System Training are pleased to be able to offer Air Conditioning Qualifications accredited by City and Guilds.  

From 4th July 2010, all Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) Technicians working with Motor Vehicles (cars and vans) must hold as a basic minimum a refrigerant handling qualification which complies with the EU F Gas (fluorinated greenhouse gas) regulation EC842-2006.  

System Training now offer a Vocationally Related Qualification in Air Conditioning ensuring technicians carrying out this type of work are compliant with the new regulation. Only top of the range training equipment is used at our Carlisle training centre to make sure our trainees stay at the forefront of the Motor Vehicle industry technology.  

Contact Dave Walker on 01228 574025, or email dave.walker@system-training.com for more details.

Colleagues from the Learning and Skills Council, Workington joined System Training for training sessions in Fork Lift Truck and Large Goods Vehicle driving as part of the National Learning at Work day, incorporated in to Adult Learners Week.

Seven delegates each learned how to operate a fork lift truck and compete tasks set as a teambuilding event. Candidates also had the opportunity to test drive rigid and artic training vehicles over a course involving use of skill, judgement and (controlled) speed; the winner decided by the least number of cones dislodged in the least amount of time. The LSC delegates got a great deal out of their day. Steve Preston, LSC, sent the following message:   

‘Thanks for all your efforts for our LAW day, System really pulled out all the stops for us and please pass on our thanks to the instructors who looked after us for their patience, professionalism and good humour throughout’.   

Special thanks must go to Kevin Pierce, Geoff Bright, Paul Adamson, Julie Clayton and John Mawson for their efforts on the day.

System Training are continuing their series of FREE Driver CPC Seminars, targeted at Drivers, Owner Drivers and any Road Transport Haulage, Bus or Coach company employing drivers or running a fleet of vehicles as part of their business. The seminar will focus on drivers of Passenger Carrying Vehicles and Goods Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes.  

Key messages will include an introduction to the Driver CPC, understanding the legal requirements, and available funding and partnership opportunities.  

The next dates will be: 

• 16th June in Birkenhead
• 25th June 2009 in Carlisle    
• 2nd July 2009 in Middlesbrough 

Breakfast sessions will start at 8am -10 am and includes free breakfast, and the Elevenses session will start at 11am – 1pm with refreshments, to enable drivers on school runs to have the opportunity to attend.

For more details, or to book your free space at one of these events please email Stephanie Norman at Stephanie.norman@system-group.com

Rather than athletes competing in a sporting event, accounting students grabbed their calculators at Halesowen College, Knowsley Community College, Stevenson College, Edinburgh and the AAT offices in London in regional heats for the WorldSkills UK Accounting Technician Skills Competition in April. Twenty teams of three from various institutions battled it out to see who would make it to the UK final at the AAT offices on Saturday 27 June 2009.

Giving support to the teams were employers, tutors, fellow AAT students and friends.  At the regional heat, Armstrong Watson impressed the judges in both the technical and subjective aspects of the competition and it was commented that “the team acted to a high standard throughout the competition and were a credit to both the employer and the training organisation”.   

We will all keep our fingers crossed for Armstrong Watson!

More cumbrian schools turn to System I.T. for support every day.  We have recently taken over the maintenance support for the following schools:

• Storth Primary School (http://www.storth.com/school.htm)
• Jericho Primary School (http://www.jericho.cumbria.sch.uk/)
• Orgill Primary School (http://www.orgill.cumbria.sch.uk/)
• Kingmoor Junior School (http://www.kingmoor-jun.cumbria.sch.uk/)
• Kingmoor Infant School (http://www.kingmoor-inf.cumbria.sch.uk/)
• St Mary's Catholic Primary School
• Blennerhassett Primary School

For more information on how we can assist your school improving it's I.T. support and infrastructure contact us on 01228 562211 or email support@system-it.co.uk

System Training have been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Profiting through Skills – Excellence in Cumbria Awards in the Learning and Development Provider Category.  

The Awards celebration will take place at Rheged, near Penrith on the 14th May and is organised by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

More to follow...................

Staff at a Lake District tour company have achieved the NVQ Level 2 standard in Passenger Carrying Vehicles with System Training. Nine driver guides from Mountain Goat Tours and Holidays in Windermere faced a range of assessments and training, including how to deal with emergencies and incidents during a journey, Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving and Customer Care. The EU Training Directive is making it compulsory for all Passenger Carrying Vehicle drivers to reach this standard by 2013. The rest of the Mountain Goat team have already embarked on the initial stages of the course as part of the company’s ongoing training commitment.

With up to 15 Mountain Goat buses hitting the Lake District roads daily throughout the summer, including tackling the mighty Hardknott and Wrynose Passes, the company says expert training and vehicle maintenance is essential for passenger service and safety.

A special awards ceremony was held at Windermere’s Lindeth Howe Hotel. Mountain Goat drivers each received their certificate from Mountain Goat chairman, Norman Stoller, and Robin Brown, Chief Executive from System Training, who delivered the training and assessments.

Sue Todd, Office Manager from Mountain Goat, said “We take training and professional development very seriously at Mountain Goat and are really proud of our team’s latest achievements. National Qualifications like this help us to deliver and maintain the high standard of passenger safety records that Mountain Goat is well known for”.  Stephen Broughton, director of Mountain Goat said: ”It’s great to be ending the year on such a high note. The team have worked really hard to get their qualifications and thoroughly deserve the recognition. By 2013, every team member will have completed the training process which is vital to ensure the tour service we provide is right for our customers.”

The finalists in the 2009 national MAN everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards are announced today, celebrating the achievements of those women making a difference in the sector.

Lesley Howe, Classroom and Driving Instructor for System Group Ltd has been named as a finalist in the Trainer of the Year category in these prestigious awards, and will be competing against two other finalists to be named winner. The winners will be announced at a luncheon ceremony at the Marriott, Grosvenor Square in London on Thursday, 14 May 2009.

Having spent her entire career in the transport industry, Lesley has spanned roles including Sales and Marketing and also spent ten years running her own small haulage company, sharing the driving with her partner. She then took on several contract roles, where her natural ability for supporting and training other drivers was recognised, and she was encouraged to apply for the position as an instructor at System Group Ltd. She has since become the only female fully qualified LGV instructor, having passed her Part Two instructor test first time with a faultless score-sheet.

Lesley feels being a female trainer often makes her more approachable, and that her calm, patient and open manner have helped her to excel. She is extremely determined, with a passion for ensuring quality in the sector, constantly setting herself goals and targets she insists on surpassing.

System Training were recently shortlisted for the Get On Award for Learning Provider, nominated by Carlisle City Council. The winners were announced at the GO Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, held at the Plaisterers’ Hall, London on Wednesday 18th March.  

The guest speaker was ex Scotland International Rugby player Kenny Logan, also of Strictly Come Dancing fame, who provided an insightful speech on learning to read and write as an adult, and the extremes some people will go to disguise the difficulties they have, highlighting the sensitivity that anyone dealing with anyone in this situation must employ.   

Stephanie Norman attended from System Training, along with Les Tickner, and Floss Mitchell from Carlisle City Council. System Training were nominated for number of initial assessments carried out in Numeracy and Literacy for their Environment team (around 70 individuals), which has encouraged many of the staff to take up additional development in this area which they would not have done otherwise. Congratulations to System Training for reaching this level against other National providers.