Business Edge warns on training budgets as F Gas requirements come in
Business Edge is well advanced in its plans to deliver a new training course to C&G 2079, which will form the basis of F Gas competence training.
Companies facing tightening economic conditions have been warned not to cut their training budgets by a leading UK provider. Mike Creamer, managing director of Business Edge, says, ‘When trade is tight, companies instinctively cut back on marketing and training. On one level, it’s an understandable knee-jerk reaction. The truth is, however, it’s a false economy on both counts — particularly with the new F Gas requirements now coming on stream. Enlightened companies will see this as an opportunity to raise their game and equip their engineers for the new ACR profession emerging. Firms who hang back are going to be outpaced and outclassed by those who see F Gas training as a golden opportunity to steal a march on their competitors. ‘The truth is, there simply isn’t the capacity in the UK to cope with the 30 000 to 40 000 people who need training under F Gas. Those who find themselves at the back of the queue are going to be there a long time and miss out.’ The F Gas regulation requires all those who work with refrigerant or break into systems to have a compulsory qualification. City & Guilds recently agreed the content of the new course, C&G 2079, which will form the basis of F Gas competence training. There are four different levels, reflecting the various activities that relate to working with F Gases. Most RAC engineers will require a Category 1 certificate, which covers service, maintenance, installation, commissioning and leak checking in stationary equipment. It requires candidates to pass a practical and theoretical assessment. Business Edge is among the first training providers in the UK to apply for C&G accreditation to offer the new 2079 course. Its 9-day modular course already covers much of the practical and theoretical content required under the F Gas Regulation. Training manager Kelvin Kelly says, ‘We are well advanced in our plans to deliver the new course and already have a waiting list of forward-thinking companies keen to train their engineers to the new standard. We believe it will raise the game of the trade as a whole and make a big difference to the standard of RAC engineering in the UK.
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