Single qualification for network operations
Contractors working on multi-utility network projects will soon be able to have a standard qualification that will enable them to specialise in as many of the utility disciplines as required.
Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) the Sector Skills Council for the electricity, gas, waste management, and water industries has launched a consultation on a new qualification, part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) which has come about after extensive research of the needs of contractor companies. The qualification, Network Construction, should replace three existing separate qualifications in each of the utility disciplines: gas, water and electricity. The qualification is at Level 2, and is for workers who lay mains and cables on network projects. It will offer a ‘core’ of competencies that overlap all three utility disciplines, and then gives participants the opportunity to go on to specialise in as many or as few of the utility requirements as needed.
Contractor companies involved in the research, itself part of the Sector Skills Agreement, indicated there was a pressing need for simplification and consolidation of current qualifications. At present, there are three qualifications for network operations: Gas Network Operations, Network Construction Operations (Water), and for electricity there is the Public Utilities Distribution (Cable Laying). Around 80 per cent of the content of these qualifications is the same. Gas and water network construction is the area the contractors were most focussed on due to more commonalities.
The new Network Construction qualification will be a combination of the qualifications, with the utility-unique parts offered as separate add-ons. This makes it easier for contractors to have their staff working on cross-utility projects, such as new build, and means individuals can become multi-discipline proficient and improve their career development.
More and more contractors are being asked to work on cross-utility network projects. The benefits of having one qualification means it takes less time to train staff and contributes to a more productive business as staff can be entrusted to take on more responsibility on the job. There is also no need to employ extra staff for utility-specific work. EU Skills hopes to have the qualification in place by the end of 2007, and it will replace the existing qualifications. Contractors involved in the research include Morrison, Skanska and The Clancy Group.
Frank Corrigan, Strategy & Development Director at EU Skills comments: “We are pleased to have been able to quickly introduce a cross industry scheme that has been created at the request of our contractors in gas and water. This provides a platform for further collaboration in this very important part of our footprint.”
Julie Cooper, Head of Lifelong Learning at EU Skills adds: "The proposed new qualification meets the needs particularly of the network construction and maintenance businesses who have been identified as a sector in their own right. These businesses support the utilities and construction sectors and have a significant role to play across the UK in building and maintaining UKplc. The new qualification provides them with flexible yet focused qualifications that widen their opportunities to have a skilled workforce ready to operate in gas, water or electricity sectors. This qualification makes tangible business sense, as well as helping individuals develop and evidence their skills."
