As you’re no doubt aware, electricians are highly skilled workers who must complete extensive electrician courses in order to learn the many technical skills required to conduct excellent electrical work. However, a number of large companies are attempting to slash pay for electricians, even those who have completed the very best electrician courses, by a whopping 35%.

The companies involved include Balfour Beatty, a company who employ thousands of sparks across the country and recruit extensively from electrician courses. These big bosses are attempting to tear up the Joint Industry Board (JIB) agreement which governs pay and terms of employment for electricians across the UK.  They propose to replace JIB with the Building Engineering Services National Agreement (BESNA) which could cause wages to be slashed by a third.

Many electricians and trainees studying on electrician courses across the country are attempting to implement national strike action to fight these changes after a number of smaller, independent strikes broke out this week in cities including Edinburgh, Cardiff, London, Manchester and Birmingham.

UNITE are deeply involved in the strike actions and support the sparks’ call for a halt to the changes. Blacklisted worker and Manchester Unite construction branch secretary Steve Acheson said: "The number one priority is beating BESNA and we will because we are relentless."

Pay is not the only change that electricians will need to accept if BESNA is implemented. Compared to JIB, BESNA allows for inferior working conditions and reduced job security. During a period of recession, high unemployment and soaring costs of living, it is no wonder that electricians are up in arms about these alterations which many believe to be illegal.

At Access Training we offer top electrician courses to provide sparks with the very best start in the business. Whilst the industry may change, the quality and flexibility of our electrician courses does not. No matter what the current climate might suggest, excellent electrical skills are always in demand, so ensure you are at the top of your game by enrolling on electrician courses with Access. To call to discuss our electrician courses ring 0800 345 7492 today.

This Wednesday solar energy company, The Green Home Company, announced that they would be expanding their business in Bridgend and creating 100 new job vacancies in the process. If you’re considering a future in solar in South Wales this is exciting news. People get into solar from all sorts of trades, so if you’re currently enrolled on roofing, property development, plumbing or electrical courses, this news could be music to your ears!

The Green Home Company’s announcement couldn’t have come at a better time as, only yesterday, the government had their plans to halve the solar feed in tariff (FIT) scheme shelved. The proposed cuts looked set to cut thousands of jobs in what had, throughout 2011, been a boom industry. Now it looks like the industry can continue to grow, providing work for thousands of skilled tradesmen across the country.

This Green Home Company expansion is great news for local industry and gives local trainees a real boost. Knowing that your skills are in demand is an excellent form of encouragement, especially given the worrying looking jobs market these days. The Bridgend based installers are likely to offer training, upskill opportunities and excellent prospects for many alumni from Access plumbing, roofing and electrical courses.

If you’re interested in getting into the solar installation industry, this could be your opportunity to make an impact in a great, local solar installation role. If you’re still busy working though plumbing, roofing or electrical courses here at Access you can take encouragement from the fact that there are great opportunities out there and exciting new skillsets to develop!

Hoping to get into a trade? Access Training can help. We offer City & Guilds authenticated plumbing, roofing, decorating, gas, electrical courses and more to give you the skills you need to succeed. For more information about any of our electrical courses call our experienced advisers on 0800 345 7492 today.

The recent, tragic death of two-year-old Kristiana Logina after she was scalded by a too-hot shower has prompted calls across the plumbing industry to ensure plumber courses teach students to properly recommend and fit TMVs (Thermostatic Mixing Valves). Many people believe that refresher plumber courses should be given to ensure those who enrolled on plumber courses many years ago have up-to-date knowledge to help them regulate bath and shower temperatures using current equipment.

According to statistics, more than 50 UK citizens have been killed by scalding in the past 5 years. Sadly, the victims of these terrible events tend to be the most vulnerable: the young, the elderly and the disabled. Figures show that, in the same time frame, 800 others have been severely injured and scarred by scalding.

These numbers make upsetting reading, especially since these accidents are all too avoidable in this day and age. Anyone who has recently taken plumber courses ought to know how to regulate water temperature using TMVs and all plumber courses should now be advising the installation of TMVs to all clients in line with the new Bathroom Academy guidelines. Anyone embarking on plumber courses will now be made aware that 2010 Building Regulations Approved Document G requires the installation of a TMV in all new bath installations.

Unfortunately these recent rules do not require TMV installations for showers and many industry experts believe that this needs to change and become law too.

If you want to learn more about TMV installation, or want to refresh your plumbing skillset, Access Training offer thorough plumber courses which make sure their students have all the up-to-date-industry knowledge to ensure the safety of their future clients.

According to Yvonne Orgill, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association: “There is no excuse” for such tragic and avoidable accidents to occur. So ensure you have all the necessary plumber courses under your belt to work safely and to the best of your abilities.

Whether you’re an experienced plumber or are only just embarking on plumbing training, if you have a hot idea for the future of eco-friendly heating and plumbing, ADEY want to hear from you! ADEY provide professional heating solutions and are looking for a sizzling new idea for a tool, appliance or product which will make a big splash in the world of plumbing and heating.

Anyone with a clever design is welcome to submit it, from those still in plumbing training to plumbers who have been in the business for decades. The forward-thinking competition is offering a £2,000 prize, along with lots of ADEY goodies for the winning design, which will then be developed using up to £50,000 worth of research, testing and expert assistance.

The design must be for an item which will have a positive environmental benefit within the plumbing and heating industries. Industry insiders are hopeful for the younger members of the heating and plumbing industries, many of whom are still in plumbing training. With the future of the plumbing industry in their hands, those currently in plumbing training are sure to be full of smart ideas for the ecologically-friendly development of the plumbing business.

If you’d like to get your hands on the top prize and see your energy saving design become a reality, you have until January 31st 2012 to submit your masterstroke. Just visit the ADEY site to learn more and submit your creation!

Even if your idea isn’t going to change the world, the competition is an excellent exercise in creativity in the plumbing industry. Encouraging forward-thinking and independent reasoning is really important to plumbing training courses in the 21st century. Training young plumbers to think creatively about their work is a great way to inspire talented workers to make a real impact on the skills base in the UK.

If you'd like to develop both yourself and your ideas, here at Access we offer a wide range of plumbing training courses to suit you and your goals. Explore the rest of our website or give our informative team a call on 0800 345 7492 today to find a plumbing training course for you!