REVOLUTIONISING WATER HYGIENE TRAINING: SMS ENVIRONMENTAL AND ACTIVATE LEARNING JOIN FORCES

With the ongoing support of SMS Environmental -  A new training area has been established inside Reading College to support aspiring plumbers and existing engineers improve their knowledge and skills in every aspect of water hygiene and treatment services.

SMS Environmental, one of the UK’s leading water hygiene companies has furthered its relationship with Reading College and Activate Learning to offer a host of courses and practical training sessions which incorporate the use of  brand new, purpose built,  training bays designed to support plumbing students and existing engineers learn valuable hands-on experience. The training areas will allow learners to develop a core set of water hygiene and treatment skills that are increasingly essential to the water hygiene sector specifically and the plumbing trade more generally. Staff at Reading College will also receive training. 

This extended partnership between SMS Environmental and Reading College recognises the nationwide need for extended training on legionella awareness and water hygiene to be integrated into plumbing courses, not only to educate and teach students new skills, but also to train them on how application of good working practice will impact positively on the health of water systems they work on once they move from education to the workplace.

SMS Environmental have backed this commitment to the institution for well over a decade and look forward to continuing the relationship and making further commitments to the plumbing department by providing routes to employment for students through both work experience placements and apprenticeships.

John Sandford, CMIOSH Director of SMS Environmental said:

We are delighted to be making further long term commitments to Reading College’s plumbing department, which continues to show a real pioneering spirit in its approach to learning. For too long there has been a dearth of specific practical training courses available to employers in the water treatment industry and we have wanted to redress this balance for a while. With SMS providing the expertise to run the new courses and in Activate Learning who are providing the spaces to do so, we believe we have found a true partnership approach that works for all. These courses should create benefits for both students, our employees and the wider public for years to come.

Activate Learning is a forward-thinking education group that aims for far-reaching, progressive change and impact though learning. They work with individuals, helping them make the choice of career pathway or course that is right for them and their ambitions.

Mark Byerley, Director of Career Pathways, Technology faculty at Activate Learning said: 

We are really pleased that SMS Environmental has demonstrated the commitment and desire to invest in our facilities and to provide training opportunities enabling our plumbing students to develop their knowledge, skills and experience in water hygiene and treatment. We are extremely grateful to SMS Environmental for their ongoing commitment by improving the employability of our students by providing them with real life project scenarios, work experience placements and apprenticeship opportunities.

City & Guilds Assured 

Assured is a joint service between City & Guilds and ILM, which recognises excellence in training programme delivery. It ensures confidence and reassurance that training will meet best practice standards and provides additional credibility when scrutinised by the regulator or inspecting body.