As a key player in the joint venture, the association says it is “delighted” at the announcement of the Building Services Engineering Modern Apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications contract.

The new contract will allow BSE Skills to review the current qualifications and modern apprenticeships and help modernise and future-proof the electrotechnical aspect throughout.

Fiona Harper, head of employment affairs at SELECT and the secretary of the SJIB, said: “This is tremendous news for BSE Skills Ltd and supports the excellent feedback we have received on the work we have carried out for SDS and the wider sector so far.

“As an important member of this venture, SELECT is glad to be able to continue this relationship and work with other organisations to help shape the future of our industry.

“We know our sector and our Members’ needs and this is another important step in helping them benefit from consistent standards and qualifications across the UK.”

BSE Skills Ltd is a joint venture between SELECT, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).

Created to replace SummitSkills, it manages and develops apprenticeships, qualifications and National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the building services engineering sector across the UK.

BSE Skills received its first contract from SDS in 2018, when it was appointed as a delivery partner to oversee and manage the review and updating of NOS on which sector qualifications are based.

Alan Wilson, SELECT managing director, added: “I would like to pass on my congratulations to Fiona and the SELECT team, as well as our partners at BESA and SNPIEF, for all their hard work in making this happen.

“We are delighted at this announcement. This is another excellent demonstration of how we all want to develop standards, qualifications and apprenticeships that deliver the type of skilled people that employers are looking for and that the future of the industry will need.”