On Thursday the 1st March 2012, Cardiff City Stadium will be hosting an exciting free seminar that will introduce lots of businesses and tradespeople to the Government’s ‘Green Deal’ initiative. This initiative is set to bring a whole host of ecological, environmental and cost benefits to a wide range of tradespeople, including those who have qualified on plumber courses, electrician courses and many more vocational courses.

The Green Deal is likely to bring many fantastic schemes and opportunities to businesses and tradespeople who are prepared to ‘Go Green’.  The overall aim of the initiative is to improve energy efficiency and boost savings. From plumber courses to electrician courses, all manner of vocational courses now teach their students to install energy and water saving equipment and how to ensure all work done is performed in an environmentally friendly way. The Green Deal aims to take advantage of these skills which are out there in the workplace in order to save people money and improve the UK’s carbon footprint.

The seminar, which begins at 9am on Thursday and will last for around 3 and a half hours, aims to introduce businesses and tradespeople to the opportunities out there which the Green Deal will open up. Attending will allow those who have taken plumber courses and electrician courses to discover the new directions in which their industries are heading. Attendees will also learn about the possibilities which are likely to open up under the Green Deal initiative as well as the advice, training, support and information out there waiting to be taken advantage of.

The speakers will include spokespeople from companies already involved in the Green sector in a wide range of capacities. If you are looking to discover where your trade fits into a Green future, this is the perfect learning opportunity.

In the meantime, if you are looking for plumber courses or electrical courses which will equip you for the future of your chosen industry, Access Training offer City & Guilds accredited plumber and electrical courses which are both flexible and forward thinking. Call 0800 345 7492 today to speak to one of our friendly advisers.

Any spark qualifying on electrician courses over the next few months could find their finances under the close scrutiny of HMRC. In fact, contract electricians of all levels of experience could find their work and their income monitored very closely by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs over the coming year.

The ‘big push’ by HMRC has been taking place across the trades which are considered high risk industries for tax avoidance. This wave of intense scrutiny and bureaucracy is part of the government’s overall goal which is to cut back on benefit fraud, tax evasion and other ‘low-level’ financial crimes which cost the taxpayer millions of pounds every year.

Looking at the bigger picture, this move to closely monitor the earnings of those who have qualified on electrician courses is part of the country-wide austerity drive, aimed at reducing our deficit and minimising the need for cuts in essential areas such as health care and education.

Alongside tackling those qualified on electrician courses, HMRC have also been closely monitoring self-employed plumbers and other sole traders. According to those leading the campaign, the investigations will look closely at anyone who installs, maintains and tests electrical appliances and equipment.

The reason people will be monitored so closely after completing electrical courses is that electrical contractors working as sole traders are traditionally a little ‘foggy’ when it comes to income, figures and tax. Whether this is the result of dodgy accounting or simple forgetfulness is not clear – it may well be that qualified sparks who have taken all the requisite electrician courses have simply earned an unfair reputation.

Hopefully the ‘crackdown’ on those who have found work as self-employed sparks following electrician courses will show that the majority of those in the business are above board and legitimate.

If you would like to enjoy the freedom and lucrative wages of life as a self-employed electrician, speak to Access Training. We offer flexible, City & Guilds accredited electrician courses which will prepare you for life as an exceptional, passionate spark. Get in touch today on 0800 345 7492.

Training to be a plumber is not plain sailing for any student but, for many women training to be a plumber, sexual harassment in the workplace makes gaining skills and experience even harder. The recent story of Sheona Keith who spent 3 years training to be a plumber only to experience sexual harassment, contempt and redundancy is a worrying example.

After training to be a plumber for 3 years, Sheona Keith found that she was the victim of sexism and even sexual harassment in her day-to-day work as a fully qualified plumber. After months of this sort of treatment Keith was made redundant. The depression and anger that this situation caused resulted in Keith committing actual bodily harm when she found herself, once again, the victim of unwanted sexual attention in a nightclub.

According to the judge:  “You [Sheona Keith] worked hard but your chosen line of work took you into a completely male dominated environment and one where I am afraid you had to put up with sexist comments and harassment which there is no excuse for.”

"This forms the background of why you lost your job and in the end resulted in all this. You went to a night club even though you normally don't drink and don't go out.”

