The following are transcripts of interviews carried out with a selection of NECTA Training customers:
Transcript of Interview with: Pete Allot
Area Operations Manager – British Gas Electrical Services Division
How has NECTA training met the needs of your business?
NECTA have designed a wide portfolio of courses, which address the changing needs of both the white goods market and the electrical market in which British Gas Electrical Services Division are involved.
Does NECTA training benefit British Gas customers?
Well clearly it enables British Gas Electrical Services Division to widen their portfolio of services that we can offer to our customers, from simple HEC repairs, which may involve changing a simple light socket or light fitting, to being able to carry out full house rewires.
Tell me about the NECTA training facilities.
The facilities are absolutely superb. All across the country, the classes which they have, in varying sizes, are all air-conditioned. This makes it a pleasant atmosphere to train in, especially when you are there for possibly eight hours. In addition to that, at Rotherham, they now have twelve purpose built practical training booths. This enables a trainee to be able to design, build and test a full household installation, including things such as overhead lighting, shower circuits, bathrooms, cookers, etc. In addition they have a testing booth in which the tutors at NECTA can install various faults and it’s then up to the trainee to prove his competency and his skills, by being able to identify the faults and show the method of correction.
How is the quality of NECTA tuition?
One of the major benefits is that we don’t have tutors at NECTA who are simply delivering from notes. They are all very experienced in their own fields and they are able to add personal experiences and anecdotes. This really helps in getting the message across to trainees.
What are the benefits of three NECTA training centres across the country?
Clearly, British Gas operate nationwide. If we were restricted to one training centre, then it would involve long periods of travel for our engineers to attend courses, and almost certainly overnight accommodation, which (would) have a knock-on effect on their home life. The benefit of having three centres are that we can reduce travel time, reduce overnight stays. There is a knock-on effect as well. We have to remember that we are here to provide a service to our customers, and if the engineer is away on a training course for any period of time it affects our standards of service.
Tell me about the relationship between British Gas and NECTA.
It’s absolutely superb. Over the last seven years we’ve built quite an extensive relationship with NECTA. It’s not simply a business relationship, it’s a relationship of mutual respect between both parties, (based on) the assistance we can give (each other). Certainly, as well, from the point of view of the additional assistance that NECTA can give to our field based engineers.
Would you recommend NECTA?
I would recommend NECTA, clearly. They have a can do attitude. It’s a family atmosphere. They are extremely supportive of us and our requirements. I wouldn’t have any doubt at all in recommending them to people.
