New revised Electrotechnical Apprenticeship
6 Sep 2023
News
The Installation and Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship is the most successful technical apprenticeship currently being delivered. It has increased starts year-on-year since its inception – maintaining over 5,000 starts during COVID, and it has an achievement rate above the national average.
The apprenticeship now aligns with the current Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education format which is much more detailed. The refreshed standard contains a full list of “Duties” the apprentice electrician will undertake in their role. The duties are all mapped to the relevant KSBs to help your curriculum planning.
In the refreshed standard the core knowledge, skills and behaviours remain broadly the same but there are some additions of which you will need to be aware since they will be covered in the end point assessment.
Duties include:
- Understand fully and work in full compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations; building regulations; industry guidance notes; relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and other relevant standards.
- Carry out electrical installation, initial verification, maintenance, and testing work on a variety of voltages; both AC and DC; single and three-phase.
- Carry out maintenance regimes, periodic inspection and testing and electrical installation condition reporting of existing electrical installations in accordance with manufacturer instructions and the requirements for electrical installations.
- Undertake the installation of both wired and wireless solutions in achieving a desired outcome appropriate to client need in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 and other relevant industry standards, and assess electrical loads on such new installations to ensure safe and suitable solutions are provided.
- Plan and deliver the best solution for the client, incorporating and integrating new technologies as required, within agreed budget, including the installation, maintenance, and inspection of special installations, including but not limited to electric vehicle charging systems, PV and Thermal panels battery storage, and Stand By Generation in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 and other relevant industry standards.
- Decide the correct location, site and install mains powered life safety systems for industrial, commercial and residential installations.
- Design and install wiring and connections for known and novel heating and cooling systems, for industrial, commercial, and residential installations which need electrical connections.
- Install cables within the fabric of the building for internal and external installations while maintaining the integrity of fire compartments.
- Understand the need for appropriate consideration towards, and knowledge of specialist requirements when working in historical installations and settings.
- Communicate and liaise effectively with own project team, and those in other teams, such as clients or specialist contractors, and with internal or external stakeholders, respecting the need for the security of data and information.
- Understand the different types of novel technologies being developed relating to electrical installations including the smart grid, use of prefabricated products and components (plug and play), energy efficient lighting technologies, lower carbon electric power generation and the IoT and how new technologies can be retrofitted to existing installations.
- Restore work area and return tools, and unused materials and equipment to a safe and reliable condition, to prescribed standards of cleanliness on completion of installation or maintenance work.
- Prepare and complete relevant work documentation from quotation to certification, including fault finding during commissioning, and handover stages in accordance with organisation policy and procedures and any other relevant information and guidance.
- Understand how to plan and project manage typical Electrician work to maximise quality of outcome and efficiency of workflow.
- Develop and maintain skills in using a range of practical and workshop skills, selecting, and applying appropriate materials, equipment, technologies and processes to install or maintain electrical installations.
The industry accepted model is of an electrician gaining core competence through their apprenticeship, and then going on to upskill and specialise in their chosen field. The refreshed apprenticeship does not change this model.
Net Zero
But to ensure new electricians are positioned to help deliver our country’s green ambitions including Net Zero there are new skills included, such as the ability to install EV charging points in all settings including large scale residential, commercial, and industrial areas. They have also included the foundation cabling and connections skills needed for installation of heat pumps, and solar and thermal panels and the knowledge of what green solutions are available in all economic settings. These additions will enable completing apprentices to then top up their knowledge in specific technology areas through further training as part of ongoing CPD.
Digital age
For the first time they have also included skills for the digital age, with new apprentices required to learn and be skilled in the use of business communication and collaboration applications, and digital learning platforms, giving our apprentices additional transferable skills. The funding submission requested additional funding to cover the cost of software licenses for the apprentice. Alongside this standards are being raised by teaching ethical and sustainable work behaviours as well as care and consideration for customers with diverse needs.
