New Chepstow Training Centre in Synergy with UK Energy Training

By Ian Oultram, managing director, UK Energy Training

UK Energy Training was delighted to acquire Schneider Industries’ training centre at Chepstow, south Wales, in July this year, which had been an integral part of Schneider’s complete vessel concept of supply, delivery, installation and associated lp gas training courses.

Schneider’s parent company took the decision to move all its lpg vessel production to France. All lpg gas vessel manufacturing in Dumfries ceased and the hub was moved to Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, to focus the company’s attention on new lpg vessel sales and refurbishment. The move highlighted Schneider’s training activities as non-core business.

The Chepstow centre, under the guidance of Mike Needham, provided bespoke lp gas training courses, and at UK Energy Training we recognised their expertise in this field and indicated our interest. Robert Cato, managing director of Schneider UK, recognised that both the business and staff at Chepstow had a future.

We see a complementary fit between the two centres - they both have different specialised areas, strengths and abilities. Chepstow’s reputation for providing liquid and vapour courses is renowned; we are pleased that this will carry on, with Mike Needham continuing to utilise the Chepstow centre’s facilities for liquid courses. Equally, UK Energy Training’s centre in north Wales has a reputation amongst the holiday and park home industry as a national provider able to deliver dedicated leisure industry lpg gas courses, which has seen demand grow year on year. The leisure sector, including caravans, motorhomes, holiday and home parks and inland waterways, provides a substantial percentage of our north Wales centre’s business. Our unique mobile assessment unit has allowed us to deliver our lpg courses right across the UK and Ireland, and in France. There are over a hundred caravan parks throughout south Wales, south Midlands and the southwest and now, with our new Chepstow centre, it should be easier and less expensive for prospective customers. We hope to double the over 200 successful candidates who have completed our New Entrants Programme and hold current Gas Safe registration. Many leisure parks, having utilised our New Entrant Programme, are delighted with the outcome of their investment by easing the skills shortage. Some workshop changes and alterations have been made to accommodate additional numbers at the Chepstow centre. We are steadily updating both staff and training contractors with our training and business methods. Rebecca Evans, our office manager in north Wales, has implemented a coordinated strategy for administration, marketing, technical and course availability for both centres. We are able to check all course date, trainer and assessor availability in real time to fulfil customers’ requirements. We have been proactive in promoting our company’s image and services, and Rebecca and Lesley Strawson at Chepstow are working together to ensure Chepstow is no longer the best-kept secret in the lpg training world. UK Energy Training has forged a relationship with Logic Certification, a partnership that is highly beneficial to both our centres and candidates. We are striving to not just meet the required standards, but also raise them for the benefit of the lp gas industry. Therefore, we had no hesitation in moving the Chepstow centre to Logic Certification. I believe we have two of the best lpg gas training and assessment centres anywhere in the UK, both with well proven records. There is tremendous synergy to be achieved by bringing both centres together. With the forthcoming review of routes to gas registration providing differing opportunities, we at UK Energy Training look forward to the many challenges that may come our way.

Contact UK Energy Training on 08456 442039 www.ukenergytraining.co.uk

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