Basic Electrical Safety Competence
Accredited Centres
Basic Electrical Safety Competence (BESC) assessments may only be carried out by approved assessors working on behalf of accredited centres. More detailed guidance on centre accreditation can be found in the handbook attached here to this webpage.
Although this scheme is not a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) the NVQ Code of Practice drawn up by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA) is used as a model to ensure the quality of assessment practice.
The BESC scheme requires that organisations intending to assess for competency become accredited centres. Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) are the accrediting body for this scheme and appoint external verifiers who are assigned to individual centres and are responsible for ensuring that all assessments meet the requirements of the scheme standards. Centres will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary management and administration systems in place together with qualified internal verifiers and assessors.
Centres that are approved by City & Guilds for the NVQ 2353-42/43 or Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) 2354-42/43 awards are automatically entitled to become BESC accredited centres. It is expected that these centres will already have qualified internal verifiers and assessors and the necessary support and administrative systems.
Application Process
Companies or training providers wishing to become a BESC accredited assessment centre should complete the application form (AC01) using the BESC accredited assessment centre checklist (AC02) for guidance on requirements. Details of how the centre fulfils or intends to fulfil the checklist criteria should be attached to the application form.
Prospective training centres which are not previously approved with an awarding body will probably need to identify and train appropriate staff to become qualified internal verifiers and assessors as detailed on this website, as well as establish support and administrative systems that meet the requirements of the BESC accredited assessment centre checklist (form AC02). The centre may wish to contact EU Skills for advice and guidance at this stage.
The scheme requires that all internal verifiers and assessors are qualified to ENTO standards as shown below
| Internal Verifiers | V1 - Conduct internal quality assurance of the assessment process (if an individual holds the D34 qualification then he/she is not required to achieve the ENTO unit V1 to carry out this role). |
|---|---|
| Assessors | A2 - Assess candidates' performance through observation (if an individual holds the D32 qualification then he/she is not required to achieve the ENTO unit A2 to carry out this role). |
Accreditation Visit
The primary purpose of the accreditation visit is to establish the suitability of a prospective BESC assessment centre to operate the registration scheme. The visit is normally carried out by an external verifier and takes the form of a review with management and staff using the BESC accredited assessment centre checklist (AC02)
The checklist is a set of criteria or conditions that a centre must meet to be given accredited status. It covers the following:
- Management systems
- Resources
- Candidate support
- Assessment and verification
- Records
If the centre does not meet the requirements for accredited centre status the external verifier will agree an action plan with the centre in order to rectify any shortfalls.
Annual Visit
A visit will be carried out annually by the external verifier to ensure consistency of training and administrative standards between BESC accredited centres.
