The vocational training and qualifications landscape is changing fast. Ownership structures, commercial priorities and governance models are increasingly under scrutiny, particularly following the recent acquisition of a large awarding organisation, that recently left hundreds of people facing uncertainty over their roles during the Christmas period. At moments like this, how organisations are structured, and who […]
The BPEC Charity has provided one-off donations to two overseas initiatives delivering vital improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene across Africa. Each organisation has received £1,500 to support practical, on-the-ground work that aligns with our long-standing commitment to public health and plumbing education. These two programmes stood out for the direct, tangible impact they make […]
The construction and building services sectors are facing an unprecedented challenge. We need more skilled people entering our industry, and we need them quickly. But that urgency must never come at the expense of competence, safety or quality. Recent discussions around reforming England’s apprenticeship system have created understandable concern across the sector. Employers, training providers […]
On behalf of the whole BPEC team, I’d like to thank all our customers and partners for their continued support throughout the year. 2025 has been another year of progress for BPEC. We’ve strengthened our position as a trusted partner in skills, training, and assessment across the Building Services Engineering sector, while remaining true to […]
Here’s a reminder that the latest edition of the BPEC Brief is now available. For anyone unfamiliar, the BPEC Brief is our industry round-up created by the BPEC Charity. We do the research and the collation, so you don’t have to. It’s designed to save our readers time while keeping them informed about what actually […]
On 6 October 2025, apprentices on the Fire, Emergency & Security Systems (FESS) standard began their End-Point Assessment at BPEC’s new purpose-built facility in Derby, a significant step forward in making high-quality EPA more accessible across the Midlands. The centre’s location offers a real advantage for employers and training providers both north and south of […]
Funding to support new National Occupational Standards, the Scottish apprenticeship framework, and a new assessment strategy. BPEC is proud to be supporting training and skills development across the UK plumbing and heating profession, by investing £15,000 to support the recently completed revision of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for plumbing and heating, and to help […]
BPEC has announced it will continue its corporate support for the Lighthouse Charity for a further year, reinforcing its commitment to the emotional, physical and financial wellbeing of construction workers and their families. The Lighthouse Charity, established almost 70 years ago, is widely respected across the construction sector for the breadth and impact of its […]
BPEC is proud to announce its support for Toilet Twinning, an initiative run by Tearfund that helps transform lives by funding safe toilets, clean water and hygiene education in some of the world’s poorest communities. Following a proposal from Mark Antrobus and with unanimous support from the other BPEC Charity trustees, all toilets at our […]
BPEC is proud to congratulate two of its approved centres – Wigan & Leigh College and Leeds College of Building – on being named among the first ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges in England. This prestigious recognition is part of a £100 million government drive to boost construction skills and strengthen the future workforce. Both […]
On Saturday 12 July, BPEC proudly supported Warriors of Warmth a Nottingham-based initiative tackling fuel poverty by providing free plumbing and heating services to those in need. Warriors of Warmth, founded by heating engineer Jonathon Hallam, brings together volunteer engineers and apprentices to carry out vital repairs and installations for charities, shelters, and community spaces. […]
BPEC marked the retirement of long-serving Board member Raymond Leslie on 18 June, as he stepped down from his position as Director for BPEC Services. The presentation took place during his final Board Meeting, held at the SNIPEF offices in Edinburgh, where he was presented with a gift by Duncan Wilson in recognition of his […]
The Department for Education has launched its Construction Technical Excellence Colleges initiative, and we believe many of our centres are well placed to apply. This is a major opportunity to lead the way in technical education for construction and building services. The government is selecting up to ten Further Education colleges in England to become […]