It’s National Apprenticeship Week 2025, one of the many highlights in our calendar.
To celebrate, we’ve got up close and personal with our Apprentice Director, James, who has shared his news and views on the IACS ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ (PIPHU) Apprenticeship.
We’ve invested! In both people and skills development.
By developing the PIPHU apprenticeship, we are promoting the role of a pipeline inspector and this is creating a lot of interest. We are attracting a more diverse group of people into the industry, and we are creating a new generation of pipeline inspectors that are equipped with the exact skills that are demanded by our industry.
Our goal is to train and develop enough apprentices to meet the growing demand for inspectors. There are currently 22 apprentices on the PIPHU scheme and IACS will look to employ 10 – 20 more apprentices in 2025. IACS believes the demand will continue as the UK’s ambitious energy plans take shape in the coming years.
There are clearly defined targets for our apprentices. On the completion of their apprenticeship, the apprentices should hold four BGAS CSWIP inspection qualifications in welding, coating, ultrasonic inspection and magnetic particle inspection. With these four qualifications, the apprentices can work as multi-disciplined inspectors. They can then be employed on site by IACS’ clients.
In addition to the inspection qualifications, the apprentices will have received relevant health and safety training and pioneering hydrogen safety training. Ultimately the apprentices will have all the necessary tools and training to ensure they enjoy a long career in the industry. When they are working as competent and qualified inspectors, we will know the apprenticeship has delivered its objectives!
I wish we’d used the colleges’ know-how and resources a little more. I don’t think any of us appreciated how much the Hopwood Hall College Team, they could help us.
We won’t be making that mistake again!
While it is wonderful to see the apprentices progress and develop as inspectors, it is difficult to say what has made me proudest.
The apprentices who have been working successfully in Ireland for a number of months.
The 100% success rate cohort 1 achieved when they passed one of their inspection qualifications.
When I receive phone calls from clients requesting to have an apprentice return to work for them because they did such a good job!
All of these things make IACS and me immensely proud of the burgeoning talent we are developing and empowering. IACS recently won an award at apprenticeship award ceremony and one of IACS’ apprentices was runner up in the apprentice of the year category. It was a proud night for IACS.
Read all about it here: IACS T&E Win Big at Hopwood Hall Apprenticeship Awards
Aside from the apprentices, working with the college and our inspector mentors and our clients who are supporting our apprentices by allowing access to their sites, makes this a very rewarding experience for everyone. The success is seeing the apprentices put into practice what they learn in the classroom and on site.
IACS works closely with its clients to ensure the apprentices can gain the necessary site experience to enable them to gain their inspection qualifications. IACS’ clients have been hugely supportive of the apprenticeship and have been willing to assist with the apprentices’ development. The response has been overwhelmingly positive by nearly everyone working with IACS and has helped forge new relationships with new clients and enhanced existing relationships too.
The overwhelming support and positivity of existing IACS inspectors to the apprenticeship has been amazing.
There is so much knowledge and experience in our existing inspectors; it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm to talk about their experience, to demonstrate techniques and pass on their knowledge.
The mentoring of the apprentices has been excellent, and it is great that our experienced inspectors can share their experience with the apprentices and show other people what a great job they do.
Attitude is key.
You must be reliable, flexible and have an eye for detail. Inspectors spend lots of time away from home and travelling and this does not suit everyone, and apprentices should be prepared for this. Professionalism and communication are of paramount importance. IACS want inspectors who can communicate well with everyone on site from welders to project managers to fellow inspectors.
You are representing IACS!
Brilliant!
So, you heard it here first, more PIPHU apprentices are proposed for 2025, keep your eyes peeled for details.