| Knowledge | |
|---|---|
| K1: | Health and safety legislation and safe working practices covering hazards and risks when undertaking electrical work in industrial, commercial and communal residential environments and how these can be avoided. |
| K2: | Duties and obligations to act in protecting safety of self, colleagues and the public whilst undertaking work. |
| K3: | Safety Control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE),and the importance of, restoring the work area to a tidy and safe condition on the completion of work. |
| K4: | Written and verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them. |
| K5: | Customer and client service methods and techniques and the differing needs of people and groups of people relating to equity and diversity. |
| K6: | Key organisations and their purpose within the electrical industry and the electrician's role within the industry. |
| K7: | Relevant legislation pertaining to electrical work including Building Regulations; industry guidance notes; relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and related standards as well as an awareness of the principles of sustainable development. |
| K8: | Technical information and guidance specifically for electrical work, including electrical drawings, technical specifications, their application. |
| K9: | Mathematical and scientific techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin an electrician’s work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| K10: | Tools, materials, equipment, and components, including prefabricated, available to be used when performing electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments and how to identify and use them safely. |
| K11: | The purpose of different electrical and electronic equipment, installations, components and systems and their characteristics, features, and their electrical requirements in industrial, commercial and residential environments including in a retrofit context. |
| K12: | Processes and procedures including MMC for the design, planning, set up, and installation of electrical and related electronic systems in industrial, commercial, and residential environments including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems. |
| K13: | Methods of terminating and connecting cables in electrical wiring systems, installations, and equipment in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| K14: | Fault diagnosis and rectification of electrical installations using different diagnostic and problem-solving techniques and the methods to find, assess, and resolve electrical faults in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| K15: | Safe isolation, initial verification and appreciate periodic inspection, testing and reporting of electrical installations in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| K16: | Importance of accurate preparation, completion, and maintenance of relevant work documentation including observations, test results, certification documents including EICR and the application of information technology applications and software used in industrial, commercial and residential environments. |
| K17: | Project management techniques, including relevant continuous improvement processes for electrical, engineering and construction work. |
| K18: | Requirements for continual personal and professional development within the industry and the opportunities for career progression and professional registration. |
| K19: | Digital learning platforms, and platforms used for business communication and collaboration. |
| Skills | |
|---|---|
| S1: | Maintain the safety of self and others by applying statutory health and safety policies, procedures, and regulations when conducting electrical work. |
| S2: | Comply with all relevant legislation including environmental, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| S3: | Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used when undertaking electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| S4: | Carry out work in a tidy and safe manner, including restoration of the work area on completion of work. |
| S5: | Use verbal and written communication techniques suitable for the context, adapting style and use of terminology to suit the audience. Uses industry terminology. |
| S6: | Apply customer service principles and techniques to deliver customer or client service in industrial, commercial and communal residential environments. |
| S7: | Apply relevant legislation; Building Regulations; industry guidance notes; relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and other relevant standards while carrying out work. |
| S8: | Understand and apply the practices and procedures for planning and preparing to maintain electrotechnical systems and equipment. |
| S9: | Apply and use necessary mathematical and scientific techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin an electrician’s work. |
| S10: | Use a range of tools, materials, equipment, and components, including prefabricated, relevant to performing electrical work in industrial, commercial and residential environments. |
| S11: | Design, plan, set up, and install electrical and related electronic systems including terminating and connecting cables in electrical wiring systems, installations, and equipment in commercial, industrial, and residential installations. |
| S12: | Inspect and test new and where applicable existing electrical Installations in industrial, commercial and residential environments using test equipment. |
| S13: | Apply diagnostic and problem-solving techniques to identify, assess and resolve electrical faults in industrial, commercial and residential environments. |
| S14: | Install electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems. |
| S15: | Maintain electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems. |
| S16: | Carry out and manage own work ensuring work is compliant to the standards required of an electrician working in industrial, commercial, and residential environments. |
| S17: | Record work including the completion and maintenance of work documentation, recording of test results and preparation of appropriate certification. |
| S18: | Use relevant digital learning platforms and business communication and collaboration applications. |
| Behaviours | |
|---|---|
| B1: | Acts responsibly, ethically and contributes to safe outcomes. Puts health and safety first for themselves and others. Embeds a health and safety culture and is always hazard and risk aware during work. Challenges any unsafe practices and demonstrates personal accountability. |
| B2: | Embraces a sustainable working culture, taking responsibility for the careful use of resources and correct disposal of work waste demonstrating consideration r of the environmental impact. |
| B3: | Demonstrates commitment to quality, commercial awareness, and continuous improvement by complying with health, safety and welfare requirements, industry standards, statutory regulation and legislation, policies, and codes of practice. |
| B4: | Focuses on the requirements of the customer (internal and external) or client, seeking to provide outstanding customer service. |
| B5: | Manages own time efficiently to complete work operations and effectively schedule work within the confines of job responsibility and awareness of the limits of their own competence. |
| B6: | Committed to keeping up to date with industry best practice, relevant legislation and technical standards and undertaking personal CPD in line with industry best practice. |
| B7: | Works productively and cooperatively with co-workers, customers, vendors, people from other trades and other people external to their own company using effective communication skills. |
| B8: | Promote green technologies when appropriate, meeting, or exceeding customer requirements, including customers with diverse needs and those transitioning to green technologies. |
