…are open for business!

The RE CPD Learning & Advice Centre Co-ordinators at Waterbeach and Hohne are available to assist with all matters CPD-related, whether it be wanting to further your existing qualifications in a specialist area, guiding you through the RE CPD Virtual Learning Environment e-learning courses, or providing advice and guidance, in a quiet, supportive study area.

 The Learning & Advice Centres are equipped with seven PCs, available for you to book and use, which enable you access to the RE CPD Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), other various e-learning sites, and use of Microsoft programs including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.

What will the Centres offer?

All serving Royal Engineers, and their dependents, can access the Centre and its facilities for free. Use of the RE CPD VLE is also free of charge. The RE CPD VLE offers you around 40 e-learning courses, including courses designed to improve your skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft PowerPoint, as well as courses aimed at improving and developing your communication, leadership, management, and numeracy and literacy skills.

The VLE also offers you the chance to complete the seven European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) modules, as well as courses in Health & Safety, Leadership & Management, and Personal Development.

The Centres are available to offer you advice and guidance about the RE CPD Senior Awards Scheme, the City & Guilds-accredited management qualification which is funded by the RE CPD Team, as well as the RE CPD Bursary Scheme, through which you could claim back some, or all, of your fees for any external course/qualification you may wish to undertake.

Anyone needing to complete the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations Upgrade course is also able to use the facilities within the Centres, to undertake the Defence Learning Portal (DLP) pre-learning, and the City & Guilds online examination.

Where are the Centres?

The Waterbeach Centre is located on the first floor of Building 98, on Waterbeach Barracks, near the PRI Shop, opposite the Main Square.

The Hohne Centre is located within Building WB19, on Campbell Barracks, Hohne.

What are the Centres’ opening hours?

The Waterbeach Learning & Advice Centre will be open on:

Mondays:  1100hrs – 1700hrs

Tuesdays:  1000hrs – 1200hrs and 1500hrs – 1900hrs

Wednesdays:  1000hrs – 1700hrs

The Hohne Learning & Advice Centre will be open on:

Mondays:  1000hrs – 1600hrs

Tuesdays:  1000hrs – 1600hrs

Wednesdays:  1100hrs – 1800hrs

Contact information:

For more information, an informal chat, or for further details about the services that the Waterbeach Centre will provide, please visit the Learning & Advice Centre Co-ordinator, at the Centre, call on 01223 441834, or send an e-mail to kim.judge@re-cpd.org.uk

For more information, an informal chat, or for further details about the services that the Hohne Centre will provide, please visit the Learning & Advice Centre Co-ordinator, at the Centre,  call on +495051 9702094, or send an e-mail to kelly.greenwood@re-cpd.org.uk

Wish that you could learn on-line? 

Well now you can! The RE CPD Virtual Learning Environment (RE CPD VLE), a brand new on-line learning facility exclusively for the Royal Engineers community is now available to registered users at www.re-cpd.charitylearningonline.org.

The RE CPD VLE offers a range of e-learning courses, including various generations of IT Skills (i.e. European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) modules, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows and Internet Explorer); Personal Development; Customer Service; Health & Safety; Leadership & Management; Communication Skills and Literacy, and many more.

To access the RE CPD VLE, eligible personnel need a username and password from the RE CPD Team.

The following categories of user are eligible to use the RE CPD VLE:

• Serving Royal Engineers, including Territorial Army
• Spouses/partners of Royal Engineers (Regular Army only)
• Civil servants working within the Royal Engineers
• Other civilians working with Royal Engineers

For more information about the RE CPD VLE, and to obtain an application form for use, please contact the Facilities & Communications Department on 94661 2959 / 01634 822959, or via e-mail: enquiries@re-cpd.org.uk

**City & Guilds 2382-10 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations Upgrade BS7671 (2008)**

Attention all ME (Elec) Class 2 and Class 1, and Clk of Works (E) currently serving in the workplace – you are required to gain this qualification in order to continue practising:

You are required to upgrade your qualifications to the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.

The qualification consists of a number of modules and simulation assessments to be undertaken on the Defence Learning Portal (DLP). It is vital that you receive a log-on to the DLP in order to access these modules, as these form part of the pre-learning required to undertake the online City & Guilds examination. Please ask your Line Manager to contact the RE CPD Team Enquiries Department on the numbers below to ensure that you receive a log-on from the DLP. On successful completion of the DLP learning package and exam simulator, you will have initial competency recognised by the Corps.

