Home > News > June 2004 > 17-Jun-2004

A spark-ling accolade for British Gas

British Gas Engineering Academy which trains budding engineers is celebrating its success after being awarded a grade 1 'outstanding' by the government's Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI).

The Academy, which is part of British Gas, and has two main training centres in Leeds and in Basingstoke, was awarded the highest grade 1 - achieved only by a handful of training organisations in the country - for its Construction programme.

Of the 502 learners, all of whom are working towards an advanced modern apprenticeship, 369 are on the domestic gas maintenance training programme and 133 are on the domestic installation training programme.

The Academy was formed in January 2003 after the gas industry flagged up an acute skills gap. Since its inception, The Academy has provided an opportunity for learners from up and down the country to train and develop them into professional engineers.

24 year-old trainee service engineer, Tom Hartshorne, said, "I can honestly say I haven't regretted for one moment my decision to start a career with British Gas. The level and quality of the training is excellent with up-to-date workshops and equipment. The support I have received from all levels at the training centre and on the district has been of the highest standard."

Emma Burtenshaw, aged 18, who began her training in December 2003, said, "I am enjoying it as I learn new things every day. I love doing the job as it's never boring and always different every day."

Richard Nuthall, training manager at the British Gas Engineering Academy in Basingstoke, commented, "It is clear that as a training provider, British Gas has given its total commitment to providing the best possible training to meet the needs of our future Service Engineers, throughout their modern apprenticeship. We do this by sharing best practice and fully utilising the most modern training equipment and facilities".

He added: "I believe we received an outstanding grade from the Adult Learning Inspectorate because we look at what we do, and work to continuously improve our processes in order to give maximum benefit to the candidates and company."

David Sherlock, Chief Inspector of Adult Learning, said: "We make an independent assessment and are really pleased to report that learners at British Gas Engineering Academy are benefiting from the organisation's high quality approach. When people improve their skills and achieve their qualifications they benefit their organisation, their communities and themselves."

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