Latest News

Remembering Jack Wishart Everyone at BPEC was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former Group Chairman, Jack Wishart, who died peacefully at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, on Thursday 16 July, aged 82. Jack dedicated an extraordinary 23 years to BPEC as a Director and Trustee, from 1992 until 2015. Having served for several […]

The eight student plumbers who scored most highly across the SkillPLUMB 2026 national qualifying heats have been named: All have now been invited to go head-to-head across the week of 16th November at Bridgend College for the SkillPLUMB 2026 UK Final. In total around 50 WorldSkills UK National Finals will be taking place that week […]

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published the long-awaited Mandatory Competence Framework and accompanying Mandatory Technical Competence (MTC) requirements, marking an important milestone in the continued drive to strengthen competence across the building services sector. Following several delays, the publication provides much-needed clarity for Competent Person Scheme operators, industry bodies, awarding organisations, manufacturers, employers and […]

BPEC enjoyed a productive and inspiring week at InstallerSHOW 2026 and the inaugural UK-hosted World Plumbing Conference, joining industry leaders, manufacturers, training providers, installers and international delegates at the NEC, Birmingham. For the first time, the World Plumbing Conference was held alongside InstallerSHOW, bringing together a global audience to explore the future of plumbing, heating, […]

It was a busy week in the capital for BPEC, with two visits to London bringing the spotlight firmly onto the future of the building services engineering workforce, and the apprentices who will shape it. Westminster: plugging the skills gap – Monday 08 June 2026 The week began at the House of Commons, where BPEC’s […]

BPEC is pleased to provide our training centres and FE partners with the latest edition of the BPEC Brief. The e-newsletter – which features highlights of the latest industry training news and policy updates – is produced by the BPEC Charity and aimed at anyone involved in the plumbing & heating industry working across the […]

BPEC’s Senior Leadership Team recently met at Chesterfield College, with the College hosting the session within its well-equipped training facilities and providing a warm welcome to the team. The visit offered an opportunity to see first-hand the quality of the learning environment and the delivery taking place across the College’s provision. From modern workshop spaces […]

The Department for Education’s decision to delay the defunding of certain qualifications until the 2026–27 academic year at the earliest is a welcome and pragmatic step. Technical qualifications have long played an important role in developing practical skills and supporting progression into apprenticeships, further study and skilled employment. In sectors such as engineering, construction and […]

A meeting on World Plumbing Day between Neil Collishaw, Chief Executive of BPEC, and Louchavan Lemard, Director of PH247, highlighted the powerful role the plumbing and heating profession can play in changing lives. The two had connected on social media before meeting in person during Louchavan’s visit to the Midlands, quickly recognising shared values around […]

The BPEC Charity has published its annual Year in Review to profile its wide-ranging and significant work to support plumbing and heating skills development over the last 12 months.  BPEC continually invests in projects focused on raising standards, supporting the training and development of plumbing operatives and encouraging leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation. The charity is self-sustaining and […]

We’re pleased to share the Spring 2026 edition of Spotlight, your go-to source for industry updates from BPEC. In this issue, you’ll find the latest company news, key insights and important developments from across the sector. We get to know Kev Clark from our senior leadership team, take a look at the BPEC Charity’s activities, […]

On behalf of Capita and the Health and Safety Executive, Talan are delivering a student engagement trial designed to support learners as they progress toward joining the Gas Safe Register. The aim of this trial is to strengthen learners’ understanding of gas safety standards, improve visibility of the Gas Safe Register, and support trainees to […]

Talented student plumbers are being encouraged to enter this year’s SkillPLUMB competition. The registration window is open now and runs until 27 March.   During the competition, entrants will be judged on a series of challenging practical tests in a bid to be named the 2026 SkillPLUMB champion. The event is the only industry competition aligned […]

A week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Kev Clark, BPEC’s Head of Technical Operations gives an insight into why he believes apprenticeships matter. From Apprentice to Shaping the Future of the Trade […]

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 […]

The SkillPLUMB 2025 UK Champion and gold medal winner has been named as Dillon Newton of the Cornwall College Group.  The silver medal was awarded to Jackson Gill of New College Durham and CGE Yorkshire Ltd; while bronze medal went to Jack Fenton of Belfast Metropolitan College and Ian Reid Heating.  Across two and a […]

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 […]