New pipeline training centre to be built
UK Pipelines is to launch a new training centre at its Sheffield headquarters in a bid to boost skill levels in the draininage and pipeline sector.
The online drainage and pipeline retailer is working with the EU Skills Council and other industry partners to establish a recognised standard for industry training.
From mid-August, the company will be aligning training courses at its new centre with the EU Skills Council’s new Competent Drainage Operative National Register.
Training will be available in the various key roles that exist within the industry, to demonstrate competence and allow individuals to work effectively in terms of health and safety and operational techniques.
The launch will see UK Pipelines relocate its current operation to new offices in the Waterthorpe area of Sheffield while its existing premises, in the city’s Attercliffe district, will be transformed into the training centre.
This will allow the company to offer a full range of in-house courses, for which it is seeking approval from City and Guilds and the Health and Safety Executive.
Gavin Kieran, UK Pipelines’ depot manager, said: “There is currently no mechanism available to assess the competence of a drainage operative. It has been acknowledged by the industry that a national occupational standard is required, to ensure customers can identify a company with a skilled workforce and give the sector something to measure the quality of its in-house training against.”
UK Pipelines provides a full range of drainage and pipeline equipment. As the sole UK distributor, the company will be launching the world’s first ‘JetCam’ onto the domestic market in September.
