Open Day 2018

Friday saw the first of our two open days for this year, which saw the usual numbers coming in to have a chat about their requirements and to look around, meet the staff and generally get acquainted.

The rush meant that we weren’t able to demonstrate water boiling at 23°C this year but hopefully we will do that at our next one.

Yes, refrigeration systems CAN heat water!

We had plenty of interest in the new 6090 Diploma as well as our ten day New Starter course, a great place for those plumber, heating engineers, gas fitter, wishing to add to their skill set.

Looking forward to doing it all again on Monday 25^th June, hope to see you here?

A Momentous Day at Ellis Training Works!!

Our first Level 3 6090 group finished their City & Guilds Diploma in RACHP, which was very exciting for them and us.  It’s an emotional time for us all when we say goodbye to our students, especially when their journey with us has spanned three years, seen them grow in their knowledge and mature as ‘real’ RAC engineers, real because when we asked what bits they liked best the following topics were mentioned:

·         Refrigeration and Air Conditioning heat load calculations and equipment selection and balancing

·         Using P-h diagrams for a range of refrigerants to select the most effective Retrofill alternative for high GWP refrigerants like R404A

·         Plotting and using psychrometric charts for performance testing evaporators on VRF systems

·         Commissioning and testing multi evaporator/multi compressor complex systems, ducted air systems and water to water heat pumps systems

·         Testing and fault finding 3 phase electrical systems

Not all did their Level 2 with us and those that didn’t did a bit of pre-course preparation but as an old hand at this training, I have rarely been able to work with such a dedicated, hardworking, enthusiastic group as this.  We’ve pushed them hard, through an intensive work programme developing their basic principles to a stage where they can and do apply their knowledge thoughtfully and thoroughly.  I’m proud of them, very proud of them, and it’s been a privilege to work with them!

There are those, who should know better, that are tempted to be disrespectful about modern training qualifications but when they have experienced the City & Guilds 6090 Level 2 and Level 3 I’m sure they will see the light.  These are truly qualifications for the future.

Yes, they’ve got the tee-shirt but very much more.  Remember these faces, they are the future of the RAC industry!

6090 Diploma Continued.

We have just enrolled our first group of 6090 students at Level 2, having previously enrolled this years Level 3 candidates onto it too!

Being one of the first colleges to have enrolled students onto this course, we were extremely excited about updating our old 7189 Diploma courses to the new one, albeit it only needed a few tweaks here and there.

What is even more exciting to us is that unlike the funded Apprenticeship that the colleges have to offer to receive the funding from Government, as an Independent Provider we can offer a Level 2 only Diploma, and then follow it with the Level 3 if required.

What does this mean in practice?

If a company wishes to send their apprentice to college on a government funded course, they must have a contract with the college and agree to support their apprentice for the whole three years of the course which is great, however there are many potential apprentices who may not be willing or able to commit to three years.  The student must have or achieve a pass in Maths and English to be able to complete their apprenticeship and this is often a requirement that the colleges insist on prior to enrolment.  The company will have a contract with their apprentice which guarantees 80% of their time is spent working with an experienced engineer/mentor who is giving them ‘on the job training’ and the other 20% is spent in college, off ‘the job’.  It’s obviously very prescriptive and of course it must be as its tax payer’s/levy payer’s money that is being spent.

There is a workbook to complete by the end of the programme and an End Point Assessment which MUST be passed.

Of course, there will be sanctions applied to any college/training provider or company who are unable to comply with these requirements.

How does this impact us?

We are lucky enough to be able to stay with our mantra ‘if you are keen to learn, we are keen to train you’.  We have chosen not to take the funding available to us, preferring freedom from bureaucracy.  This means our results are not driven by the funding, we can concentrate on the quality of our training delivery.

There are no entry requirements or for Maths and English unless the student wants it.

While we would like you to assist your apprentice by giving him support and training with an experienced engineer, you aren’t contracted to this.

You don’t have to commit your apprentice to the whole three years of the programme.

There are no sanctions if you or your apprentice fails.

