‘Meeter and Greeter’

 

I’m known as the ‘Meeter and Greeter’ and I take my responsibly seriously but all I really want is someone to stroke me.

 

Recently I’ve had all number of students patting my head much to my delight but when I smile at them they often back away, but I have no idea why?  I suppose my breath smells occasionally but I really do have pearly whites!

Open Day 2018

Friday saw the first of our two open days for this year, which saw the usual numbers coming in to have a chat about their requirements and to look around, meet the staff and generally get acquainted.

 

The rush meant that we weren’t able to demonstrate water boiling at 23°C this year but hopefully we will do that at our next one.

 

Yes, refrigeration systems CAN heat water!

 

We had plenty of interest in the new 6090 Diploma as well as our ten day New Starter course, a great place for those plumber, heating engineers, gas fitter, wishing to add to their skill set.

 

Looking forward to doing it all again on Monday 25th June, hope to see you here?

Mr Postman

The Postman still doesn’t like me.  Do you know I’ve been working here for over nine years and this one hasn’t come near me, even though I hear them telling him I don’t bite?  He’s a lovely guy but I can’t help putting on an extra show when he arrives, dressed from head to foot in red!  I never could stand red.

A Momentous Day at Ellis Training Works!!

Our first Level 3 6090 group finished their City & Guilds Diploma in RACHP, which was very exciting for them and us.  It’s an emotional time for us all when we say goodbye to our students, especially when their journey with us has spanned three years, seen them grow in their knowledge and mature as ‘real’ RAC engineers, real because when we asked what bits they liked best the following topics were mentioned:

·         Refrigeration and Air Conditioning heat load calculations and equipment selection and balancing

·         Using P-h diagrams for a range of refrigerants to select the most effective Retrofill alternative for high GWP refrigerants like R404A

·         Plotting and using psychrometric charts for performance testing evaporators on VRF systems

·         Commissioning and testing multi evaporator/multi compressor complex systems, ducted air systems and water to water heat pumps systems

·         Testing and fault finding 3 phase electrical systems

Not all did their Level 2 with us and those that didn’t did a bit of pre-course preparation but as an old hand at this training, I have rarely been able to work with such a dedicated, hardworking, enthusiastic group as this.  We’ve pushed them hard, through an intensive work programme developing their basic principles to a stage where they can and do apply their knowledge thoughtfully and thoroughly.  I’m proud of them, very proud of them, and it’s been a privilege to work with them!

There are those, who should know better, that are tempted to be disrespectful about modern training qualifications but when they have experienced the City & Guilds 6090 Level 2 and Level 3 I’m sure they will see the light.  These are truly qualifications for the future.

Yes, they’ve got the tee-shirt but very much more.  Remember these faces, they are the future of the RAC industry!

F Gas Results

While I’m awake thought I’d update you!  We had a group of guys in last week on their F Gas course, a great bunch, and when they came to the office for the results of their on-line exam they were really excited to hear they had passed.  They really made a fuss of me then, just what I like.

6090 Diploma Continued.

We have just enrolled our first group of 6090 students at Level 2, having previously enrolled this years Level 3 candidates onto it too!

Being one of the first colleges to have enrolled students onto this course, we were extremely excited about updating our old 7189 Diploma courses to the new one, albeit it only needed a few tweaks here and there.

What is even more exciting to us is that unlike the funded Apprenticeship that the colleges have to offer to receive the funding from Government, as an Independent Provider we can offer a Level 2 only Diploma, and then follow it with the Level 3 if required.

What does this mean in practice?

If a company wishes to send their apprentice to college on a government funded course, they must have a contract with the college and agree to support their apprentice for the whole three years of the course which is great, however there are many potential apprentices who may not be willing or able to commit to three years.  The student must have or achieve a pass in Maths and English to be able to complete their apprenticeship and this is often a requirement that the colleges insist on prior to enrolment.  The company will have a contract with their apprentice which guarantees 80% of their time is spent working with an experienced engineer/mentor who is giving them ‘on the job training’ and the other 20% is spent in college, off ‘the job’.  It’s obviously very prescriptive and of course it must be as its tax payer’s/levy payer’s money that is being spent.

There is a workbook to complete by the end of the programme and an End Point Assessment which MUST be passed.

Of course, there will be sanctions applied to any college/training provider or company who are unable to comply with these requirements.

How does this impact us?

We are lucky enough to be able to stay with our mantra ‘if you are keen to learn, we are keen to train you’.  We have chosen not to take the funding available to us, preferring freedom from bureaucracy.  This means our results are not driven by the funding, we can concentrate on the quality of our training delivery.

There are no entry requirements or for Maths and English unless the student wants it.

While we would like you to assist your apprentice by giving him support and training with an experienced engineer, you aren’t contracted to this.

You don’t have to commit your apprentice to the whole three years of the programme.

There are no sanctions if you or your apprentice fails.

They don’t have to take the End Point Assessment unless they really want to.

Successful candidates would have a Level 2 and/or a Level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps.

We can be far more ‘laid back’ about our approach as you would expect of any private provider, while still offering the full package, small class sizes and top-quality teaching and learning, in a fully equipped training centre.

It’s a very true saying ‘you only get what you pay for’.

‘Like us on Facebook’

I don’t get paid for all my hard work and effort and not sure if I am entitled to a pension so imagine my dismay when I learnt I couldn’t ‘like us’ on Facebook to win the competition they’re running!

New Website Launched

We are excited to announce our New Website which went live today!

Our website now also features our new Logo which we think you will agree is very much of today.

While we are still tweaking it, we think that the overall design showcases us for what we are, a quality training company who put the learning of our students first.

Using our new website we intend to offer more courses, more information, more photos of our Training Centre and a monthly ‘Hints, Tips and Discounts’ item to those who subscribe, to help out there in the real world with real problems.  So sign up, get involved, get informed.

Snow Day

Didn’t get out much in the snow, how about you?  I overheard ‘them’ saying that it was too dangerous to go too far in case they got run over by a sledge, but don’t think it would have bothered me, I’d have soon run away!

Give us a call for more information


01707 879 879

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