A new online Academy has been launched by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), offering a comprehensive programme of training courses, assessments and CPD for individuals, employers and training providers in the building services sector. BESA says that individuals will be able to access all of the resources needed to improve their existing skills and learn new ones while also keeping their qualifications and competencies up to date. The Academy will also help employers and managers ensure their workforces are fully qualified and able to comply with legislation and industry standards.

It will also aid employers’ efforts to plug skills gaps by making access to the appropriate training easier, more flexible and, therefore, more appealing to a wider section of the population. All training modules are accessible from a smartphone, tablet or laptop whether the user is at home, at work or on the move.

Training providers can also outsource the online learning elements of their courses to BESA freeing them up to focus on the aspects that require physical participation, something that is likely to be welcomed by many colleges who have been wrestling with social distancing restrictions that limit the amount of time students can spend on sites.

“Online learning really came into its own during the lockdown months,” says BESA president Neil Brackenridge. “It proved the value of being able to access course materials from anywhere and at any time, which is exactly the BESA Academy model. “Our plans were already well advanced before the crisis hit, but the surge in demand for this kind of ‘blended’ model of online and physical training accelerated our efforts. The industry is moving rapidly into a new era and needs training that can adapt to our changing requirements.”

Employers and workers benefit from the fact that courses can be accessed at any time and in any place so improving convenience and limiting disruption to working time. All courses are flexible and can be completed in ‘bite sized chunks’. Each Academy candidate receives an online ‘skills passport’ storing all their completed training, competencies, qualifications and CV in one place for ease of access.

The BESA Academy will also help make specific building engineering training more affordable. “A lot of colleges had been forced to discontinue some engineering apprenticeships, for example, because they are more expensive and complex than other types of training,” explains BESA’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet. “Delivering more of the course content remotely will make it more economically viable.”

It is hoped that the Academy will also help with the process of re-deploying workers facing redundancy in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, who can quickly pick up additional skills to move from one part of the sector to another – so keeping vital expertise within the industry.

“Whole life learning is a crucial part of the Academy model,” adds Ms Yeulet. “There will also be demand for re-skilling suited to modern methods of working, such as the increased use of digital systems and off-site manufacture.”

The Academy is launching with the support of several BESA affiliate members who have provided valuable training resources and more courses will be added in the coming months. One launch highlight is the BESA Health and Safety Environment course and test in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.  This six module programme covers the latest requirements for keeping workers safe and meeting new site operating procedures. A suite of free CPD courses is also being provided via the Academy supplied by BESA affiliate members Airflow, Altecnic, Flamco, HASL, Kingspan, TATA Steel and Swegon.

Mitsubishi Electric’s marketing manager Rachel Lekman says the company was delighted to be supporting the Academy launch: “We hope this will be a long-term collaborative relationship that can help to improve technical knowledge, standards and, in particular, develop the next generation of installers. This is an exciting development for us and for the sector so we wish BESA best of luck with the launch.”

For more information go to: www.thebesa.com/academy