Marvin OnumonuThe British Plumbing Employers Council (BPEC) has invested £15,000 to help modernise Scotland’s Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship.
The funding will go towards the recently completed update of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and support the ongoing work on the Apprenticeship Framework and Assessment Strategy.
The work is led by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) in collaboration with employers, apprentices, training providers, Skills Development Scotland, SQA Awarding, SQA Accreditation and other industry groups.
The aim is to keep the Apprenticeship relevant and up to date for the future.
Neil Collishaw, CEO of the BPEC, said: “BPEC’s charitable mission is to raise the knowledge and skills of the UK plumbing and heating workforce, and this investment directly reflects that purpose on multiple fronts.
“Supporting SNIPEF in this work will help ensure apprenticeships and standards remain the bedrock of our profession, as well as giving employers confidence, apprentices opportunity and consumers the assurance of high-quality work.
“The challenge is to ensure assessment models reflect real-world practice while upholding quality and consistency across the profession. This is about balancing rigour with reality.”
Stephanie Lowe, deputy CEO of SNIPEF, said: “This support will help ensure Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship in Plumbing and Heating remains relevant, credible and inclusive, producing highly skilled professionals equipped to work on safety-critical water systems as well as supporting the continued transition to low-carbon and sustainable technologies.”
The Scottish Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship is a four-year Level 3 course.
It combines on-site work and training across plumbing and heating including water, gas and low-carbon technology.
Successful apprentices finish fully qualified to meet modern workplace demands.
The Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship is also being used as a pilot for wider apprenticeship reform across other trades such as electrical and HVAC.
The outcomes from the review will help shape assessment models and frameworks across the construction sector.
Lowe added: “By leading this work, plumbing and heating is setting the standard for how apprenticeships should evolve to meet the needs of both the profession and government.
“It is a responsibility we take seriously, because getting it right will influence the future direction of training across our profession, and potentially others.”
The BPEC charity has said it will continue to support SNIPEF as the next phase of work begins, particularly with the new assessment strategy.
Collishaw added: “This is not just a one-off investment but the start of a continuing commitment.
“By working in partnership with SNIPEF and others, we can ensure the industry has the skills, standards and confidence it needs to thrive in a changing world.
“The National Occupational Standards are the foundation of our profession.
“They ensure consistency, quality and relevance in training, giving employers and apprentices confidence that the skills being taught reflect real industry needs.”
