A new training academy has opened in the West that is focused on building skills in hazardous areas.

Best known as an electrical wholesaler, CNW Electrical Wholesale and Energy Solutions (part of the BGW Group) has branched out to become a provider of hazardous area electrical training in Western Australia.

“We have been talking about this concept, in some form, for around five years,” CNW Training Academy manager Jason Downie says.

“There are quite a few large energy providers in WA, so there is a strong need for quality training.

“We went to industry and asked them what they wanted; we listened to these needs and planned our business around them. Now we’re open and trading as a registered training organisation (RTO).”

In the first instance, CNW Training Academy is offering short courses on electrical equipment for hazardous areas that satisfy AS/NZS 4761 and the nationally accredited UEE11 training package.

“At the moment, we’re focusing on hazardous area electrical work – installation, maintenance, testing, reporting and inspection,” Jason says.

“Our market research has shown that industry is asking for a higher skill level from people who undertake training. There are a lot of organisations that will take someone with a Certificate 3 level understanding of hazardous areas to Cert 4 level in two weeks.

“I’ve been involved in training for a long time and I don’t see how that is possible.

“We’re more concerned with developing the right program, not just offering something for the sake of making money. For us, it’s about the outcome.

“We want to work with organisations and individuals to develop the right skills for the right reasons. We also want them to seek our assistance with their longer-term training requirements so we can tailor programs to suit.”

Jason says the Academy understands that it will take time to become established in the market.

“We don’t have delusional expectations; we have to earn our place in the market. Many training providers appear to promise similar things with similar training and course structures. But we believe once people complete our training they will realise the CNW Training Academy shares the same professional pedigree as the rest of CNW Electrical and its parent company, the BGW Group.

“The initial market response was wariness, which is what we expected. People only know us as a wholesaler, but they have come around quite quickly when we explain what it is we’re trying to do.

“From what we’re hearing, the market is now excited about the CNW Training Academy. They understand that by doing training at CNW Training Academy, they will have the support of the CNW brand behind them.”

Jason says it is the CNW ethos that has brought people to the CNW Training Academy.

“They really want a longer term relationship with someone who has their back. That’s what we’re all about.

“Also, we have very strong ties to suppliers and manufacturers, which put us in a great position to supply the right consumables in courses. We’re not scared to consume materials in courses – for us, if someone needs to fit off 15 glands before they’re competent then they need to fit off 15 glands.

“We work with the right suppliers and manufacturers to access the latest products and technologies to improve the practical skills of our students – this is a major differentiator for us.”

During the market research phase, Jason says industry reported that 80% of concerns among electricians in hazardous areas, strangely, are cable glands.

“Next was the quality of inspector, the use of enclosures and fitting them out in hazardous areas,” he says.

“With cable glands, for example, we try to expose the learner to as many different types as possible in a short course. And we make the courses as hands-on as possible.

“We remain completely brand agnostic – if CNW doesn’t stock a particular brand, it doesn’t mean we won’t use it in our courses.

“We’ve had a number of brands approach us and ask to put things on display, or to make donations and then tie us into their marketing, but we don’t support that approach.”

Jason says the CNW Training Academy will in the future look to offer training in instrumentation, HV jointing and HV switching.

It will then look to expand around the country, once the national registration process is completed.