EDUCATION & TRAINING: OUR ROLE

• A committment to training, education and CPD ensures ECA members remain the best in the industry

Being an ECA member demonstrates that a firm is committed to representing the best in the electrotechnical industry. Part of that commitment hinges on the firm's pursuit of excellence, embodied in its support of training to improve industry standards and the competence of its workforce. ECA Education and Training exists to promote the uptake of training, so that the industry benefits from a fully-skilled workforce. 

ECA Education and Training can advise members on the best training and qualification routes for their employees, and strives to continually add new and relevant short courses to our portfolio,  which can help prepare ECA members for changes in legislation and new developments and opportunities in the industry in which they operate

• Grants for ECA Members 

The ECA 2008 Training Fund is available to ECA members who wish to apply for grants for funding or part funding for education and training for work.          

• Standard setting

The ECA has a major influence on the training, qualification and performance of the electrical installation industry's personnel. It played a major role in establishing SummitSkills – the Sector Skills Council responsible for the development and implemenation of National Vocational Standards (NVQs) across the building services engineering sector. For more information visit the SummitSkills website at www.summitskills.org.uk

• Encouraging apprentice training

Also helping to ensure the industry sustains the most successful apprentice training delivery in England and Wales, is JTL. This registered charity, set up by the ECA and Amicus, is an Investor in People company with full ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. JTL is the principal conduit for government-funded training provision in the industry. Each year many young people take up apprenticeships with ECA member companies to qualify as fully trained electricians. For further details visit the JTL website.

• Our quality short courses

The ECA is also an award-winning training provider in its own right, organising a fully accredited range of specialist technical, health and safety, business development and sustainability courses at venues throughout the UK. The courses, which are open to both member and non-member companies, reinforce the ECA's commitment to training for the industry as a whole. We also work in partnership with a number of preferred providers who provide expert training in their fields, with generous discounts available to ECA members.

View our course programme 

• Bespoke training

ECA Education and Training offers an extensive range of courses and seminars for corporate clients, many of which are not listed in our course programme. Information and quotes for in-company (group training) may be obtained upon enquiry to eandt@eca.co.uk. We are able to provide or source expert training many areas relevant to the industry.

• Best value

ECA member companies benefit from our best value rates on training, which represent exceptional value for money. Our great value also extends to non ECA-members, and we endeavour to provide discounts wherever possible to incentivise training for the whole industry. For example, Part P Competent Person scheme members attract specialst rates on our 17th Edition full and Update courses.

• Industry research

ECA Education & Training recently commissioned a report into the Incentives and Barriers to Training for small, medium and large firms in the industry. The findings were published as a report, which will help us to develop insight into our future education policies and drive our education agenda. To download a copy click here