SERT has transformed its training centre based in Southampton to provide workforce solutions for your onboarding, trade-testing and training requirements. Specialising in gas and electric metering, SERT is an approved NSAP accredited centre with EUSR and an approved ACS centre with Cert-ain Certification Ltd and is looking to expand its offering, develop and showcase the latest technologies as SERT looks to a greener future, while adapting the existing construction skillset. By working with accredited partners SERT has been able to further expand the training offering and develop around clients and awarding bodies. The addition of new equipment and rarer equipment give an experience of the realities of the energy industry.
SERT offers single phase and 3-phase assessments and upskilling, with a focus on multi-rate and single off multi. SERT specialises in creating and delivering bespoke training and assessments to suit both company and individual requirements tailored to your safe systems of work. By working alongside our partners operating under a MOCOPA licence SERT can authorise a variety of Smart metering qualifications including the development of a managed learning programme. These metering capabilities allow operatives to work safely with equipment that are located at the consumer end of the wider national grid and allow safe disconnection from it.
SERT offers the ability to upskill existing metering workforces to add additional scopes of work such as single phase metering from a three-phase supply and three phase metering in courses tailored to individual company processes, using company equipment where required. In addition areas of focus such as alternative tariff set-ups can be addressed on a small, focussed group basis alongside any required theoretical understanding of the metering world to obtaining EUSR registration and work for a business operating under a MOCOPA licence.
SERT offers a range of domestic and ESP ACS competencies and can offer upskilling, refresher training and accredited assessments to keep your staff up-to-date and registered with Gas Safe. Our accreditations with Cert-ain include CCN1, CENWAT, HTR1, CKR1 and CMA1, CMA3, CESP1. These qualifications allow domestic service and installations operatives to stay on the road and the meter fitting population to continue the expansive Smart rollout nationwide on the low and medium pressure parts of the network. By completing the relevant core such as CMA1 or CCN1 an individual can demonstrate that they have the requisite core knowledge to work safely in the gas industry in the relevant sector and build on by adding or renewing elements to diversify.
SERT can offer training on the ancillary elements associated with the relevant cores such as CENWAT, HTR and CKR alongside metering and regulator requirements MET1, MET4 and REGT1 these can allow existing operatives to expand their skills within their scope and provide a wider range of services for their clients. The ability to work on other appliances such as cookers and heaters can extend scope of work and also serve to extend the work carried out by the individual. Full access to the relevant standards is given and the opportunity to use user-friendly On-Site Guides can bolster the learning experience and are available to purchase at SERT.
Bespoke gas training can be designed and delivered at SERT to include pipework and soldering, PEB1, REGT1, MET1, MET4 and safe isolation. These allow medium pressure properties to be accessed, alongside larger meter installations that can be encountered and ensure that safe to touch and the safe isolation of appliances from the electrical supply can be carried out in a safe manner. Using REGT1 and MET4 allows meter operatives to fit a more diverse range of installations and maintain the infrastructure of the UK.
SERT can also cater for new entrants into the gas industry offering a gas diploma, which on successful completion will deliver ACS qualifications CCN1 and CENWAT with the additional elements of CKR1 and HTR if required. The diploma requires a combination of managed learning in-centre and the creation of a portfolio of evidence working under the supervision of a Gas Safe engineer in the field. Full support will be given by our fully qualified technical staff, who can utilise their skills and many years of experience to assist candidates on their journey to become qualified Gas Safe engineers. The diploma will require candidates to have an employer to ensure they can gain the required field-based portfolio evidence and SERT will work to assess the portfolio to be submitted to the awarding body and become the gateway to ACS achieving CCN1 and CENWAT as a starting route to working with gas appliances,
SERT are able to offer a joined-up approach with an employer in building the portfolio and providing support while staff are in the field building towards a CCN1 and CENWAT qualification through an ACS route allowing new entrants into the workforce to keep up with demand and allow employers to reward and develop their staff. By developing in-house companies are emerging better prepared for the future.
The gas industry has an ageing population and a shortage of new entrants to support this essential industry. There is much talk about green energy and emerging technologies and the subsequent replacement of gas being the fuel of the future, but gas has an important role to play in the future and with innovations such as hydrogen being introduced into the supply will ensure this is a secure profession to join for many years to come. There are more than 20 million homes using gas in the UK, which means plenty of appliances that need to be installed, serviced and repaired and these skills will, in turn need to be adapted to facilitate the green future as the nation seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by the time 2035 has arrived according to the government’s sixth Carbon Budget and the improvement of infrastructure, new technologies and adapting existing ones.