ESS Supporting IACS Ltd Apprentices with Confined Space Training

Inspection & Consultancy Services (IACS Ltd) is a leading inspection, engineering, and testing consultancy specialising in pipeline construction. Established in 1988, IACS operates across multiple sectors, including gas, oil, petrochemical and renewable energy.

As part of its commitment to workforce development, IACS launched IACS T&E in 2023, a dedicated training and education subsidiary. This initiative introduced the Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen & Utilities (PIPHU) apprenticeship, an employer-led program designed to equip the next generation of pipeline inspectors with vital hydrogen safety and inspection skills.

While the PIPHU apprenticeship provides apprentices with high-demand skills in hydrogen safety and pipeline inspection techniques such as welding, coating, and ultrasonic testing, a specific project requirement arose that was not covered in the existing curriculum.

The project required a select group of apprentices to be certified in working within confined spaces, a critical competency for ensuring workplace safety in pipeline inspection and maintenance. With a need for quick and efficient upskilling, IACS sought a trusted training provider to deliver confined space certification to meet industry and client needs.

IACS partnered with ESS Training to provide the necessary confined space training for four of  it’s apprentices. The City & Guilds 6160-09 Level 2 Award in Entrant and Entry Controller for Confined Spaces (Medium Risk), a two-day programme designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required for working safely in confined environments, was delivered. The course covered essential topics such as hazard identification, risk assessment, safe entry and exit procedures, and emergency response protocols.
The training blended theoretical instruction with hands-on practical exercises, ensuring the apprentices gained confidence in applying their new skills in real life scenarios.

The collaboration between IACS and ESS resulted in the successful certification of the IACS apprentices in confined space training, enhancing their skill set beyond the core PIPHU apprenticeship curriculum. Immediate application of new skills, allowing apprentices to contribute more effectively to ongoing projects requiring confined space entry. Also, strengthened workforce capabilities, ensuring that IACS apprentices are better equipped to meet evolving industry demands and demonstrated commitment to safety, reinforcing IACS’s dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards across its operations.

At ESS, we are committed to providing high-quality, industry-relevant training solutions tailored to your needs.
If your organisation requires specialised training, be it in confined space safety, pipeline inspection or other technical competencies please contact us today to find out how we can support your team’s development.

Get in touch to discuss your training needs.