Information for Brokers
Our aim at SummitSkills is to make your job as a skills broker as easy and enjoyable as possible when working with building services engineering. We have already been involved with many brokers in providing presentations and solving issues, but we have found that there are many reoccurring questions from the broker as they are getting started.
We have tried to answer as many as possible below. Over time your questions will undoubtedly become more complex. For this reason we have compiled a list of services SummitSkills can provide to help develop your relationships with the employers. If you have any further questions, then please contact your regional operations manager or email David Cox of SummitSkills.
On this Page:
- What is SummitSkills
- What is Building Services Engineering?
- How big is building services engineering in the UK? What are the issues?
- What would be a typical career in building services engineering?
- Why was SummitSkills created?
- How can SummitSkills help me get started as a skills broker?
What is SummitSkills?
SummitSkills is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the building services engineering sector. We have about 30 staff members across the UK. Our head office is in Milton Keynes.
What is Building Services Engineering?
The building services engineering sector comprises the following trades: electrotechnical, heating & ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, ductwork, service & maintenance, site management & supervision for building services engineering.
How big is building services engineering in the UK? What are the issues?
- 55,000 businesses
- 558,000 individuals
- Dominated by SMEs
- Significant domestic industry
- 2-3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- 85% of work carried out by people in trade associations
- Less than 1% female
- Less than 2% ethnic minority
- Skills gaps and shortages
- Improve productivity
- Regulation and Legislation
What would be a typical career in building services engineering?
- Building Services Engineer
- Heating and Ventilating Fitter/Welder
- Domestic Heating Fitter (Central Heating Fitter)
- Ductwork Installer
- Refrigeration Engineer
- Air Conditioning Engineer
- Service and Maintenance Engineer
- Electrical Machine Rewinder
- Electrotechnical Panel Builder
- Highway Electrical Systems Installer
- Instrumentation Electrician
- Maintenance Electrician
- Installation Electrician
- Installing, servicing and maintaining pipework, equipment and controls
Why was SummitSkills created?
SummitSkills was created to address five key issues in the sector:
- Alleviate skills gaps
- Improve productivity
- Develop a competent workforce
- Provide career progression
- Champion the sector’s skills agenda.
How can SummitSkills help me get started as a skills broker?
Brokers will most likely need the assistance of SummitSkills to enable them effectively understand and reach building services engineering employers. Click here for a list of free services SummitSkills can provide to help you perform your role. If your needs require a reasonable amount of work from SummitSkills, please also consider this list of chargeable services. It is expected that brokers will choose, say, three or four services initially to help get started, choosing more later when you’re more established.
