Mastering electrical safety: a guide to BESC:AME substation training

It may sound obvious, but electrical safety could hardly be more important. And that’s for a number of reasons, including the risks from burns, fires, property damage and electrocution. So training, and appreciating the potential dangers, from overloaded circuits to faulty wiring, and mitigating them through safe practices, are vital to protect life and property and to prevent accidents from happening in the first place.

What is the BESC:AME?

The Basic Electrical Competence for Access, Movement & Egress (BESC:AME) is aimed at those who work on or near operational plant and equipment in electricity transmission and/or distribution settings, including substations. (If you work in a UK Power Network (UKPN) substation, this qualification is a prerequisite.) And you have to pass the relevant BESC:AME assessment for every work area type you enter.

However, you should not confuse BESC:AME with the National Grid Substations course – check carefully in advance whether this is the course you actually need.

This assessment-only scheme encompasses all the basic requirements to enter, move around and leave the working environment safely. It’s not about learning the skills to complete operational work tasks on the electricity network, such as cable jointing.

Those who successfully complete the assessment qualify for certification with the relevant awarding body, and this stays valid for three years from the date of the assessment. So you’ll need to retake it before your certification card expires.

The Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR) is a recognised third-party organisation for the construction sector. It develops and manages the BESC:AME scheme and makes sure providers with the right policies and procedures in place complete the assessments. They also audit providers to ensure a standardised approach to assessment.

Why might I need this training?

Given that this qualification only refers to the assessment, you’ll need training to have the right knowledge and skill level to sit it, and to be familiar with the appropriate safety procedures and documentation.

BESC:AME substation training from Pragmatic Consulting

Founded well over a decade ago, Pragmatic Consulting is all about providing high-quality, affordable training solutions for the vital construction and utilities sectors.

And we offer BESC:AME substation training as a EUSR-approved provider. It’s a one-day course, although the course can be adapted to be shorter or longer, according to what you need. We have extensive knowledge of and expertise in the course content, and will always work at a pace to suit individual delegates.  

The course is assessed through both multiple choice and written assessments, plus an onsite test in which delegates demonstrate their competence and understanding. Then, at the end, we issue relevant certification.

We run these courses from our Stoneleigh Training Centre in Warwickshire throughout the rest of the year, and there are no formal entry requirements.

If you want to book a group of six delegates or more or have a question about this training, give us a call on 01926 674340 or email support@pragmatic-consulting.co.uk

Further reading:

Understanding EUSR BESC AME for Substations: A Guide by Pragmatic Consulting Ltd

The BESC AME training course is beneficial if you are looking to register under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) with LRQA, find out more about what is required in our blog - Are You a NERS Registered Company Under LRQA? Or Planning to Be?

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