A SPARK-LING ACCOLADE FOR BRITISH GAS

14 Jun 2004 05:15 PM

‘I will be retiring with the company which is what I intend’ – Emma, aged 18

British Gas Engineering Academy which trains budding engineers is today celebrating its success after being awarded a grade 1 “outstanding” by the government’s Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI).

The Academy, which is part of British Gas, and has two main training centres in Leeds and in Basingstoke, was awarded the highest grade 1 – achieved only by a handful of training organisations in the country – for its Construction programme.

Of the 502 learners, all of whom are working towards an advanced modern apprenticeship, 369 are on the domestic gas maintenance training programme and 133 are on the domestic installation training programme.

The Academy was formed in January 2003 after the gas industry flagged up an acute skills gap. Since its inception, The Academy has provided a quality base for learners from up and down the country to train and develop them into professional engineers.

Classic examples include Tom Hartshorne, a 24-year-old trainee service engineer, who said:

“I can honestly say I haven’t regretted for one moment my decision to start a career with British Gas. The level and quality of the training is excellent with up-to-date workshops and equipment. The support I have received from all levels at the training centre and on the district has been of the highest standard.”

Emma Burtenshaw, aged 18, who began her training in December 2003, said: “I am enjoying it as I learn new things every day. I am not treated any different which is great. I will be retiring with the company which is what I intend. I love doing the job as it’s never boring and always different every day.”

Describing British Gas as a “caring company”, trainee engineer Simon Hobbs-Hurrell, aged 22, said: “We are given industry leading training, in cutting edge training facilities, which enable us to do the best job possible.”

Twenty-four year old trainee engineer Lee Fleet feels British Gas has enabled him to realise his natural talent. He said: “In a nutshell, British Gas provides excellent training towards an exceptional career, in a diverse and equal opportunities environment.”

Training managers Steve Goldthorpe and Richard Nuthall, based in Leeds and Basingstoke respectively, put their thumbs up when asked about determination and initiative of their learners.

“It is clear that as a training provider, British Gas has given its total commitment to providing the best possible training to meet the needs of our future Service Engineers, throughout their modern apprenticeship. We do this by sharing best practice and fully utilising the most modern training equipment and facilities”, said Mr Nuthall.

He added: “I believe we received an outstanding grade from the Adult Learning Inspectorate because we look at what we do, and work to continuously improve our processes in order to give maximum benefit to the candidates and company.”

David Sherlock, Chief Inspector of Adult Learning, said: “We make an independent assessment and are really pleased to report that learners at British Gas Engineering Academy are benefiting from the organisation’s high quality approach. When people improve their skills and achieve their qualifications they benefit their organisation, their communities and themselves.”

Editors Notes:

1. Interviews and photographs are available by contacting Dhiren Katwa on 024 7671 6703.

2. The ALI is a government body responsible for raising the standards of education and training for young people and adults in England by inspecting and reporting on the quality of learning provision they receive. The remit covers: work-based training for all people over the age of 16; education for people aged over 19 in further education colleges; all adult and community learning; e-learning via learndirect provided by Ufi Limited and its partners; training delivered under the New Deals; learning in prisons and training provided by private industry at the employer’s invitation. The Common Inspection Framework is used to inspect all these areas. To find out more visit: http://www.ali.gov.uk.

3. To see a copy of the report go to the reports section of http://www.ali.gov.uk. Two reports are available, the left hand link will take you to a report summary and the right hand link will take you to the full report. Inspectors use a five point scale to summarise their judgements about the quality of learning and training. The descriptors for the five grades are: Grade 1- outstanding, Grade 2 – good, Grade 3 – satisfactory, Grade 4 – unsatisfactory, Grade 5 – very weak.

ISSUED BY DHIREN KATWA AT THE ADULT LEARNING INSPECTORATE.
Tel: 024 7671 6703
Email: Dhiren.katwa@ali.gov.uk