Latest news with #City&Guilds
Time Business News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
From First Spark to Gold Card: How Elec Training Birmingham Turns Beginners into Fully Qualified Electricians
Choosing the right electrician course is more than a classroom decision. It is the first step in a career that will eventually let you certify consumer-unit changes, design three-phase boards for factories, or install the EV chargers every housing estate now demands. Elec Training Birmingham has built a start-to-finish pathway that moves adults from zero experience to competent installer, then on to the NVQ portfolio and ECS Gold Card. This article walks through each stage, shows the support offered, and explains why the centre's 'placement first' policy solves the biggest hurdle facing new entrants: finding supervised site work. Government retrofit grants, heat-pump roll-outs, and EV-ready new builds all require certified sparks. Industry bodies forecast a 9 percent electrician shortfall by 2030 in the West Midlands alone. Employers post vacancies lasting weeks, then raise day rates to tempt applicants. The gap creates an opportunity for career changers if they can obtain recognised qualifications fast enough. Elec Training's entry programme blends Level 2 theory with live-board practice across six weeks of part-time study. Learners drill safe isolation, ring-final fault finding, and basic inspection. Group sizes cap at twelve so every person gets bench time, not just a front-row seat. Evening theory sessions stream online for those who juggle child care or shift work. By the end, you can wire a lighting circuit, calculate cable sizes, and read the brown-book tables with confidence. The next milestone is the diploma covering design calculations, energy-efficiency clauses, and special-location rules. Tutors explain how Amendment 2 altered AFDD and SPD placements, then run mock design projects on real floor plans. Learners sit a timed City & Guilds exam and two practical assessments. Completing this stage opens the door to site employment as an improver and triggers access to Elec Training's placement desk. Many colleges finish classes and leave learners to find evidence alone. Elec Training Birmingham employs two full-time placement officers who call a vetted list of 120 contractors until every learner is matched within commuting range. Typical first tasks include containment, second-fix accessories, and initial dead-testing under a supervisor's eye. Evidence uploads via a phone app, and mentors review each file weekly to catch gaps early. You cannot gain full status until an assessor witnesses real work and signs the logbook. The centre's nvq level 3 electrica route captures twelve core tasks: safe isolation, first fix, three-phase termination, functional testing, and customer handover. Two site visits confirm competency; most learners finish inside nine months if they stick to the weekly evidence timetable. A small admin slip can delay sign-off, so mentors double-check every submission before it reaches the assessor. The AM2E is a three-day practical exam many learners fear. Elec Training reduces nerves by providing a replica rig: metal trunking, SWA glanding stations, and a consumer unit wired exactly like the assessment centre's. Students rehearse fault-finding drills until muscle memory takes over. Pass rates run well above national average because nothing on test day feels new. New Gold-Card holders usually start on £180–£220 per day for domestic rewires. Commercial sites pay £24–£27 per hour, with evening call-outs clearing £45 per hour. Alumni now run their own sole-trader businesses, supervise apprentices for regional contractors, or specialise in renewables after adding short modules on solar PV and EV charging. For six months after completing the NVQ, graduates can drop into free monthly CPD nights: Amendment updates, tool-demo evenings, and late-payment clinics so invoices get settled on time. The centre also runs discounted Smart-Home and battery-storage courses that plug neatly into a mature CV. Download the free training pathway PDF. Attend a Thursday open evening to tour the live bays. Discuss funding or interest-free instalments with the admissions team. Book the next available cohort—intakes fill six weeks in advance. Starting a new trade may feel daunting, but the right structure turns big goals into weekly tasks: watch a demo, wire a circuit, log a photo, repeat. Elec Training Birmingham supplies the structure, the bench space, and the job leads; you supply the effort. One small grammar mistake won't stop you, dedication will. Ready to switch careers or up-skill? Enrol on an upcoming electrician course to build your foundation, then progress smoothly through the nvq level 3 electrical portfolio toward a Gold Card future. The shortage is real. The opportunity is yours. Plug in now and light up a new career path. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Powys County Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Cambrian Training Company celebrates graduating apprentices
A Welshpool-based training company is celebrating the success of its staff. Nine employees from Cambrian Training Company were among more than 100 apprentices graduating at a ceremony held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd. The event marked the achievements of apprentices across a wide range of industries. Faith O'Brien, managing director of Cambrian Training Company, said: "We were delighted to be able to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our graduating staff members. "They have proven that they don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk and are committed to their own personal development." Six members of staff, Scott Morgan, Dan Phillips, Matt Davies, Ruth Bartlett, Hannah Gover and Michelle Ward-Jones, achieved the Agored Cymru Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development. Grace Rutter and Kirsty Broomfield completed a City & Guilds Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Business Administration, while Jane Gammon achieved the Pearson Edexcel Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Management. Ms O'Brien said: "We encourage all our staff to continuously improve their skills and knowledge to develop their careers and fulfil their potential. "Continuing professional development is essential to ensure that we deliver the very best training and support services to our apprentices and their employers across Wales." The company recently celebrated its 30th anniversary by becoming employee-owned. Cambrian Training Company, along with its subsidiary Trailhead Fine Foods, is now part of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), a model designed to give employees a greater stake in the business. The company provides work-based learning opportunities across Wales.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tinker, tailor, carpenter, spy: MI5 seeks woodworker for top-secret missions
