The ECITB is calling for experienced pipefitters and mechanical technicians to help shape the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for pipefitting and mechanical disciplines.
The review of the Installing Plant and Systems – Mechanical and Pipefitting NOS will inform all training, tests and qualifications in those disciplines.
As the standard-setting organisation for engineering construction, the ECITB reviews and updates the NOS every five years.
It is now looking for industry representatives and subject matter experts who have a minimum of two years on-site experience, assessors and employers who are involved in those trades.
The working group, comprising industry experts, will review the existing NOS to identify if there are any significant changes needed and inform what the revised NOS should contain.
The first of three sessions is set to take place in late August. Each session is a half day and may be in person, online or a hybrid.
“National Occupational Standards are the bedrock of our training, tests and qualifications as they specify the required skills, knowledge and understanding for competent performance in various jobs and sectors.
“Industry input into reviewing these will ensure they are tailored specifically to meet the needs of our industry and any training and qualifications in those disciplines remain relevant and future-proofed.
“Participation in the process is a great networking opportunity, a CPD certificate can be awarded against the hours and can be added to CVs or development plans as an achievement.”
Andrew Hockey
CEO at the ECITB
What are NOS and why are they important?
NOS are developed by standard-setting organisations* that consult with employers and other stakeholders across each of the UK nations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England).
This consultation process allows any specific requirements to be considered by each nation and the result is a set of NOS that are suitable for use across the UK.
The NOS are set out in a common format and must be approved on a four-nation basis. Content is scrutinised by the regulators across all four nations of the UK.
Although NOS are developed as individual measures of competence, they are grouped into suites which identify the sector they relate to. There are around 900 suites listed by the UK Standards Agency covering a wide range of sectors.
The NOS can be used for developing skills and knowledge through vocational and other qualifications, frameworks for training programmes, measures of workplace competence and influencing job descriptions.
Find out more on National Occupational Standards
* The ECITB is the standard-setting organisation for engineering construction NOS.
Engineering construction NOS for which the ECITB is the custodian
- Installing Plant & Systems – Mechanical
- Maintaining Plant and Systems – Electric
- Maintaining Plant and Systems – Instrument and Controls
- Maintaining Plant and Systems – Mechanical
- Common NOS
- Installing Plant and Systems – Pipefitting
- Fabricating Steel Structures – Plating
- Constructing Capital Plant Steel Structures – Erecting
- Moving Loads
- Supporting Activities in Engineering Construction
- Design and Draughting
- Project Control, Estimating, Planning, Cost Engineering and Commercial Support Activities
- Welding Plate and Pipework
- Welding Supervision
- Onsite Machining
- Installing, testing and commissioning electrical systems and equipment (plant)
- Installing plant and systems – small bore tubing
- Condition Monitoring
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Project management
- Expediting
- Monitoring Engineering Construction Activities
