World Environment Day 2008
07 May 2008
Professor Peter Matthews, Chairman of Northern Ireland's Utility Regulator will deliver the keynote address at this year's IWO World Environment Day Seminar. Northern Ireland's Utility Regulator represents regulatory needs for the water, gas and electricity... More...
First Successes for New Qualifications
01 May 2008
The first National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certificates in two new qualifications introduced by Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) have been awarded in the past month. These qualifications were introduced as part of the... More...
Pride in our Industry
29 April 2008
Spanning across the general theme of pride delegates at the year's IWO Annual Conference heard from exceptional speakers in areas of motivation, retention, succession and planning. Minister, Phil Woolas delivered a captivating keynote address, and really... More...
CBI Education and Skills Survey Launched
28 April 2008
This survey was undertaken last November and reflects the views of employers - 737 companies responded. The central message is reflected in the Director - General's Foreword. "Over half of firms worry they may not be able to find enough skilled workers... More...
Competent Drainage Operative - National Register
17 April 2008
A National Scheme to recognise a competent workforce is long overdue! Currently there is no mechanism available to recognise competent drainage operatives. There is not even a benchmark to assess a competent operative against.The need for a Scheme to... More...
Business Skills Award for the Water Industry 2008 Winners Announced
10 April 2008
Winners of the Business Skills Awards for the Water Industry 2008 were announced on Friday 4 April at the annual Institution of Water Officers (IWO) President's Dinner. The Awards were presented by Tim Balcon, Chief Executive at EU Skills, the Sector... More...
A big night for the waste management industry with two wins at the NES Learners First Awards!
07 April 2008
Stuart Borowik won the Train to Gain category and Veolia Environnement was named Employer of the Year at the 2008 National Employer Service (NES) Learners First Awards at Alton Towers on 3rd April 2008. Stuart was singled out for his skills and achievements... More...
Award Winning Partnerships Benefit Employers
28 March 2008
A partnership project between utility contractor companies and a Further Education College to train and upskill it's workforce has won a National Training Award and is projected to increase the number of attendees in 2008/09 year. The partnership between... More...
Sector Skills Agreement Ready for Action
28 March 2008
After two years of research and pilot schemes, Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) has officially launched its Sector Skills Agreement (SSA).Tim Balcon, Chief Executive, EU Skills, said: "I believe that we have a one off... More...
New Appointment for Energy & Utility Skills Board of Directors
17 March 2008
Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills), the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the electricity, gas, waste management and water industries, is delighted to announce a new appointment to its Board of Directors. Dr Nina Skorupska, Director, Technology Services,... More...
World Class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent Building Skills for all
28 February 2008
On 28 January 2008 the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Children Schools and Families jointly launched the Governments strategy for the future of Apprenticeships in England. This represents the conclusions of the... More...
Viridor leads recycling and waste industry drive to promote Apprenticeships
25 February 2008
Viridor Waste Management, one of the UK's leading recycling and waste management companies is working with Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) to promote the benefits of Apprenticeships in the growing recycling and waste sector during Apprenticeship... More...
Cautious Welcome as Ofgem Recognise Impact of GDN Ageing Workforce
21 January 2008
Ofgem has recently announced, as part of the Price Control determination, an additional £80 million for training and Apprentices 'so that the Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) can maintain a high level of skilled staff to carry out their operations'.Energy... More...
Important CSCS Affiliation Announcement
20 December 2007
Introduction This statement outlines the arrangements for Construction Site entry for the electricity, gas and water industries personnel, from the 1 January 2008. Affiliation Agreement Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) and Construction Skills... More...
Scottish Enterprise Project Benefits Local Employers
15 November 2007
More than 2,500 utility mains contractors have been upskilled since 2005 as part of an ongoing £1 million upskilling project funded by Scottish Enterprise and local employers. Recent course numbers have been at record levels, as employers upskill their... More...
New Water Apprenticeship Launched
31 October 2007
After extensive planning and development work, the new water industry Apprenticeships are now approved and available for registrations. The new Apprenticeships came into force on the 1 November 2007 across England and Wales, replacing the previous Framework.... More...
First Ever Techincal Engineering Apprenticeship for Northern Ireland
28 September 2007
The first ever Technical Engineering Apprenticeship for gas in Northern Ireland has now been finalised with a view to being launched in September next year. The flexible and industry specific qualification, at NVQ Level 3, is first of its kind in the... More...
New Qualification for First Line Supervisors
28 September 2007
First line supervisors working for contractors in the utility industry will soon have a new qualification that recognises their skills regardless of whether they take a NVQ. Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) this week... More...
Ex Offenders Re-Trained to Meet Skills Shortage
06 August 2007
Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills), together with a selection of training providers, has worked with the Probation Service in Yorkshire and Humberside to identify potential trainees. The move is part of the probation service's... More...
Young Apprentice Places Top 100
06 August 2007
More than 100 new 14 year-old school pupils are set to begin two year Young Apprenticeships programmes across England in September. Young Apprenticeships are a new style of partnership between schools and employers in the gas and electricity utilities,... More...
New Health and Safety CD for the Waste Managment Industy is Launched
25 July 2007
The new interactive Health and Safety CD for the waste management industry was launched on July 10 at the Environmental Services Association (ESA) Progress in Health and Safety Event in London. Assisting the launch was Simon Catford, Personnel Manager... More...
30 Apprentices Taken on in new Training Agreement
19 July 2007
Morgan Est has become the first utility contractor in decades to select and recruit new Apprentices for upstream gas, electricity and water Apprenticeship qualifications in conjunction with a Further Education college. On 2 July, 15 of Morgan Est's... More...
City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 VRQ in Water Engineering Approved
16 July 2007
Following extensive planning and development work, the Level 2 and 3 Vocationally Relation Qualifications (VRQs) in Water Engineering, essential to meeting the needs of employers and also fulfilling the requirements of the Apprenticeship Blueprint, has... More...
Single Qualification for Network Operations
12 July 2007
Contractors working on multi-utility network projects will soon be able to have a standard qualification that will enable them to specialise in as many of the utility disciplines as required. Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) the Sector Skills Council... More...
Scottish Water First Under New Framework
27 June 2007
Scottish Water has become the first water company in the UK to complete the initial stage of auditing and endorsing in-house training under the new nation-wide water treatment Operator Competency Framework. Under the Framework, all the water companies... More...
Pilot Launched for Skills Development Workshops in Waste Management
11 June 2007
Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills), the Sector Skills Council for the electricity, gas, waste management and water industries, has joined forces with waste management company Cory Environmental to launch an innovative pilot programme to upskill waste... More...
Employer's views sought on National Specialised Diploma
01 September 2006
From September 2009, a qualification designed by employers will be available to 14 to 19 year olds in England. The Land-based and Environmental Specialised Diploma offers employers a rare opportunity to influence the content and structure of a... More...
Training Provider Guidance for New Gas Apprenticeships
17 August 2006
The Training Provider Guidance for New Gas Apprenticeships in England and Wales is now available. Please click here to view. More...
