatloopTM – an innovative and stylish...

Watch Now >>

Why our Canopies Last Longer
Why our Canopies Last Longer

https://www.aandslandscape.co.uk/ Find out why A&S Landscape Canopies last longer than alternatives....

Watch Now >>

Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School
Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School

A&S Landscape designed and installed a large enclosed, curved roof canopy for Hampton Gardens School...

Watch Now >>