Once you have completed this learning on the DLP, your Line Manager is requested to register you with the RE CPD Team to enable you to take the online City & Guilds examination. Once your Line Manager has completed this, they will be able to remotely schedule your online examination date and time.

Undertaking the online City & Guilds examination will require a PC linked to the internet. Access can be gained through any PC with a reliable internet connection (but not via military internet).

Please see details below of DefLog VQ Trust Learning Resource Centres (open to serving Royal Engineers) and new RE CPD Learning & Advice Centres where you may also be able to access a PC and internet:

Access to PCs at the RE CPD Learning & Advice Centres can be arranged through the RE CPD Learning & Advice Centre Co-ordinators. For the Waterbeach Learning & Advice Centre, please contact Kim Judge, on 01223 441834 or via kim.judge@re-cpd.org.uk . For the Hohne Learning & Advice Centre, please contact Kelly Greenwood, on +49 5051 9702094 or via kelly.greenwood@re-cpd.org.uk .

Use of DefLog VQ Trust Learning & Resource Centres for internet access must be arranged in advance with the coordinator of the LRC (contact details for LRC coordinators can be found at http://www.vqtrust.org.uk/page/learning_resource_centres by clicking on the centre name on the map).

The online testing is very straightforward to set up, and involves installing a secure web browser, which, when activated, will ‘lock down’ the PC for the duration of the assessment (2 hours). It is possible for the test to be taken ‘offline’, should your internet connection be slow or unreliable.

Only one attempt at the exam will be funded by the RE CPD Team, at a cost of £30. Further attempts will be at the individual’s own expense. On successful completion of the City & Guilds online examination, you will be classed as fully competent by industry.

For more information about this qualification, and the procedures involved in gaining it, please contact the RE CPD Enquiries Department on 01634 822959 or 94661 2959, or contact us via e-mail at enquiries@re-cpd.org.uk

A member of the RE CPD Team attended the graduation of a number of Royal Engineers, who had completed a Foundation Degree in Science in Applied Computing, at the Royal School of Military Survey (RSMS).

The Royal School of Military Survey has been actively involved in training Royal Engineers at Hermitage for the last 60 years.

The recent introduction of Geographical Information Systems has had a significant impact on how the Geographic Technicians go about their business. By completing the Foundation Science Degree, Geographical Technicians are able to take an active role in current operations. With the knowledge and skills that these Technicians have gained on this course, they are more likely to be employed in various, critical appointments across the Armed Forces.

Staff at Hermitage are working closely with Sheffield Hallam University to introduce a structured programme of Continuous Personal Development from 2009, which will provide an opportunity for graduates of this course to achieve an Honours Degree in the years to come.

Under the terms of an agreement between the Royal Engineers Vocational Education & Training Trust (REVETT) and the DEFLOG VQ Trust, Royal Engineers personnel now have access to the twelve Learning Resource Centres (LRCs) operated by the DEFLOG VQ Trust, subject to the following conditions:

• DEFLOG VQ Trust learners must always have priority use of the facilities.
• Where Royal Engineers personnel require courses such as the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or others available through LearnDirect, they may enrol at and receive support from any of the following 6 DEFLOG VQ TRUST LRCs:

Aldershot

Abingdon

Bielefeld

Colchester

Hullavington

Marchwood

• Where Royal Engineers personnel require the use of facilities such as internet or e-mail, they must contact the DEFLOG VQ Trust Learning Resource Centre concerned and book the necessary facilities in advance.
• Where Royal Engineers personnel receive a service from a DEFLOG VQ Trust Learning Resource Centres for which there is an unavoidable charge, for example where there is a course or examination fee not funded by another organisation, the individuals concerned are responsible personally for paying it. In some case such fees may be recovered either through the Army’s Standard Learning Credit (SLC) system or from REVETT, but only if arranged in advance in accordance with applicable Regulations. However, many courses and tests may be provided free of charge.
• Royal Engineers personnel accessing DEFLOG VQ Trust Learning Resource Centres are to comply with all verbal and written instructions relating to the use of such facilities, including directions and requests from LRC staff.
• Learning commitments given are to be honoured in full unless genuine operational, medical or compassionate reasons prevent this, in which case LRC staff must be notified promptly in advance.
• Appointments made must be kept or properly rescheduled or cancelled by contacting staff of the LRC concerned in advance.

