The HEEST (Household Electrical and Electronic Servicing Training) Forum met again at AMDEA’s office this month to discuss with SummitSkills and City & Guilds the progress being made with the new apprenticeship framework for England.

The HEEST application to form a Trailblazer Group was accepted by the Government in the spring and the Employers’ Group has been working to develop the draft standard.

A minimum of 10 companies of varying size are required by the scheme and HEEST has assembled a group of employers who provide an excellent cross-section of our sector in the UK.

Consideration needs to be given to how the new framework for England would affect other parts of the UK where the existing systems are continuing – increasing differences in approach between the different devolved administrations are presenting challenges in unexpected areas.