They don’t have to take the End Point Assessment unless they really want to.

Successful candidates would have a Level 2 and/or a Level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps.

We can be far more ‘laid back’ about our approach as you would expect of any private provider, while still offering the full package, small class sizes and top-quality teaching and learning, in a fully equipped training centre.

It’s a very true saying ‘you only get what you pay for’.

New Website Launched

We are excited to announce our New Website which went live today!

Our website now also features our new Logo which we think you will agree is very much of today.

While we are still tweaking it, we think that the overall design showcases us for what we are, a quality training company who put the learning of our students first.

Using our new website we intend to offer more courses, more information, more photos of our Training Centre and a monthly ‘Hints, Tips and Discounts’ item to those who subscribe, to help out there in the real world with real problems.  So sign up, get involved, get informed.

Update: City & Guilds 6090 Trailblazer qualification

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, we have been very enthusiastic supporters of the government’s new ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeship standards. These standards have been developed by employer and consultant groups known as ‘trailblazers’ and I have been pleased to make a contribution to the development of a new apprenticeship standard for our own industry.

One of the things that excites me most about the new City & Guilds 6090 qualification single Level 3 Apprenticeship course is that it represents a shift in emphasis – away from the old model of knowledge acquisition and regurgitation and back to an emphasis on knowledge acquisition, application and use, while being employed and trained as an Apprentice.

This kind of approach to training and assessment promises to deliver tremendous value to our industry – producing technicians and engineers with enhanced competence and greater skill levels, better equipped than ever to deal with practical challenges in the course of their everyday work.

For example, where trainees in the past might have been asked to ‘define the gas laws’, they are now asked to ‘use the gas laws when tight testing a system’. So, there is greater emphasis on the integration of the 80% ‘on the job’ with the 20% ‘off the job’ training time, with collaboration between employers and training colleges, as evidenced in the newly altered, synoptic approach to Endpoint Assessment.

At the time of writing this, Ellis Training Works is still the only training organisation listed on the Register of Approved Training Providers to deliver the new RACHP Apprenticeship C&G 6090 programme to employees of levy-paying companies. (We are still hopeful that we may acquire funding to be made available to non-levy paying companies, but we are not entirely certain at this stage).

As recently as June this year, the government altered the rules with regard to Endpoint Assessments, meaning that training centres and employers have not had much time to respond. As a result, nobody has really been in a position to go forward.

Our Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme was submitted to Ofqual, the Government Regulator, before these rule changes were made, so it will have to now be reassessed in the light of the new rules. I take the view that training and qualifications are an ever-changing process, and that government action in tightening rules can actually help to safeguard the funding process.

So at this stage we are very much looking forward to starting with the nee RACHP Apprenticeship qualification. I will keep you updated on progress!

John

City & Guilds 7189 Diploma course enrolling for 2nd October

We have two places available for our City & Guilds 7189 course – Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps Systems Level 2 – starting on October 2 2017.

This course, which runs for 30 days per year for two years, is the recognised industry standard qualification for people looking to begin or enhance their career in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps.

Among the many advantages of undertaking your training with Ellis Training is the fact that we teach in a workshop environment and the training is very much ‘hands on’. Candidates undertaking the course will be able to demonstrate their practical skills in:

* Brazing

* Electrics

* Installation

* Commissioning

* Service & maintenance

* Fault finding

Assessment is through 6 online C&G exams and a series of practical assignments.

Vacancy: Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Trainer/Teacher

Due to ongoing expansion, Ellis Training Works has a full-time vacancy for a trainer/teacher in refrigeration and air conditioning.

This post involves practical, hands-on training in a workshop environment.

The successful applicant will have at least 10 years experience in the trade, a minimum of Level 3 NVQ or equivalent in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Ideally, they would also have assessor and internal verifier qualifications, although training can be provided for the right candidate.

Is this you? If you’re interested in applying, please send your CV to Ellis Training Works

Ellis is the first training organisation registered for new Apprenticeship qualification

There have been some exciting things going on in the world of Apprenticeship training. In keeping with the recommendations of the Richards Review of some years ago, we have been working to develop a new ‘Trailblazer’ qualification – City & Guilds 6090: Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems Engineering Technician.

