Dan Woods, ECS Industry Engagement Manager has been in the West Midlands to champion skills and competence in the Electrotechnical Training and Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) sector.
On 9 April Dan attended an event organised by the Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA) to discuss how organisations can collaborate to improve apprenticeships in the West Midlands. He joined professionals from Unite the Union, ECA, West Midlands Combined Authority, Colleges West Midlands, Birmingham Electrical Training, City & Guilds, EAL, NICEIC, Actemium UK, West Midlands Electrical Installations Ltd and RS Electrical Ltd. Constructive conversations were centred on making best use of funding from the
Government’s recent announcement, on training routes for existing workers and strategies to ensure that electrical students and apprentices qualify with the competences required to fill the skills gap.
The following day, Dan attended the Fire and Safety Event at the NEC in Birmingham, where he supported Trevor Jenks, National Training Manager at Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), and Kevin Faulkner, Chair of Fire, Emergency and Security Systems Employer Group, Banham Security, in the panel discussion on the challenges and routes to achieving competence in the FESS sector.
As part of the discussion there was focus on the Building Safety Regulator and BS5839-1 2025 updates and their impact on the ECS FESS Operative test. This included details about FESS Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) and routes to obtaining an
ECS FESS Gold card.
Speaking on the value of attending both events, Dan said: “
To address the Skills gap within the FESS sector and the wider industry it is essential that those representing the workforce and employers join with those setting standards and providing training find workable solutions. It’s equally important that regional challenges and opportunities are considered. These events were particularly valuable because we were able to focus on what is needed and in the West Midlands and how this can be achieved locally.”
The Joint Industry Board (JIB) is hosting a Forum in the West Midlands on
Tuesday 03 June 2025 to discuss procurement and social value. Register to attend the forum
here.