Electrical Apprentices in Safe Hands

The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) have reassured the industry that electrical apprenticeships and training are in safe hands following on from an introduction of a range of emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SECTT will be offering ongoing help and guidance to all apprentices, and they will be working closely with the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), SELECT and colleges across Scotland, in order to support the collective efforts of employers and colleges throughout the current crisis.

To make sure there is clarity across the board, SECTT, who are the body that manage electrical installation apprenticeships in Scotland, have already communicated both nationally and regionally with all colleges, employers and apprentices via email, phone, social media and the OneFile platform.

It is also set to hold an online meeting with all colleges in the week beginning April 20^th, 2020, in which they will devise a delivery model and they will also take into consideration the needs of employers, apprentices and trainees, so no-one is left at a disadvantage.

Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT said: “We know these are unprecedented times, but we are doing all we can to help apprentices continue with their studies through alternative channels, while maintaining the high standards required.

“The Electrical Installation Modern Apprenticeship is a vocational qualification and has safety implications, so we must ensure competency throughout the course, especially in the ‘Key Safety Critical’ areas.

“Therefore, SECTT will be looking to complete the coursework as near as normal as possible, but this will depend on when we return to free movement.”

Both apprentices and trainees are being encouraged to keep in contact with their lecturers with any coursework they can complete online, and completing their ePortfolios via OneFile, which their training officers will be marking. The main objective is to reduce the overall workload when things return to normal, by doing this, it will ensure that apprenticeships will remain on track.

Ms Galbraith added: “Apprentices’ health and wellbeing is of course, the most important aspect to consider and I appreciate sometimes it can be difficult to focus and concentrate on anything at present. However, learning might provide the distraction needed to ensure a healthy mindset.

“We want to assure all employers that the SECTT team is still here and happy to answer their questions, we will work with them to allow them and their apprentices to get back to work an back on rack as best we can.”

SECTT was established in 1990 by SELECT and Unite the Union in order to mange the SJIB Training Schemes and today, it runs the only industry approved training scheme for electrical installation apprenticeships in Scotland.

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