MI5 is hiring a carpenter to help protect the country from terrorism and hostile-state threats. The successful candidate will be deployed in the field to help carry out intelligence-gathering operations around the UK and 'directly contribute to the security of our nation'. The new recruit will have to sign the Official Secrets Act and must have a 'meticulous' attention to detail and 'sound problem-solving skills'. The role has a starting salary of £43,000, is being advertised on MI5's website and on its official Instagram account. A video promoting the vacancy features footage of a person chiselling, sawing and planing a piece of wood with the caption: 'POV [point of view]: you're a carpenter and you want to be a spy... It takes a variety of skills to keep the country safe.' The job description on the intelligence service's website states: 'As a maintenance carpenter, your work will encompass maintenance, repair and construction within secure facilities, including hardening of critical infrastructure and creating bespoke spaces in many different types of property. 'You will be responsible for creating technical drawings, selecting appropriate materials, and carrying out tasks to a high standard, all while adhering to stringent security protocols. 'Another aspect of the role, and very exciting part of it, is occasionally deploying within the UK on intelligence gathering operations; utilising your trade skills to directly contribute to the security of our nation.' Candidates will have to undergo the most stringent level of security checks, known as developed vetting, including solvency tests to ensure they are not heavily in debt and at risk of being blackmailed. Applicants must also have a City & Guilds Level 2, BTEC, NVQ or equivalent qualification in carpentry and joinery. The job specification continued: 'You will also be expected to maintain required levels of fitness as the job can be physical at times.' Recruits will be given two hours of paid leave each week to exercise or go to the gym. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
City & Guilds London: 50,000 students to receive certifications each year
ISLAMABAD: In a major development aimed at equipping Pakistani youth with globally recognised technical skills, under the agreement between GEMs UAE and City & Guilds, 50,000 students will receive internationally accredited certifications from City & Guilds London each year. The announcement was made during a media briefing held upon the return of a high-level Pakistani delegation from London, led by Minister of State for Education, Ms Wajiha Qamar. The delegation included Gulmina Bilal, Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Ghulam Ali Mallah, Executive Director of IBCC, Amir Saadati, Executive Director of GEMS Middle East, and Hussain Shaikh, Global Head of Strategy GEMS Pakistan. Speaking at the briefing, Minister Wajiha Qamar and NAVTTC Chairperson Gulmina Bilal stated that a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed to offer global-standard technical training to youth in Pakistan. This initiative is expected to create vast employment opportunities abroad and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani professionals in the international labour market. 'Our goal is to empower Pakistani youth with skills that meet global standards,' said Gulmina Bilal. 'Through this agreement, 50,000 students will be trained annually with the collaboration of City & Guilds, enabling them to secure quality employment opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.' The agreement was formalized at the headquarters of City & Guilds in London, where the Pakistani delegation signed the MoU with City & Guilds CEO Ms Kirstie Donnelly. Ms Bilal added that this partnership will revolutionise Pakistan's vocational education sector and align its skilled workforce with international benchmarks. 'We do not want our youth to be limited to the local job market. This collaboration is a game-changer, as it will grant global recognition to Pakistani certifications,' she said. During the visit, the delegation also met with Lord Boateng and discussed bilateral cooperation on workforce mobility and skills development. Lord Boateng appreciated Pakistan's initiative and assured full support for future collaboration. The foundation for this partnership was laid during the UK delegation's visit to NAVTTC in Islamabad in 2024, where Pakistan's vocational training potential was recognized. Subsequently, City & Guilds certification programs were launched in Pakistan through GEMS representation. This agreement marks a major milestone in opening global employment doors for Pakistan's youth and promises to contribute significantly to the country's economic growth. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Meet the Essex Police Inspector inspired by BBC Drama to join the force
Three decades ago, a young woman watched Juliet Bravo, a BBC police drama featuring a female inspector at the helm of a team. The show struck a chord so much so that she bought the theme tune on vinyl and was inspired her to volunteer as a Special Constable. That woman was Sue Richardson, now a respected Local Policing Team Inspector with Essex Police. Marking her 30th year in policing in December 2024, Insp Richardson has built a career filled with challenges, triumphs, and moments that have left a lasting impact. Her journey began in 1992 as a Special Constable, before formally joining the force - a decision rooted in admiration for strong women in uniform and a drive to serve her community. Sue with her City & Guilds qualification in Police Management (Image: Essex Police) She said: "Policing isn't just a job, it's a lifelong commitment." Now 52, Sue starts each shift with a handover and briefing, preparing her team for the unpredictable demands of frontline policing. From overseeing sudden deaths to supporting officers' mental health, her role is both operational and emotional. She said: 'Managing welfare around this for myself, my officers and anyone involved is always a top priority for me' One moment that still resonates is from her early days as a constable. She recalls breaking the news of a fatal crash to a grieving mother and her ten-year-old son. Sue added: "I don't know if I made a significant impact on his life, but he certainly made one on mine.' Sue has no plans to slow down (Image: Essex Police) Her leadership goes beyond the front line. A passionate advocate for gender equality, Sue plays a key role in Essex Police's internal Violence Against Women and Girls and Misogyny forum. She said: 'When I started, those really were 'the bad old days'. Essex Police has worked hard to stamp out misogyny and poor treatment of women, but there's still work to be done. "A real bugbear of mine is that when I make important decisions, I'm often asked, 'are you sure? I've never seen my male counterparts questioned like that. "It's about setting high standards from recruitment, dealing robustly with those who act inappropriately, and continuing to educate officers and staff." Sue still has no plans to slow down. With her sights set on promotion to Chief Inspector, she's determined to continue making a difference.
