SELECT, the trade association for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland, has welcomed a new agreement that strengthens the collaborative relationship for electrical apprentice training in the country.

The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and National Electrotechnical Training (NET) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), solidifying their longstanding arrangement for the assessment of apprentices and adult trainees.

This new agreement formally confirms the roles and responsibilities of both bodies concerning the Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA). The SJIB operates the FICA under licence from NET at three recognised training centres located across Scotland.

Catherine Gillon, SJIB Secretary and Director of Employment Affairs at SELECT, expressed her pleasure at the development: "We are delighted to have signed this important memorandum, which confirms our ongoing working relationship with our fellow training professionals at NET. The FICA is an integral part of the Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation and this MoU reinforces the message that the final assessment can only be taken at a centre approved by the SJIB to ensure learners receive the required level of experience."

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Carolyn Mason, Chief Executive of NET, also highlighted the positive implications of the agreement: "As well as demonstrating our harmonious relationship, this agreement shows that the industry is dedicated to delivering the very highest standards of electrical industry training in Scotland through the SJIB. The SJIB has made a substantial investment in developing and operating FICA in Scotland and this move will ensure that electrotechnical learners continue to follow the correct route to receive the competencies and skills they require to work safely and successfully."

NET is a registered UK charity responsible for owning, managing, and developing end-point assessments and assessments of occupational competence for the electrotechnical industry, including the FICA in Scotland and the AM2 in England and Wales.

The SJIB, founded in 1969 by SELECT and Unite the Union, carries out numerous functions, including regulating relations between employers and employees and controlling skill and proficiency levels within the modern electrotechnical industry. This MoU is seen as a key step in continuing to ensure robust and high-quality training pathways for electricians in Scotland.