Understanding the new inspection and testing qualifications

Confused by the changes to the City & Guilds inspection and testing qualifications?

Then let us explain what all the new qualification numbers mean and hopefully set you on the right path.

Until recently there were two 2391 qualifications: the 2391-10, widely known as ‘inspection & testing’ and the 2391-20, known as ‘the design course’. Now the 2391-10 has been divided into two qualifications (2394 and 2395) and the 2391-20 has been raised to level 4 and given a new course number (2396).  

The new 2394 is the Award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations and it covers inspection and testing of new work carried out in electrical installations, covering both single and three phase supplies. Anyone involved in the periodic inspection and testing of existing installations to ensure they remain safe and effective will need to achieve the 2395 qualification (the Award in the Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations).

Meanwhile the new 2396 is for electricians looking to take their career to the next level by developing knowledge and skills in designing and verifying installations.

There is another inspection and testing qualification aimed at electricians who need to learn the basics (the City & Guilds 2392). This level 2 Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification focuses on inspecting and testing domestic installations and is a valuable foundation for moving on to the level 3 courses. By splitting the old 2391-10, City & Guilds have narrowed the big gap that used to exist between this and the 2392. Now electricians and installers have a valuable stepping stone towards the ‘main’ inspection and testing qualification that most people will be aiming to achieve (the 2395).

Still confused? The table below summarises the inspection and testing qualifications now available.

Achieving the 2392 involves passing an online multiple choice test and a practical assessment. Just like the old level 3 qualifications, all of the new ones require candidates to pass an exam with written answers. For each of the 2394 and 2395 awards, candidates will also have to pass an online multiple choice exam and a practical assessment. And the design qualification still requires the completion of a project.

Our total workforce of over 350 staff are based at branches covering much of southern England, the Midlands and South Wales, but it’s only in the last six months that business has really taken off in Devon and Cornwall.

Despite operating in an industry that has struggled through the recession, we have steadily expanded in the last two years and Steve Evans, managing director, puts this down to two key things. “We invest heavily in staff development and have a strong emphasis on customer service”, said Steve. “We usually employ at least 40 apprentices every year across all branches, offering them a long-term career path. The vast majority progress to become our team leaders and everyone is taught from day one that in our customers’ eyes we’re only as good as our last job”.

Amongst those who attended the official opening of the Exeter branch were senior staff from our key customers – the UK’s leading house builders – as well as Councillor Kevin Mitchell (Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter) and Richard Daulton, Employer Services Manager at the National Apprenticeship Service. Richard commented on the clear importance of workforce development to the success of the business, saying “A significant amount of the reputation and growth of Clarkson Evans can be directly attributed to their substantial and sustained investment in Apprenticeships”.

When asked about plans for further growth in the South West, Steve Evans is cautiously optimistic about the future. “These remain difficult times for the house building industry but there are positive signs that we’ll be able to expand our workforce and offer more apprenticeships in the coming months. We’re pressing forward not just with the volume of sites we’re working on but also the range of services we offer – solar photovoltaic installations are in particular high demand”, said Steve.

We’re delighted to have scooped the Medium Apprentice Employer prize at the prestigious National Apprenticeship Awards.

This year’s awards attracted thousands of entries from across the country and the chosen few were invited along to this week’s ceremony at the Mermaid Conference Centre in London. Having fought off tough competition, we were presented with this much coveted national award that recognises our commitment to apprenticeships.

“It’s only by employing apprentices and training them in-house that we’ve been able to develop a dedicated workforce with the right skills”, said Steve Evans, managing director. “We always look for people who are keen to forge long-term careers with Clarkson Evans and many previous apprentices have grown with the company, taking on more responsibility and helping us maintain high levels of customer service as we continue to expand”.

Image shows Steve Clarkson, technical director (left) and Lindsey Young, training director (right) with a group of Clarkson Evans apprentices

Gold Medals are awarded only to organisations that have achieved RoSPA Gold Awards over at least five consecutive years – and we’re very proud to be one of them.

Judged by a panel of professionals from organisations including the Health & Safety Executive and the Electrical Contractors’ Association, Gold Awards can only be achieved by demonstrating a culture of excellent health & safety management, a rigorous approach and high levels of compliance.

Photo shows Mike Parker, Rospa Trustee (left) presenting the award to Steve Clarkson, our technical director.

By reducing the tariffs for large-scale solar the Government is effectively protecting the money available for small-scale projects.  This new focus will result in an increased demand for domestic installation of solar panels, providing businesses in the industry with more chances to compete for work.  SummitSkills – the sector skills council for the building services engineering sector – has welcomed the announcement.

Back in April 2001 Jon joined a team of just three training staff who trained mainly apprentices and only around 100 paying customers each year.  Now the 12-strong team welcomes around 1,500 delegates a year and delivers a wide range of electrical qualifications.

Jon commented on the highlights of his 10 years: “Achieving Centre of Vocational Excellence status in 2003 was a major turning point, and being part of a team that’s won so many awards has been great.  The most memorable thing has probably been my trip to Iraq in 2009 to deliver 17^th Edition training.”

The awards aim to honour and celebrate England’s apprentices and the businesses that employ them. This year attracted a record number of entries, with more than 1,600 applications across the eight different categories.

Now it’s on to the national final to be held in London on 29 June, where we’re hoping to scoop the same award we won in 2004, the inaugural year of the competition. 

Lindsey Young, of Clarkson Evans, said: ”It is great to be recognised for something that we do every day. Training apprentices is part of the business – we just get on and do it.”

Pictured Left to right: Simon Waugh, Executive Chairman of the National Apprenticeship Service, Lindsey Young, Training Director for Clarkson Evans and Richard Hickin, Territory Business Manager for City & Guilds.

We’re pleased to be training the first two electrical apprentices employed by the NHS since the mid-1980s, Tim Parsons and Lee McPeake.

Back in August 2009 they enrolled for our programme and are now well on the way to completing it.

Studying later in life can be very daunting; however, Tim (45) and Lee (47) saw the opportunity for self-development and embraced this in September 2009.

Lee commented: ‘’Having been away from an academic background for some years, we were apprehensive about the Apprenticeship at first, but it is enabling us to gain valuable industry recognised qualifications and progress our careers in the Health Service’’.

Tim added: ‘’We did initially think we were too old for this.  However, our age has turned out to be more of a help than a hindrance.  Our confidence has grown substantially and we have been able to help the younger apprentices in our group look at things from a more mature angle’’.

Our assessor Dave Collins has been supporting the two apprentices with their NVQ, setting targets and helping them make the most of any opportunities for gathering evidence, and their employer is very pleased with progress.  Mark Chapple, Estates Officer at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, commented: “both Lee and Tim are well on their way to completing their Apprenticeships and becoming competent tradesmen.  This could not have been achieved without the Apprentices’ enthusiasm, the support of Clarkson Evans, and the backing of the hospital’s Estates and Facilities Division staff and of course our Lifelong Learning Team.”

Written with the support of Gloucestershire NHS’ Communications Team.

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Clarkson Evans has been selected as a finalist for this year’s South West Regional Apprenticeship Awards.

After having won the Medium Employer prize in 2004, the inaugural year of the competition, we’ve continued to invest in training large numbers of apprentices, helping young people establish worthwhile careers in the industry. 

We’ve also seen significant business benefits and would strongly encourage other employers to support this training.

The regional final will take place in Taunton on Wednesday 18 May.  We’re keeping our fingers crossed!