Trade Skills 4U has announced a new expansion into the Midlands as it looks to target aspiring electricians in the region.

Forty Network Rail engineers have received training on ABB’s SMOS Light in readiness for electrification of the Great Western line.

The UK is on the verge of what is probably the most momentous change to its business climate since it entered the Common Market 40 years ago, and yet the construction sector is struggling to meet historical challenges, let alone those which it will inevitably face post-Brexit.

JTL chief executive Jon Graham welcomed the chancellor's announcement in this week's Budget of a reduction in the level of contribution required from SMEs, towards the cost of apprenticeships, at a time when the numbers of apprenticeships being started in England is well down on the previous year. 

More than 1 000 contractors have now taken and passed their 18th Edition training with NICEIC and ELECSA.

The 18th Edition launched in July this year with electrical contractors given a six-month transition period to get up to speed with the changes.

Hitachi Rail is launching a brand new educational programme with Primary Engineer that will see 2,700 5 to 11 year olds learn about engineering with the help of experts in the field.

The announcement came during Rail Week (8-14 Oct) and the initiative is part of the Year of Engineering campaign. It aims to help tackle a serious shortage of engineers in the UK. On current projections, there will be a gap of 55,000 engineers and skilled workers by 2020, according to the Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce, with not enough qualified people to deliver key national projects like HS2, Heathrow expansion and Crossrail 2. 

NICEIC has been helping more women into the electrical industry through its Jobs for the Girls Bursary Scheme.

The scheme offers grants to women already working in the industry or looking to get a helping hand at the start of their career. It is open to females of all ages and designed to cover training or other associated costs up to a maximum of £500.

Schneider Electric has launched an installer training programme for its range of High Power Canalis Busbar electrical distribution systems, set to take place at a purpose-built training facility in Hungary.

This summer the Trade Skills 4U group launches its new corporate division, Trade Skills Business, offering electrical training programmes for business.

The new division will focus on delivering quality practical and theoretical electrical training solutions to commercial businesses wanting a more bespoke service tailored to individual needs.

Large employers are now able to transfer their levy funds to other organisations.

DTL (Development Training Ltd) has cautioned firms will have to manage the process well to maximise the potential business benefits. It also warned the move is adding more complexity to a system that many employers have had difficulty in understanding.

A national training provider to the utilities sector has won a contract from Skills Development Scotland to deliver Modern Apprenticeships.

 The new round of funding will cover at least 45 new apprenticeship places.

Bsria will be launching a three day industry course: Disability Access Legislation & Surveys to ensure compliance with the DAA (Disability Access Audit).

The audit is evaluation of a building or service and its accessibility to disabled people.

Electricians can keep up to speed with the 18th Edition Wiring Regs, with a new online course provided by the IET.

The course is suitable for those needing working knowledge of BS 7671, including electrical installers, designers, specifiers and those working in the inspection and testing of electrical equipment, and will prepare electricians for the City & Guilds 2382:18 exam.

Over the past five years, Electric Vehicle (EV) registrations have increased from 3,500 to 155,000 and demand for reliable charging infrastructure to support this is unprecedented.

Logic4training now has on offer an Electric Vehicle Charging Point Installer course, a qualification developed in partnership with industry specialist, Rolec.

The IET is hoping to be heavily involved in any digital transformation of the built environment.

Rick Hartwig, IET policy lead for built environment, said: “We are inspired by the ambition of the sector deal. The IET is looking forward to playing a role in improving the quality of our built environment and making a step change in productivity. We aim to support the digital transformation of the sector.

Another year of successful awareness raising, outreach and training initiatives was recorded at the AGM of Select, the campaigning trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland.

Select, a Scottish campaigning training body, has seen continued success in the last year at its AGM. Kevin Griffin was re-elected as president of Select and Kenny Duncan was re-elected as vice president at the meeting and Technical Update, held in Inverkeithing, Fife.

Representative organisations’ specialist Darrell Matthews has been appointed by Select, the campaigning trade body for the electrotechnical sector in Scotland, as its new managing director, replacing Newell McGuiness.

Matthews, who has been working in tandem with Newell during a handover period, has a wide range of commercial experience, most recently with industry bodies such as EEF, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Directors.

Aspiring engineers have the opportunity to apply for a place on a prestigious year-long course to help launch a career in engineering construction.

Funded by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and delivered by 11 colleges and training providers across England and Wales, the Introduction to Engineering Construction (ITEC) course equips young people with the skills, qualifications and behaviours to prepare them for employment.

The opportunity to test his skills on some of the most prestigious homes in the North East is now part of the regular working day for electrician Gary Warne.

Work-based learning company JTL has appointed a new head of marketing and communications. Cathie Foster joins the provider of apprenticeships in the electrical and plumbing and heating sectors based at its Birmingham Centre of Excellence.