Level 3 Plumbing & Heating

Pathway: Renewables Technology

Duration: 36 months

Attendance: Weekly

The apprenticeship will provide employers with a plumber who has the knowledge and skills to understand and design complex installations to achieve optimum efficiency for the home as well as a range of renewable heat technologies.

Course Content

This apprenticeship combination will provide employers with a multi-skilled engineer who has the knowledge and skills to understand and design complex plumbing installations to achieve optimum efficiency for the home or premises, as well as install and maintain a range of renewable heat source technologies including air source, ground source, solar thermal and grey water systems.

Evidence

Apprentices will build and develop a portfolio of evidence when at the centre and onsite to prove competence and evidence the 20% OTJ required that will also be showcased at End Point Assessment to level 3 standard.

  • Year 1 and 2 plumbing studies include developing the knowledge and skills in health and safety, core plumbing, electrical components, and control systems, principles of environmental technologies as well as fossil fuels, customer service, communication, and key behaviours required for the industry and supervisory skills.

  • Year 3 will focus on understanding the principles of selection, installation, testing, commissioning, service and maintenance techniques on solar thermal, ground and air source heat pumps, and water recycling systems.

  • Direct Observations: Across the three years, assessors will also conduct between 6-8 on-site observations

End Point Assessment (EPA)

Apprentices will build and develop a portfolio of evidence when at the centre and on-site to prove competence and evidence the 20% OTJ required that will also be showcased at End Point Assessment to level 3 standard.

End Point Assessment: upon completion of all learning and evidence, the apprentice will be entered into EPA. Upon successful completion of EPA the apprentice will have achieved the apprenticeship standard. The EPA will be completed by an external End Point Assessment organisation at the Ignite centre.

Qualifications gained

The Apprenticeship Standard (ST0303), certified by the Insitute of Apprenticeships, City and Guilds Level 3 in Plumbing and Heating, unvented hot water, water regs, legionella, solar thermal, heat pump technology which includes air source and ground source.

Progression

Upon completion of EPA and demonstration of the level 3 standard expected and attitude required, employers and the apprentice will have the option to progress to either:

  • 13 / 15 month domestic gas engineering operative apprenticeship standard (ST0155)

  • 13 / 15 month non-domestic gas engineering operative apprenticeship standard (ST0155)

Domestic: Apprentices will gain a minimum of 4 appliances in the following: CCN1, meters, boilers, fires, cookers, and LPG.

Non-Domestic: Apprentices will gain a minimum of 4 appliances in CORT1, CIGA1, ICPN1, TPCP1A

It is essential that apprentices have the opportunity to undertake a range of gas work and can meet the range across installation, servicing, and repair, or they cannot progress to ACS assessment to achieve Gas Safe registration

EPA: Upon successful completion of ACS apprentices will progress to EPA in month 14 /16

Please note: There will be an additional 5% contribution required to progress to gas by the employer. (currently £1150 STC by the Institute of Apprenticeships), if the apprentice is aged 22 +

Requirements

Characteristics Required:

Focussed, motivated, organised, excellent time management skills and driven, with a willingness to learn and follow the guidance given throughout the apprenticeship by your onsite mentors and the Ignite team.

Pre-requisite Qualifications: Desirable GCSE grades A-C / 4 – 9 in maths and English.

Functional Skills: If the apprentice does not hold a maths and /or English qualification at grade C or level 4 and above, we will assess their current level and provide monthly teaching support by a specialist functional skills coach, to help them achieve. Attendance is mandatory if required.

Employment status: You must be employed a minimum of 30 hours, and able to undertake plumbing work for a minimum of 20% of your time each week.

Employer Contributions:

  • If the apprentice is 16 -21 years old at the time of starting the apprenticeship, there is no employer contribution required and incentives of £1000 are available if the apprentice is 16-18 years old.

  • If the apprentice is 22+ there is an employer contribution of 5% – £1,100 + VAT (STC by the Institute of Apprenticeships.)

  • There is no employer contribution if you are a levy company.