Around five years ago, in its Richards Report, the government recognised the fact that there were qualifications out there which had been put together by various groups of people but which were not necessarily what employers wanted their apprentices to have by way of qualifications.

Many different industries have responded to the recommendations of the Richards report, which flagged up the need for qualifications written by employers, our own industry included. This is the background of the 6090 qualification.

Any training organisation offering Level 3 RACHP qualifications is entitled to apply for City & Guilds approval to offer this course – and I’m very pleased to say that Ellis Training Works has become the first to be approved and be on the Register of Approved Training Providers (RoATP).

Although, some years ago, we did take funding for our apprentices, a number of factors, including all of the bureaucracy involved, did not make it worthwhile for us to continue so all of our candidates have been privately funded. Happily though, we now have a very different formula.

The new Levy scheme requires employers whose salary bill is in excess of £3m to pay into a Training Levy, with these contributions being used to pay for apprentice training. Among the many benefits of this new scheme is the fact that it will result in an increase in the number of skilled people in the workforce. We think it’s a fantastic thing and we are very excited by all of this.

Ellis Training Works is now approved to take apprentices from Levy paying employers, and although the majority of employers in our industry are non Levy paying, we fully expect, that come January, we will be able to take apprentices from these companies too. In this instance, the apprentices will be partially funded by the employer, with the remainder being met by the Skills Funding Agency.

So as you can see, all of this represents quite a turnaround. The new arrangements stand to make a hugely positive impact on our industry. Personally, I don’t think enough has been made of this – we’ll certainly do our bit to spread the word.

In my next post, I’ll share more about the background, rationale and content of the new 6090 Trailblazer qualification.

With best wishes,

John

Can our new system give us Legionnaire’s disease?

Advice for installers

If you’re an air conditioning installer or mechanic, you won’t be surprised at how often air conditioning installers are asked by customers if their new equipment puts them at risk of catching Legionnaire’s disease.

You know the answer to this question is ‘of course not’. But a bit of background information might also come in handy, so here’s some reassuring information to give to customers when they ask you about the disease and all that they may have heard about its supposed links to air conditioning.

Legionnaire’s disease – NOT directly from air conditioning systems

The first point to make is to do with how people actually contract Legionnaire’s disease. This is through inhaling Legionella bacteria held in airbound droplets of contaminated water.

Air conditioners don’t actually have any water in their systems so they can’t actually produce any of these bacteria. The only thing air conditioning systems could do is spread bacteria around a building.

So where does the disease originate?

The Legionella bacteria thrive in conditions where water is recirculated and kept in temperatures between 25° C – and 45° C – often in cooling towers, spas and humidifiers, and usually in older systems that have not been properly maintained.

Having said all this, it’s also important to point out that the disease is actually quite rare, and the risks are fairly minimal, which is why there is always such a lot of publicity when there is an outbreak.

Preventing Legionnaire’s disease

When customers ask you what they can do to minimise the risk of Legionnaire’s disease, point out that any water systems must be regularly cleaned to prevent any kind of organic growth, such as mould.  If water is stored between 25° C – and 45° C it’s a good idea to increase the temperature fairly regularly, for short periods, over 60^OC.

The fact that there isn’t a connection between air conditioning systems and contracting Legionnaire’s disease doesn’t stop the myth from spreading, so hopefully the information here will help you to explain things to customers who might be worried or concerned about it…..

(Some very large air conditioning systems have water cooled outdoor units which utilize cooling towers, which may be the source of Legionella bacterium of not properly maintained.)

New hazards in refrigerant handling

While the topic of refrigerant hazards has always been important, right now it is more important than ever.

Refrigerants have always had their own hazards, but now, as we move away from hydro-fluorocarbons there are even more potential dangers that we must take into account.

