The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online learning and the way building engineers are trained will never be the same again, writes BESA director of training and skills Helen Yeulet.
Online learning was a major feature of the coronavirus lockdown periods in 2020 and the landscape for technical training has changed permanently.
The online BESA Academy was launched at the height of the pandemic and is now delivering a comprehensive programme of training courses, assessments and CPDs for individuals, employers, and training providers across our sector.
Planning was already well advanced when the pandemic hit, but the restrictions created by lockdowns accelerated the launch of this online resource and it quickly proved its worth. We can expect to see a more ‘blended’ approach to our courses as more ‘physical’ facilities re-open, but the proportion of training delivered remotely will inevitably grow.
With the industry facing a range of skills-related challenges that will pick up momentum this year, it is increasingly important that workers and employers have easy access to a comprehensive repository of training materials from wherever they are and at a time that suits them.