Latest News & Articles

Legionella Outbreaks Highlight Need for Adequate Training to Prevent Spread of Disease

Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection caused by the Legionella bacteria, which can be found in water systems such as hot tubs, cooling towers, and spas. The recent outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in the UK have highlighted the importance of regular maintenance and management of water systems, as well as the need for adequate training to prevent the spread of the disease.

Accordin...

Why is Training Essential When Working in Medium Risk Confined Spaces

Working in confined spaces can be dangerous, especially when it comes to medium-risk spaces. These are areas that present a risk of injury or illness, such as tanks, silos, or sewers. To ensure workers' safety in these environments, employers must provide proper training.

Training is essential to keep workers safe in medium risk confined spaces. It can help workers to recognise the potential ha...

Merit Skills teams grows further with new Operations Manager

Chris Stanyer joins the team at Merit Skills as Operational Manager, before he gets too busy, we have got him to tell you a bit about himself.

I started off my working life as a young 15/16-year-old lad working for a narrowboat holiday company, emptying the toilets every Saturday morning with a 40ft suction hose and filling up the freshwater tanks with an even longer hosepipe, obviously being c...

We Passed the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) Refresh

With a lot of hard work from the Merit Skills team, we are proud to announce that we have met the criteria for the governments Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP).

The RoATP is an entry route for businesses and employers who want to deliver apprenticeship training. It plans to moderate the quality of apprenticeships and provide assurance to employers, learners, and the governm...

Pollution by Water Companies

Water companies discharged raw sewage into coastal waters used by the public over 5,000 times in the last year.

The discharges, through storm overflows, went on to beaches and into rivers that were supposed to be the some of the cleanest and safest in the world, these areas are frequented by the public and tourists alike.

Storm overflows are supposed to be used in emergencies to ease pressur...

The Water Industry Skills Gap

An ageing workforce and increased demand will soon start to affect the treatment and supply of clean and waste water.

The water industry predicts that 63,000 vacancies will need to be filled during the next decade. This is due to 61,000 existing employees either approaching retirement or leaving through normal staff turnover to find new roles and an estimated 2,000 new jobs will be created.

...

Merit Skills is now a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO)

Merit Skills can now offer CITB Accredited training courses, these include SMSTS, SSSTS, SSP courses.

After a thorough inspection and multiple interviews Merit Skills is please to announce we have been awarded CITB Accreditation, allowing us to deliver a variety of vital Health and Safety courses such as:

• Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme – SSSTS
• Site Supervisors Safety Training S...

End Point Assessments to Stay Digital

Apprenticeship providers will now have the opportunity to continue using remote delivery for apprenticeship assessments permanently.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the apprenticeship sector has made many vital temporary changes to ensure that learners and providers can continue to complete their programmes effectively, however now the institute for apprenticeships has announced that seven of the ...

How can the Water Operations and Management course benefit you

The CABWI Level 4 Diploma in Water Operations and Management is a qualification for developing leadership skills and credentials within the global water industry.

The graduate diploma course seeks to develop knowledge across all aspects of the water industry from a leadership perspective. While students will cover the fundamentals of water resource management, water treatment, water distributio...

New Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard for the Water Industry

Many of the largest water industry employers have been working together to create the Water Process Operative standard and ensure that it fully incorporates the key aspects when working within a water treatment facility.

The Water Process Operative Level 2 apprenticeship standard focuses on aspects of both clean water treatment and waste water treatment core units. These consist of operating tr...

Merit Skills expands team with Health and Safety Specialist

Andrew Kirkman joins Merit Skills from a brief period of being a home maker.

I have over 24 years’ experience in health and safety, of which 15 years’ in health and safety management, with 7 years in further and higher education, 6 years in training and consultancy work, working primarily with the construction industry.

During my career I spent 20 years in the Royal Air Force Regiment, mana...

Streetworks is Changing

NRSWA accredited Streetworks is updating the way in which they assess. Keeping in line with the rapidly evolving world, from the 1st of June 20121 all Streetwork assessments will now be completed digitally by accredited centres.

What does this mean?

This is the start of a process aiming to improve the candidates experience when completing assessments, removing the need for paper and allo...