Worcester Community Trust is a charity that was set up in 2010 to manage six community centres and other community projects in the most deprived parts of Worcester. Part of the Trust, The Building Block, was created to help locals develop their DIY skills and integrate and socialise with those with similar interests. Its aim is to build confidence, help people learn new skills and even start out on a new career.

The training centre offers a range of skilled courses including bricklaying, plumbing, plastering, tiling and woodwork, all delivered by an approachable team of staff supported by volunteers who are professionals, keen to pass on their knowledge and skills.

The Building Block has recently become an LCL approved centre delivering two electrical qualifications - Essential Electrics and Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment and Domestic Electrical Installer.

Essential Electrics is aimed at heating and refrigeration engineers, providing them with the skills they need to carry out the isolation of heating and refrigeration equipment, safely. LCL’s Domestic Electrical Installer award covers Part P and gives practical training to installers who carry out some electrical work in their day-to-day work, but usually as a secondary role; tasks such as wiring in a boiler, cooker or shower.

LCL’s Andrew Jones (External Verifier) dropped in recently to catch up with Peter Miller, the college’s Construction Skills Manager.

AJ: Hi Peter, how’s it all going?

PM: Great. We’re busy as ever and are now putting our second batch of learners through Essential Electrics.

AJ: Good news. What was it that made you choose LCL for the new electrical qualifications?

PM: Simple really. LCL is the only Certification Body offering the Domestic Electrical Installer course and we felt that this was the one that would best suit our learners. Plus, the fact that the centre registration fee was the most competitive when we were looking to become an electrical training centre.

AJ: How did the set up go? Was LCL able to provide you with the help you needed?

PM: Yes, all the support we needed was given during the process.

AJ: The Trust focuses on empowering members of the local community and offers training to the less fortunate. Who is your typical candidate?

PM: We don’t really have a ‘typical candidate’ but try and cover all bases; whatever people need. We offer a variety of unaccredited training, such as DIY evening courses, and accredited training like yours. The LCL awards are aimed at those already working in, or hoping to enter, the building services industry.

AJ:  How is training funded?

PM: Learners self-fund for LCL and DIY courses.

AJ: And how do you find your candidates?

PM: We advertise through our website, social media and lots of people come via word of mouth; that’s the benefit of working so closely with the community.

AJ: So the community really benefits from the training you supply?

PM: Yes, all of the candidates who have so far completed the Essential Electrics course are already in work and I’m hoping things will work out as well for the next cohort currently taking the award.

AJ: That’s great news, really pleasing; and what about the future?

PM: Yes, it’s good. Now the two electrical qualifications are up and running, we’re hoping to expand the range and offer 18^th Edition in the future along with your Verification & Testing courses.

AJ:  I’m am very pleased to see you are making excellent progress in promoting your courses; your plans for the future sound exciting and will certainly enhance the qualifications you currently offer to benefit the local community.  

For more information about The Building Block, visit: www.worcestercommunitytrust.org.uk/building-block/