Founded in 1965 on the outskirts of Coventry, the University of Warwick was part of a government initiative to expand higher education.
Debbie Shields | Communications Manager
The Client
Founded in 1965 on the outskirts of Coventry, the University of Warwick was part of a government initiative to expand higher education. It is a public research university, with an ever-growing number of buildings on its campus. Its estate electrical team has around 30 staff. Rather than a traditional electrical contractor, this NICEIC Approved Contractor is a facilities management company.
The Challenge
When David Shaw was appointed as the university’s estate electrical manager in 2019, he took on a team which carried out planned maintenance, reactive maintenance works, and installation work to a wide range of Low Voltage (LV) systems. Technical integrity was high on his list of priorities, along with professional development.
David said:
"I was keen to understand the current skills, knowledge and individual abilities in my team. I wanted to ensure their competency in relation to LV systems, and to address any shortfalls either by setting up additional training or by recruiting.”
To do that, he needed to undertake a skills gap analysis. He approached NICEIC to find out more about our LMS system (Load Measurement System?), and to discover whether it could be adapted for his team’s bespoke requirements. He also needed to understand the benchmark criteria assigned to our skills gap analysis.
The Solution
NICEIC developed a bespoke skills gap analysis for the university’s estate electrical team, in order to benchmark their existing knowledge and understanding. We discussed with David the subjects to include in the skills gap analysis, and from those discussions we created a question bank. The system automatically uploaded a range of multiple choice questions on each topic. From this bank of around 250 questions, the system automatically selected a number of questions for delegates to answer. The skills gap was loaded onto the virtual college site, and each delegate received login details to access and complete it. On David’s request, we included a pass/fail rate based on 80% correct answers.
The Results
We summarised the completed questions with a report detailing the results, and the length of time they took to complete. In order to fill the skills gaps that had been identified, we recommended specific training courses. Team members took NICEIC courses on the 18th Edition Amendment, Emergency Lighting, and Safe Isolation. The department also booked a number of delegates onto our public courses. Of the 18th Edition Amendment course, one delegate says:
“The presenter was excellent - straight talking, honest and willing to have a debate. He cleared a few things up for us, which was very helpful.”
For David Shaw, the skills gap analysis and follow-up training mean his team has improved technical integrity and has undergone relevant professional development.
“We’re now able to carry out our work on campus more competently and more safely,” he says. “Our team’s improved standards save the university time and money.”
Founded in 1965 on the outskirts of Coventry, the University of Warwick was part of a government initiative to expand higher education. It is a public research university, with an ever-growing number of buildings on its campus. Its estate electrical team has around 30 staff. Rather than a traditional electrical contractor, this NICEIC Approved Contractor is a facilities management company.
The Challenge
When David Shaw was appointed as the university’s estate electrical manager in 2019, he took on a team which carried out planned maintenance, reactive maintenance works, and installation work to a wide range of Low Voltage (LV) systems. Technical integrity was high on his list of priorities, along with professional development.
David said:
"I was keen to understand the current skills, knowledge and individual abilities in my team. I wanted to ensure their competency in relation to LV systems, and to address any shortfalls either by setting up additional training or by recruiting.”
To do that, he needed to undertake a skills gap analysis. He approached NICEIC to find out more about our LMS system (Load Measurement System?), and to discover whether it could be adapted for his team’s bespoke requirements. He also needed to understand the benchmark criteria assigned to our skills gap analysis.
The Solution
NICEIC developed a bespoke skills gap analysis for the university’s estate electrical team, in order to benchmark their existing knowledge and understanding. We discussed with David the subjects to include in the skills gap analysis, and from those discussions we created a question bank. The system automatically uploaded a range of multiple choice questions on each topic. From this bank of around 250 questions, the system automatically selected a number of questions for delegates to answer. The skills gap was loaded onto the virtual college site, and each delegate received login details to access and complete it. On David’s request, we included a pass/fail rate based on 80% correct answers.
The Results
We summarised the completed questions with a report detailing the results, and the length of time they took to complete. In order to fill the skills gaps that had been identified, we recommended specific training courses. Team members took NICEIC courses on the 18th Edition Amendment, Emergency Lighting, and Safe Isolation. The department also booked a number of delegates onto our public courses. Of the 18th Edition Amendment course, one delegate says:
“The presenter was excellent - straight talking, honest and willing to have a debate. He cleared a few things up for us, which was very helpful.”
For David Shaw, the skills gap analysis and follow-up training mean his team has improved technical integrity and has undergone relevant professional development.
“We’re now able to carry out our work on campus more competently and more safely,” he says. “Our team’s improved standards save the university time and money.”
