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In early 2008, SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering developed the London Electrical Project. This is an adult training initiative open to all electrical contracting businesses within the London area. Funded by the London Development Agency, the project provides training for candidates who have completed, or who are about to complete, a theory based Level 3 Technical Certificate, enabling them to complete their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).
Over 150 Londoners will benefit from the £310,000 investment by the LDA over the lifetime of the project (2008-2011). Candidates will be fully funded to achieve NVQ Level 3 and employers will only need to pay industry established training rates. The project has already proven to be a success with some 83 candidates already having gone through a pre-employment training programme, 65 of which were put through training between February and March this year alone.
A small number of candidates have now gone on one step further by participating in work placements via Notting Hill Housing. The project now aims to put a further 72 trainees through this training between now and the end of March 2010.
Previously, the Olympic Delivery Authority has identified the need to increase the skills of the British workforce to meet the construction and electrical needs of the Olympics. The London Electrical Project will help ensure that local electrical firms can be best placed to benefit from any opportunities that arise for the 2012 games. It will also ensure that companies with trained electrical engineers will be in a prime position to reap further rewards from future London building projects including meeting the on-going needs of Crossrail and the Thames Gateway development project.
At SummitSkills we have always argued that to provide a sustainable solution to the skills crisis, the long-term business model has to be based on local training. We actively encourage employers to upskill their workforce to ensure their company reaps the countless benefits, not only in terms of helping grow the business and ultimately boosting their bottom line, but also in the less tangible benefits to employees of increasing employee confidence, motivation and productivity.
In today's uncertain economic market, it is vital that employers take advantage of opportunities such as the London Electrical Project to enhance their competitive edge following the economic upturn.
