Following consultation with members back in 2021, TICA announced its intention to withdraw from delivery of the L2 S/NVQ Thermal Insulation as a standalone qualification route to competency, outside of the apprenticeship programme. TICA confirmed that no registrations would be accepted from January 2023 onwards.
We can now confirm that the final date for any operatives wishing to undertake this qualification with TICA will be 14 December 2022 with the qualification being completed no later than June 2023.
The original notification of intent can be found here
TICA will be registering a record number of candidates to our funded apprenticeship programme in September this year. Numbers for the 2022 intake are up more than 40% on previous years.
The decision taken to remove the delivery of the S/NVQ at L2 as an on-site assessment was taken to ensure that competency of thermal insulation operatives remained consistent across all pathways and that any operative who carried a TICA SkillCard has demonstrated a technical skill level that is aligned to our industry standards.
The Government Funded Thermal Insulation Apprenticeship Standards allow for up to 14 weeks of in-college training with accommodation and subsistence included. Scottish candidates benefit from additional TICA grant payments towards accommodation costs.
It has been agreed by TICA members that the standard of training delivered through our apprenticeship programme cannot be replicated with on-site training and assessment only and therefore there is potential for disparity across operatives who will ultimately carry the same Skill Card. Removal of the on-site assessment route to competency ensures consistency in training outcomes and parity of skills for all card holders. This will provide further assurance for employers.
The move also seeks to maintain and protect our highly valued apprenticeship programme.
Private training providers may continue to offer the L2 S/NVQ qualification outside of the apprenticeship route.
Operatives should note that when applying for a TICA Skill Card from 1 January 2023 onwards, they will in addition to their S/NVQ qualification, need to have successfully completed the Level 2 Technical Skills Assessment at the TICA training centre in Darlington.
The Technical Skills Assessment is a practical demonstration of insulation application and cladding skills and mirrors the L2 Apprenticeship End Point Assessment practical examination.
