SELECT training courses bring building standards professionals up to speed with certification

The courses, created at the request of the authorities, have been run in conjunction with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), to give interested parties a clearer understanding of compliance requirements, particularly relating to certification.

Attended by up to 30 people a day, the intensive sessions have been run last week (w/b Feb 8) for local authority consortia groups in Dundee, Aberdeen and Highland and this week (w/b Feb 15) in the Clyde Valley, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. More courses will be held next week (w/b Feb 22).

There are seven local authority consortia groups in Scotland, covering the 32 individual authorities. They have been set up to discuss and deal with matters of common interest in their areas.

Dave Forrester, Head of Technical Services at SELECT who has been running the courses with NICEIC, said: "There was a perceived need among local authorities for a deeper understanding of the inspection processes.

"They were keen to improve their knowledge pool, particularly regarding certification of electrical installation. The courses are designed to help practitioners with information about the certificates they receive from SELECT members.

"The professionals within the building standards sector want to be sure certification is compliant and acceptable, so that they, in turn, can issue the necessary completion certificates for particular projects."

Mr Forrester said the attendees at the courses are made up of members of local authority building control departments, surveyors and administrators - a mix of office based and on-site personnel.

He said: "The feedback we have received has been absolutely excellent. It is clear that these courses have filled a need and SELECT is delighted to have been able to enhance its relationship with local authority professionals."

SELECT's courses have gained a strong reputation within the construction sector in Scotland, because they are relevant, practical and based on the experience of some of the foremost experts in the field.