Building services training

BMS Electrical Training has grown from a response to an industry shortage into a major provider of professional development in building services

According to the 2025 UK Engineering and Technology skills survey by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), engineering employers are generally reporting a lack of applicants for skilled roles. Three-quarters (76 per cent) struggle to recruit for certain skills, with technical/specialist sustainability skills (30 per cent) ranked as most difficult to recruit for.

A study carried out by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) predicts that by 2026, nearly 20 per cent of the current UK Engineering workforce (91,000 engineers), will have retired or be just about to.

Currently, the UK requires 124,000 engineers and technicians with core engineering skills per year. The current annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians (47 per cent) to fulfil these roles. This leaves a long-standing skills gap and a pressing need to step up the availability of training for engineers and skilled technicians.

The ECITB also forecasts that 40,000 additional workers could be needed for major projects, including those related to net zero, by 2030, placing employers in direct competition for labour from £531 billion of infrastructure projects in the wider UK economy.

FILLING THE GAP

When it comes to Building Management Systems, the gap between the demand for qualified professionals and the supply of skilled engineers is causing delays in project completion, increasing operational costs, and making it difficult for companies to integrate modern building technologies.

Several years ago, Charlie Butler and his partner Paul Wooster joined forces to establish a company dedicated to Building Management System (BMS) installation in the construction sector. They had a clear focus: delivering high-quality installation works in a specialist field often overlooked by mainstream training.

Both directors had been fortunate during their own apprenticeships to learn BMS systems in depth from electricians who understood the discipline and were willing to pass knowledge to the next generation. As demand for their services grew, however, they faced a challenge: a shortage of suitably trained engineers. This shortage forced them to turn down work from respected clients, highlighting a gap in the industry.

Recognising that BMS was not taught in colleges and could not be picked up as a standalone subject, Butler, with Wooster’s support, decided to tackle the issue head-on. Their solution was to create a training facility dedicated to BMS installation, designed to equip apprentices, electricians, and subcontractors with the confidence and skills to work in this growing field.

FROM CLASSROOM TO PLANT ROOM

A course was developed to introduce the fundamentals of BMS which covered:

• Understanding what BMS is and how it integrates into modern buildings.
• Reading and interpreting panel drawings.
• Selecting and terminating cables correctly.
• Exploring how air handling units and other plant equipment operate.

The training ethos goes beyond PowerPoint presentations. Using a purpose-built, fully functional plant room, attendees gain hands-on experience with real systems, tools, and cabling. The training is City & Guilds assessed, ensuring successful participants leave with recognised certification and the confidence and competence to apply their skills with immediate effect on site.

EXPANDING THE CURRICULUM

BMS Electrical Training has since broadened its offering. In addition to the initial three-day BMS Installation course, further modules cover safe isolation, motors & controls, and a specialist course developed with major a BMS supplier at their request, which includes training on their legacy systems.

Many companies now send new employees to BMS Electrical Training as part of their induction, giving them a strong foundation in plant rooms and system operation from day one.

Training is not just for installation electricians, commissioners learning to programme BMS systems benefit from understanding how the systems should function in practice, a perspective that’s increasingly vital as new UK building regulations now require advanced controls and monitoring in all new builds.

RESPONDING TO INDUSTRY NEEDS AND LAW CHANGES

The timing of this initiative is crucial. UK building regulations are undergoing major changes in 2025, with the Future Homes Standard and updates to Part L of the Building Regulations placing greater emphasis on energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Part L now requires accurate metering and monitoring of heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting systems, making BMS installation a critical compliance factor.

New builds must integrate low-carbon heating systems and advanced controls, meaning BMS engineers are essential for ensuring compliance with the Future Homes Standard.

The Building Safety Act also reinforces the need for properly managed systems in higher-risk buildings, further elevating the importance of skilled BMS professionals.

Because training is aligned with these regulatory changes, graduates are not only job-ready but also compliance-ready, meeting the evolving demands of the construction industry.

By continually listening to industry the company’s new courses are being developed that cover additional aspects of the BMS sector, with the next rollout planned for the first quarter of 2026.