DEFLOG VQ Trust Learning Resource Centre Contact Details:

Centre:	Contact:	Civilian Tel:	Military Tel:	E-mail address:
Abingdon	Linda Hilton	07957 626475	94256 3639	lrc.abingdon@vqtrust.org.uk
Aldershot	Suzanne Martin	01252 348877	94222 3877	lrc.aldershot@vqtrust.org.uk
Bielefeld	Tony Glynn	0049 52192 543327	94881 3327	lrc.bielefeld@vqtrust.org.uk
Bulford	Paul Maton	01980 672252	94321 2252	lrc.bulford@vqtrust.org.uk
Catterick	Carol Hutchinson	01748 875648	94731 5648	lrc.catterick@vqtrust.org.uk
Colchester	Barbara Huston	01206 815394	94660 5394	lrc.colchester@vqtrust.org.uk
Deepcut	Suzanne Martin	01252 348877	94222 3877	lrc.deepcut@vqtrust.org.uk
Gutersloh	Paul Kelly	0049 5241 843264	94873 3264	lrc.gutersloh@vqtrust.org.uk
Hullavington	Samantha Cornelioues	01666 508807	94387 8807	lrc.hullavington@vqtrust.org.uk
Leconfield	Diane Kenyon	01482 678363	94775 5406	lrc.leconfield@vqtrust.org.uk
Lisburn	Helen Snape	02892 266909	94914 4966	lrc.lisburn@vqtrust.org.uk
Marchwood	Stuart Hamilton	02380 862195	94273 8638	lrc.marchwood@vqtrust.org.uk
UK Operations Manager	George Forbes	01482 678353

This is an exciting development, and REVETT and its RE CPD Team are most grateful to the management and staff of the DEFLOG VQ Trust for this generous offer.

It is hoped that, when REVETT opens its RE CPD Learning & Advice Centres (LACs), reciprocal provision for DEFLOG VQ Trust learners will be possible.

More information about DEFLOG VQ Trust can be found at their website, www.vqtrust.org.uk 

Now you can gain the three nationally recognised academic qualifications which are suitable for Officer, Warrant Officer, SNCOs and Civil Servants, and now, these give you university admission credit points.

This can lead to a foundation degree, a cost effective Honours Degree, or accelerated progress through an MSc or MBA programme.

Subject to your eligibility, you can use your Standard Learning Credits (SLCs), Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs), or the RE CPD Bursary Scheme to help you with course costs.

The BTEC Professional Management Studies course offered by the Wiltshire and Somerset Colleges’ Partnership has been specifically designed for both military and MOD civilian personnel serving in the UK, abroad or at sea. It is a flexible programme, sub-divided into 3 certification levels: Award, Certificate or Diploma.

For more information click here or contact Christina Doyle of WSCP on 01823 366312 or email christina.doyle@somerset.ac.uk

Did you know that you can gain several qualifications by completing an Army Diver course? Click here for more information.

We are proud to announce that the candidates from the pilot course in February 2008 have received their certificates from the Commander of 1 RSME, Col G Wilmhurst-Smith.

We will now be offering this stand alone unit from the Health and Safety for People at Work National Standards on a regular basis. This unit has been specifically designed for individuals required to review health and safety conditions in a learning environment. It encompasses two elements: the first is preparing to undertake a review of health and safety in a workplace and the second is carrying out a review of workplace health and safety implementation. If you require further details, please contact us at our Brompton office on 01634 822959.

The RE CPD Team is working with staff of the Construction Engineering School’s Professional Engineering Wing and the University of Greenwich at Medway to develop Foundation Degrees for Clerk of Works and Military Plant Foreman courses.

Initial development will be funded by the Royal Engineers Vocational Education & Training Trust (REVETT). Detailed work will commence shortly and will involve Major (Retd) Nigel Capel, Chief Executive RE CPD, Major Peter Helme RE, the Wing’s Senior Instructor Technical Training, and Dr Stuart Ashenden, the Director of Resources and Recruitment at the University.

This exciting development follows on from the successful introduction of Foundation Degrees for Geo Techs training at the Royal School of Military Survey (RSMS).

The SSC have published their consolidated assessment strategy for Construction and the Built Environment sector.

It provides principles and guidance to awarding bodies to ensure that the assessment of NVQs is credible within the Construction and Built Environment sector. A copy of this can be downloaded here .