A national forum that will address best practice and quality assurance of renewable heat training is to be launched by SummitSkills.
Designed to enhance the skills infrastructure underpinning the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the forum will comprise awarding organisations, Microgeneration Certification Scheme/installer representatives, industry bodies, qualifications regulators and training providers, among others.
The Department of Energy & Climate Change has appointed SummitSkills to lead the forum, bring together its members and oversee its work. A series of core objectives have been set for the group which include encouraging standardisation of training materials and courses; introducing ‘train the trainer’ and ‘master trainer’ resources; driving continuous improvement and developing a quality assurance process for renewable heat training.
In addition to establishing the training forum, SummitSkills has also been commissioned to assess how renewable heat installer training might be affected by recently proposed changes to the Qualifications and Credit Framework. The work will help to ensure any potential implications are identified and addressed at an early stage.
As the Standard Setting Organisation for building services engineering, SummitSkills is an independent body that represents employers across the sector.
Nigel Hollett, general manager of SummitSkills, said:
“We’re delighted to be carrying out this important project to generate long-term sustainability of the renewable heat skills and training market,” said
“By carrying out this work, we can help to ensure that standards are established and the quality of training available is maintained, to deliver a competent renewable heat workforce to meet RHI demand.”