XS Training joins LCL Awards to deliver solar PV and battery storage training
06 Mar 2024
It's always good when a new training centre joins the family. In February, XS training in Leeds was approved to deliver our Level 3 Battery Storage and Solar PV qualifications: their first foray into renewables. We caught up with Senior Manager, James Gibbs, to find out a bit more about XS Training and why they chose LCL Awards to be their Awarding Body for renewables:
“XS Training set up in 2010 as an online electrical training company. We started by delivering C&G’s Level 3 NVQ courses electronically and assessments were undertaken online. It was a great model, our trainees were able to access from wherever they were, whenever they wanted, so we attracted lots of candidates who were working during the week and carried out assessments with us in the evenings and at weekends.
“Until 2019 we had no physical training centre and the fact that we had mastered remote assessments set us in good stead during COVID when in-person training was tricky for everyone. Because we were experienced in on-line learning, we had all the resources and training videos we needed ready to hand and the back-up to help learners when they struggled.
“Setting up a training centre is a costly business, so over the years we’ve focused on slow and steady growth. In 2020 we moved from our original small building to a bigger one as the business expanded, and last year we moved again, and settled into our own new head office and training centre in Leeds, where we’ve been able to build a classroom and a large new workshop. We can now start thinking bigger – expanding our range of training as well as our numbers.
“Our new centre has been designed to be a flexible space which can accommodate both Level 2 and Level 3 learners in groups of no more than 12 at a time. Most of our electrical tuition is online with a two-week block of practical learning which we can now oversee here at the centre. We keep our groups small, so that everyone gets plenty of attention and when people need a bit of extra tuition online, we fix up one-to-one zoom calls to help them, but now we have the physical space we can also offer candidates the opportunity to train with us here.
“LCL Awards require their centres to deliver in-person practical training and have approved our new set-up and the quality of our trainers here to deliver their qualifications. When we decided we wanted to move into renewables, LCL Awards was our Awarding Body of choice. They’ve a great reputation in this area and because they’re more agile than some of the other ABs they’re quicker to react in revising their qualifications to keep on top of updates etc. I’ve taken my own LCL Awards qualifications in the past, so I know they’re good!
“The team at LCL Awards has been excellent in supporting us through the whole application process. Our External Verifier, Steve Merricks, is brilliant and Amanda Tyrell and her team in the administration department are fantastic – always there at the end of the phone when you need to get something sorted out.
“We’re planning to run our first battery storage and PV courses in March, and hope to develop our relationship with LCL Awards further in renewables. EV charging is going to be the next string to our bow!”
We wish XS Training all the best in delivering our renewables qualifications and would like to hear from you if you think we can help you in setting up similar awards at your centre.
Find out more about out Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems and our Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
It's always good when a new training centre joins the family. In February, XS training in Leeds was approved to deliver our Level 3 Battery Storage and Solar PV qualifications: their first foray into renewables. We caught up with Senior Manager, James Gibbs, to find out a bit more about XS Training and why they chose LCL Awards to be their Awarding Body for renewables:
“XS Training set up in 2010 as an online electrical training company. We started by delivering C&G’s Level 3 NVQ courses electronically and assessments were undertaken online. It was a great model, our trainees were able to access from wherever they were, whenever they wanted, so we attracted lots of candidates who were working during the week and carried out assessments with us in the evenings and at weekends.
“Until 2019 we had no physical training centre and the fact that we had mastered remote assessments set us in good stead during COVID when in-person training was tricky for everyone. Because we were experienced in on-line learning, we had all the resources and training videos we needed ready to hand and the back-up to help learners when they struggled.
“Setting up a training centre is a costly business, so over the years we’ve focused on slow and steady growth. In 2020 we moved from our original small building to a bigger one as the business expanded, and last year we moved again, and settled into our own new head office and training centre in Leeds, where we’ve been able to build a classroom and a large new workshop. We can now start thinking bigger – expanding our range of training as well as our numbers.
“Our new centre has been designed to be a flexible space which can accommodate both Level 2 and Level 3 learners in groups of no more than 12 at a time. Most of our electrical tuition is online with a two-week block of practical learning which we can now oversee here at the centre. We keep our groups small, so that everyone gets plenty of attention and when people need a bit of extra tuition online, we fix up one-to-one zoom calls to help them, but now we have the physical space we can also offer candidates the opportunity to train with us here.
“LCL Awards require their centres to deliver in-person practical training and have approved our new set-up and the quality of our trainers here to deliver their qualifications. When we decided we wanted to move into renewables, LCL Awards was our Awarding Body of choice. They’ve a great reputation in this area and because they’re more agile than some of the other ABs they’re quicker to react in revising their qualifications to keep on top of updates etc. I’ve taken my own LCL Awards qualifications in the past, so I know they’re good!
“The team at LCL Awards has been excellent in supporting us through the whole application process. Our External Verifier, Steve Merricks, is brilliant and Amanda Tyrell and her team in the administration department are fantastic – always there at the end of the phone when you need to get something sorted out.
“We’re planning to run our first battery storage and PV courses in March, and hope to develop our relationship with LCL Awards further in renewables. EV charging is going to be the next string to our bow!”
We wish XS Training all the best in delivering our renewables qualifications and would like to hear from you if you think we can help you in setting up similar awards at your centre.
Find out more about out Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems and our Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems.