Throughout 2024, the Joint Industry Board (JIB) has been working on standards for panel builders to better support companies and individuals in this part of the industry.
This included the development of an Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) via a regulated qualification - the EAL Level 3 Panel Wiring for Engineering Applications. This was approved in September 2024 and provides a way for individuals, who had many years of experience but no formal qualification, to be assessed to gold card standard. Read more on this development
here.
This update was made to improve competency requirements under the scope of the Building Safety Regulator. Development of a sector specific competence framework, in this area, is expected to start shortly.
The ECS Industry Group, which was set up for this review, has undertaken further work on other current apprenticeship standards. The Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician (MOET) apprenticeship route has been approved for Panel Builders since 2017, but other current offerings covered much of the same scope. Apprentices who have completed the newly refreshed Level 3 Engineering Fitter (Electrical pathway) apprenticeship will now also be eligible for an ECS Panel Builder Card. The ECS Technical Evaluation Group and ECS Steering Committee examined detailed mapping of the scope and breadth of the 42-month Engineering Fitter apprenticeship. Finding it directly comparable with the ECS standard for Panel Builders, it was approved as a new route.
Find out more about how to apply for an ECS card for yourself or your employees here
Ready to Apply? | Electrotechnical Certification Scheme.