News
A CoVEted award
The Learning Skills Council has awarded the British Gas Engineering Academy centres in Basingstoke and Leeds Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status.
British Gas is one of only a few training providers outside of the Further Education sector to be given this award.
Centres of Vocational Excellence are specialist areas of vocational provision tasked with developing new, and enhancing existing, vocational provision.
This award of CoVe status on top of the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) inspection result of Grade 1 (Outstanding) in the vocational training provision offered by the Academy is further independent confirmation of the high quality training services provided through British Gas.
Boost for pensioners
A pilot benefits advice scheme in North Edinburgh has, in its first year of operation successfully claimed nearly £45000 in extra benefits for local pensioners.
The programme, a joint initiative between the Scottish Gas Help the Aged Partnership and Granton Information Centre, aims to redress the lack of appropriate advice on issues such as welfare rights, fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and benefits. The two-year pilot scheme focuses on face to face advice by trained professionals.
Clare Welsh of Scottish Gas said: "The pilot scheme has not just helped older people in North Edinburgh, it will also contribute to the development of best practice that can help others throughout Britain."