Laying the groundwork for the future

With the construction industry facing a significant skills shortage, it’s especially important that plans are in place to attract and encourage talented young professionals to begin careers in building controls. This is especially pertinent given the increasing need for smarter and more energy efficient buildings writes Stacey Lucas, President of the Building Controls Industry Association.

That is exactly why the BCIA, in partnership with national training provider, Group Horizon Ltd, introduced the BEMS Controls Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship back in 2021 – the only focused apprenticeship available to the building controls sector.

Three years on, the first cohorts of this scheme will soon be formally qualified as Level 4 BEMS Controls Engineers.

As an organisation that focused on individual development and nurturing the future of the industry, the BCIA very much acknowledges the need for a dedicated approach to apprenticeships, training, and ongoing support.

The aim of the apprenticeship scheme, and accompanying End Point Assessment, is to ensure talented BEMS Controls Engineers are able to use the technical skills they learn on the scheme to keep the buildings of tomorrow running as efficiently as possible. Furthermore, this will help to reduce the built environment’s carbon emissions and ensure a healthier, greener, and more cost-effective construction industry.

With the first cohorts approaching formal qualification in just a few months’ time, it’s important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that’s been put in, not only by the apprentices and their employers, but the trainers and End Point Assessors, too.

The close collaboration between all involved has been so pleasing to see and really highlights the drive and determination to reduce the skills gap and help apprentices obtain a high level of technical competence for the betterment of the industry.

In fact, the apprenticeship scheme, and EPA, works in a similar way to the Experienced Worker Assessment, which was brought in following the news that the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) would no longer be issuing cards under industry accreditation – also known as Grandfather Rights.

With trusted and reliable ways of proving competence at both the start and latter years of a building controls career, it will be much easier to drive up competency throughout the construction industry and reduce the chance of tragic incidents like Grenfell Tower happening again.

The incredible demand for places in the apprenticeship scheme also reflects the desire to improve service quality and enhance knowledge across the sector. The total number of apprentices on the programme is around 180 and the 16th cohort has just commenced. As I mentioned above, the first three cohorts, totalling 45 apprentices, are currently approaching gateway between now and January.

The demand is such that there are typically two to three cohorts per year, each featuring around 20 apprentices. So, the rolling number of apprentices in training will sit at around 200. This is a great pipeline for the industry and illustrates the potentially bright future ahead – provided this talent is supported, encouraged, and nurtured.

I spoke at this year’s BCIA Awards evening about the need for more experienced and dedicated industry professionals to become End Point Assessors – and while we’ve got a good number of industry assessors, we still need more. We currently have positions available for assessors in the North East, North West, and South West regions, so if you’re interested in helping expand the knowledge of talented young professionals – and you’re not already involved in another training capacity – the BCIA would love to hear from you.

Talking of the BCIA Awards leads me neatly on to next year’s event. Now just a few months away (with how quickly this year has gone, it will be with us in no time), the BCIA Awards 2025 entries are now open. With 10 categories available and competition expected to be as fierce as ever, the evening promises to be an exceptional spectacle and one that will shine a spotlight on the incredible talent and innovation throughout the building controls sector. If you would like to enter one or more of the award categories, you can do so by using the online entry system, which will allow you to start, edit, view, and download your entry before submitting it.

Tickets and tables are also available, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to attend. The BCIA Awards 2025 looks set to be the biggest and best yet, so it won’t be one to miss!