The Association of Electrical Wholesalers (AEW) recently launched a staff training
programme for its members in conjunction with the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the UK.
“Over 100 learners from almost 30 AEW-affiliated branches have already signed up to take part in the programme,” said AEW Administrator Ken Legros. “We have made a fantastic start and we look forward to seeing more and more learners joining the programme over the coming months.”
The training initiative is comprised of 12 individual modules:
1. Introduction to the Principles of Electricity
2. Lighting – Introduction
3. Lighting – Systems and Controls
4. Heating and Ventilation
5. Fire Safety and Security Systems
6. Wiring Devices and Controls
7. Renewables
8. Industrial Controls
9. Distribution, Switchgear and Protection
10. IT and Data Infrastructure
11. Cables and Cable Management
12. Customer Services
Each module costs £130, which covers the cost of the module itself, administration expenses at the IET, postage and packaging, the online exam and the City & Guilds accreditation.
“All in all, this is great value”, added Ken, “and I am delighted to announce that the Electrical Industries Federation of Ireland (EIFI) has made a significant donation to the AEW from its Education Bursary Fund, which will be passed on by the AEW to its participating members in the form of a subsidy on each module ordered during the launch period. The AEW is extremely grateful to the EIFI for their generous support.”
Get started
To get started on the programme, a manager at an AEW-affiliated branch invites a member of staff to choose one of the 12 modules on offer. They then complete a Manager Form and a Learner Form and email these forms to Ken Legros at admin@iebg.ie. On a monthly basis, Ken collates all the Manager and Learner Forms received during that month and submits them in batch format to the IET on the first day of the following month.
Modules are then posted to branch managers by the IET for distribution to learners, who can study them at their own pace. “In these days of Covid restrictions, this training programme is the ideal way to upskill your staff,” continued Ken, “as it provides them with an opportunity to self-learn in the comfort and safety of their own homes or at their work places. Following the online exam, every successful learner receives a City & Guilds certificate with a Pass, Credit or Distinction grade.”
This training initiative is very flexible for both manager and learner. Managers can choose how many learners they want to include in the programme and, in conjunction with their managers, learners can choose which modules they want to study and also in what order they would like to study them. Although the programme best suits customer-facing staff, it can also be used to help prepare a non-customer-facing employee such as a warehouse operative for a customer-facing role at the trade counter, for example. Similarly, it can be used as part of an induction programme for new starters; as part of a graduate training initiative for less experienced staff, or as a refresher course for staff with plenty of experience.
“This is the most ambitious training programme that the AEW has ever embarked upon and we look forward to providing our members and their staff with these vital educational opportunities for many years to come,” said Ken in conclusion.
For more information regarding the programme, contact Ken Legros, T: +353 (0)85 207 2761 E: admin@iebg.ie