A new era for refrigerants

Reducing fluorine in refrigerants actually increases their flammability. We are now moving into an era where we will be dealing with flammable refrigerants much more than we ever did before. Thus, working practices must be modified, to ensure maximum safety during handling.

This is particularly relevant to the task of un-brazing compressors. When we un-braze, we introduce a flame into a situation where there may be a flammable substance mixed with air. So of course, there is a risk of fire – and in worst possible cases, an explosion.

Whenever we recover systems, there is a residual amount of refrigerant left in the system, together with the compressor oil. Thus, when we heat up the joints on the compressor in order to change it – if it is faulty for example – there is a risk that as we apply heat to the compressor body, the combination of the oil fumes and the refrigerant vapour will reach a flashpoint. This could result in considerable personal injury in the form of burns.

Developing universal procedures

Having removed the refrigerant and taken it down to atmospheric pressure, the system must be evacuated before filling with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure to ensure no oxygen is present in the system. Right around the world, at various events, work is under way to develop universal procedures for preparing compressor bodies for removal.

As we move forward, there needs to be general awareness of the fact that just about all refrigerants will be flammable, and some highly so. In all situations, operatives must be fully aware of all potential hazards associated with this, even when some refrigerants have a lower level of flammability – it is important never to be complacent.

Training – more important than ever 

In systems involving non-flammable refrigerants, fumes from oil elements still constitute a hazard. Refrigerants will sometimes produce toxic fumes when they break down. Because these fumes are heavier than air, they displace air, and are therefore potentially asphyxiating substances.

Although refrigerant hazards have been with us for as long as any of us in the industry can remember, it is absolutely crucial that we are aware of the changes concerning flammability and that we develop appropriate procedures to maximise safety at all times.

How our training makes a lasting difference

Ellis Training Works founder and MD John Ellis explains the strapline: ‘Committed to education, not just passing exams’.

We say our training is about education, not just passing exams. Here are a few thoughts about what we actually mean by this statement.

When we sat down with our marketing people to look at how to promote the courses we offer at Ellis Training Works, it turned out to be a very useful experience, because it forced us to look at what is most important in the training we provide.

Ellis Training Works is certainly in the business of imparting skills and awarding certification. But our ‘unique selling point’ is to do with something far more important and valuable than that – it’s about knowledge.

The difference between knowledge and skills is the difference between what someone is doing, and why they’re doing it.

Having the skill to do the practical things is important but pretty straight forward, most people can be taught to braze, make joints, fit gauges, add refrigerant, recover refrigerants and so on, quite quickly. Once a person has the ‘skills’, they can use them pretty much for ever. But, they will be reliant on someone who has the ‘knowledge to tell them which skills to use and when.

For example when a faulty system is reported it requires someone with sufficient ‘knowledge’ of the system and the refrigerant properties, air properties and or electrical systems to diagnose the fault using their knowledge before the skills can be put to use.

Our aim is to provide sufficient skills and knowledge in the short time that people are with us in the training centre so that they can practice and develop them while at work.

Ellis Training Works puts great emphasis on equipping trainees with the kind of understanding that will allow them to use their knowledge and their skills to solve problems. It’s not necessarily something you can convey quickly or instantly and it does depend on having an attitude that brings a genuine thirst for knowledge and an enthusiasm for wanting to know more.

I’ve always loved staying at the forefront of thinking in my industry – it’s what enabled me to start this training company of ours in the first place. Like so many industries, ours is constantly on the move. Continuous developments in technology and updated regulations demand not just new skills, but new understanding. The old scenario, where engineers did their initial training, became certificated and then worked through a long career without any further training, is long gone. And that’s a good thing.

What is really important now, is a kind of incremental, non-stop approach to learning, where engineers, in the course of their work, learn something new almost every day by applying their skill and knowledge. This, more than anything else, is what will ensure a healthy future for the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.

Approved to offer 6090!

We are now approved to offer the new ‘Trailblazer’ qualification for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps and will be doing so from summer this year!

These are exciting times for our industry with this new qualification that can ultimately lead to candidates being considered competent at Engineering Technician Level after completing a three year course.