LCL Awards contributes to the new plumbing apprenticeship to be launched in 2026
09 Dec 2025
LCL Awards has been one of the Awarding Organisations involved in shaping the new plumbing apprenticeship that will be launched in August 2026. We have been involved in the development of the new curriculum and the design of new modes of assessment. Our centres will be able to deliver the new apprenticeship from next autumn.
To find out more, we spoke with Jerry Whiteley, Technical Manager for CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, who were approached by the Department of Education to form an employer group to design an updated scheme. Following an extensive industry consultation, the current apprenticeship, which takes four years to complete, was found to be out of date as some of the standards needed appraising. It had also become rather unwieldy, taking too long to complete as today many learners are looking for more flexible opportunities to learn.
For the last two years industry has been working with Government, Skills England, Defra and the UK’s Awarding Organisations on plans for the new scheme. He explained:
“As well as being able to offer learners a more adaptable approach to taking on an apprenticeship, we’ve been able to review the standards to ensure that what apprentices learn will include more up-to-date legislation and Building Standards, and a stronger focus on maintenance, which is a major part of the workload for engineers these days.
“This represents a big change, designed to increase the number of people in the industry and address our current skills gap. There are substantial changes to the assessment of the qualification too, with the current end point assessment being replaced by smaller modular assessments as learners work through the curriculum.”
The new plumbing apprenticeship comes in two parts. A Level 2 assessment, completed in two years and then a Level 3, which takes a further eighteen months to finish. The focus is on practical learning, with the curriculum and delivery of training more standardised across the UK, to ensure high standards are upheld.
Those who complete Level 2 will be fully competent installers, able to work on the installation of bathrooms and simple domestic appliances and it is thought that 60% of learners will progress to Level 3, qualifying to become advanced plumbing and heating engineers. The curriculum for the second part covers calculations and design as well as higher-level installations. There will be commercial aspects to the training also. Jerry again:
“We have designed the qualifications to be more flexible. Offering learners the opportunity to join at almost any stage. Those who have relevant experience will be able to access the modules they need to enhance their training – through either an upskilling route, or an experienced work route. Those on the current scheme will be able to carry across their qualifications to fit in with our new plans.”
Mark Krull, Director of LCL Awards has been delighted to be involved in the development of the new plumbing apprenticeship:
“It’s been a great honour to help CIPHE shape what will be an excellent training model for plumbers and engineers in the future. The emphasis on adaptability, makes the scheme an excellent fit for our current times, encouraging more people into the sector and enabling them to build on existing skills.”
Jerry and his team will introduce the new qualifications at the Installer Show at the NEC next June and in August 2026 the Department of Education will be release it, so that colleges and training centres can start delivering the qualifications next September.
We have arranged for Jerry to come and give our centres an introduction to the new scheme at our Forum at Hilton NEC next June. This makes a visit to the Installer Show, attendance at our Awards on 25th June and the Forum on 26th June even more worthwhile. We do hope you will come - please keep an eye out for more information in the new year.
LCL Awards has been one of the Awarding Organisations involved in shaping the new plumbing apprenticeship that will be launched in August 2026. We have been involved in the development of the new curriculum and the design of new modes of assessment. Our centres will be able to deliver the new apprenticeship from next autumn.
To find out more, we spoke with Jerry Whiteley, Technical Manager for CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, who were approached by the Department of Education to form an employer group to design an updated scheme. Following an extensive industry consultation, the current apprenticeship, which takes four years to complete, was found to be out of date as some of the standards needed appraising. It had also become rather unwieldy, taking too long to complete as today many learners are looking for more flexible opportunities to learn.
For the last two years industry has been working with Government, Skills England, Defra and the UK’s Awarding Organisations on plans for the new scheme. He explained:
“As well as being able to offer learners a more adaptable approach to taking on an apprenticeship, we’ve been able to review the standards to ensure that what apprentices learn will include more up-to-date legislation and Building Standards, and a stronger focus on maintenance, which is a major part of the workload for engineers these days.
“This represents a big change, designed to increase the number of people in the industry and address our current skills gap. There are substantial changes to the assessment of the qualification too, with the current end point assessment being replaced by smaller modular assessments as learners work through the curriculum.”
The new plumbing apprenticeship comes in two parts. A Level 2 assessment, completed in two years and then a Level 3, which takes a further eighteen months to finish. The focus is on practical learning, with the curriculum and delivery of training more standardised across the UK, to ensure high standards are upheld.
Those who complete Level 2 will be fully competent installers, able to work on the installation of bathrooms and simple domestic appliances and it is thought that 60% of learners will progress to Level 3, qualifying to become advanced plumbing and heating engineers. The curriculum for the second part covers calculations and design as well as higher-level installations. There will be commercial aspects to the training also. Jerry again:
“We have designed the qualifications to be more flexible. Offering learners the opportunity to join at almost any stage. Those who have relevant experience will be able to access the modules they need to enhance their training – through either an upskilling route, or an experienced work route. Those on the current scheme will be able to carry across their qualifications to fit in with our new plans.”
Mark Krull, Director of LCL Awards has been delighted to be involved in the development of the new plumbing apprenticeship:
“It’s been a great honour to help CIPHE shape what will be an excellent training model for plumbers and engineers in the future. The emphasis on adaptability, makes the scheme an excellent fit for our current times, encouraging more people into the sector and enabling them to build on existing skills.”
Jerry and his team will introduce the new qualifications at the Installer Show at the NEC next June and in August 2026 the Department of Education will be release it, so that colleges and training centres can start delivering the qualifications next September.
We have arranged for Jerry to come and give our centres an introduction to the new scheme at our Forum at Hilton NEC next June. This makes a visit to the Installer Show, attendance at our Awards on 25th June and the Forum on 26th June even more worthwhile. We do hope you will come - please keep an eye out for more information in the new year.