The fact that law-abiding, talented women who have gone through rigorous training to be a plumber are made to feel unsafe and driven to desperate acts due to the behaviour of clients is a sad truth for the plumbing industry, and a problem that the plumbing community need to confront.

Access Training believe that everyone has the right to a shining plumbing career after completing training to be a plumber – a career which is based purely on merit, not gender. We provide fully accredited training to be a plumber which allows students to become the very best they can be. For more information  about receiving top-notch training to be a plumber in a supportive and inspiring environment, speak to our team today on 0800 345 7492.

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!

A Norwegian resident has received a Christmas gift which would appear very close to the top of many plumber training students’ Christmas lists. Thanks to some careless plumbing work, Ms Gundersen of Kristiansund, West Norway, struck liquid gold when she turned on her taps only to find beer flowing generously through.

It seems maybe the standard of plumber training in Norway is not quite as high as it is here at Access, as a hapless plumber who had been called in to fix a leak, accidentally connected a beer barrel from the pub two floors below her apartment to Ms Gundersen’s water supply.

Needless to say, there were one or two unhappy faces in the Big Tower Bar downstairs, when they saw nothing but Ms Gundersen’s dish water flowing into their pint glasses.

Ms Gundersen told local news reporters: I turned on the tap to clean some knives and forks, and beer came out. We thought we were in heaven, although the beer was a little flat.”

The true joy of this plumbing training error was heightened by the fact that in Norway, the sale of alcohol is controlled by a state monopoly, with the price of a pint the highest anywhere in the world, close to 20 Euros a pint. This really was liquid gold!

Egil Myrvang, the local beer distributor, added: “The water and beer pipes do touch each other, but you have to be really creative to connect them together.”

However, Ms Gundersen bore no grudge after the incident, instead quipping that if it should happen again, she’d probably prefer a Baileys!

We hope this merry little tale of mishaps, beer and plumber training has left you in the mood to spread some Christmas cheer. For further plumber training information please browse the wide range of industry recognised plumber training courses on our site, or call 0800 345 7492.

It may seem like we’re subscribing to the old stereotype of clinical German efficiency, but the German vocational training system is extremely impressive. From plumbing courses to ‘mecatronics’ apprenticeships, the Germans do it better.

With the UK vocational system long overdue for an overhaul, what can we learn from the German system that will improve the way this country administrates plumbing courses and other forms of vocational education?

Why do we need change?

In March this year the Wolf Review found that the lack of consistency and regulation in vocational education in the UK was having a knock on effect on the quality of the education students were receiving. This in turn was shown to affect the skills base in our country. Following the report, Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, implemented an overhaul of the system. This overhaul was supposed to ensure all providers of plumbing courses, and other vocational training, were working to the same standard and general curriculum.

Unfortunately this overhaul has foundered. The complexity of organising thousands of disparate providers to ensure they conform to an overall standard has forced the changes to run aground. Many providers of plumbing courses and electrician courses are prepared (Access included) but a significant number are lagging behind.

Why are German plumbing courses so good?

Across the channel, in the current European economic heartland, the Germans have had an enviable vocational education system in place for over 40 years. It is based on a law called ‘Berufsausbildungsgesetz’, which unifies the whole vocational training system, making it the responsibility of the government, the trade unions and chambers of trade and industry. This guarantees the high standard of plumbing courses and is one of the driving forces behind Germany’s powerhouse economy. The high level of exceptionally skilled labour in Germany is testament to its vocational education system.

Another reason the German system works so well is that it is closely integrated with the academic school system in the country. It is far easier for the youth to undertake an apprenticeship in Germany, which means a whopping 51% have successfully completed an apprenticeship. This hands-on, company-driven approach makes a real impact on the level of skill in Deutschland.

What’s next for vocational training in the UK?

The reasons the German system works so well are very similar to the direction Gove was looking to take plumbing courses and other training courses in the UK. A unified system, a more hands-on approach, integration with academic grades, all of these moves would make a big difference, yet it may take the UK a while to reach this point.

In the meantime, if you are looking to enrol on plumbing courses, or alternative vocational courses, speak to the training provider who knows the lay of the land. Here at Access we understand how plumbing courses, electrician courses and carpentry courses ought to be run, and we are passionate about teaching people the skills they need to succeed. Contact our team today to talk about enrolling on plumbing courses and more today! You can reach us at 0800 345 7492.