Small scale solar and electrical energy storage qualifications

I note City and Guilds have recently introduced two new qualifications into their electrical installation portfolio. Small Solar PV Systems (2922) and Small Electrical Energy Storage Systems (2923). The qualifications were developed with TESP (under their Electrician Plus scheme) and others and intended for qualified and experienced electricians. On successful completion, they can apply to have the qualifications added to their ECS card.

The training centre I work for on a part-time basis has fielded many enquiries from interest contractors wishing to embrace work in this area. Unfortunately, the centre has had to turn many prospective candidates away as they did not fulfil the entry requirements. Candidates must have achieved a recognised electrical installation NVQ Level 3 qualification no more than five years prior to starting either of the two new qualifications.

The centre was prepared to make substantial investment to erect training rigs etc but they are shelving that for the moment. 

I guess I understand the rationale to limit entry to qualified and experienced electricians but it might result in fewer centres offering the qualification. 

Parents
  • Candidates must have achieved a recognised electrical installation NVQ Level 3 qualification no more than five years prior to starting either of the two new qualifications.

    Surely that contravenes the Equality Act 2010 on the protected ground of age.

  • As said in a previous thread, you now cannot do the 2346 'experienced worker' qualification unless you have a NVQ2. Which rather defeats the point, as anyone with the relevant experience could be too old to have done any NVQ, as they started around 2000, when I finshed college in 83!

Reply
  • As said in a previous thread, you now cannot do the 2346 'experienced worker' qualification unless you have a NVQ2. Which rather defeats the point, as anyone with the relevant experience could be too old to have done any NVQ, as they started around 2000, when I finshed college in 83!

Children
  • Alan, the 2346 was originally launched without the need for any pre-entry requirement for formal accreditation of underpinning knowledge. It was up to the centre assessor to evaluate that. I assume that someone must have twigged that you cannot have a NVQ without an appropriate and accredited underpinning knowledge qualification. So in September 2023, the pre-entry requirements changed to introduce the need for at least a recognised level 2 qualification that would support the underpinning knowledge aspect. The assessor still needs to ensure the candidate has appropriate level 3 underpinning knowledge.

     All a bit bonkers, I know, but although it can be a tad frustrating there is a simple workaround. We have found that candidates who need the level 2 qualification breeze through the 2365 Diploma in Electrical Installations. Some actually find it rewarding as it re-visits many of those very fundamental concepts that suffer atrophy at the hands of that vandal, time!