elearning-training.com,  the industry award winning online training platform introduced by Star Learning Solutions, part of Star Refrigeration back in 2005 have awarded more that 2000 CPD Certificates since last March and more than 10,000 in the last 5 years. 

elearning-training.com launched an international campaign last March offering free Refrigeration and Air Conditioning eLearning courses to anyone with an interest in the industry. The portal provides a modern alternative to traditional methods of training and delivers knowledge on demand by allowing students to access learning material at any time and from any place, simply by logging onto the website with a user name and a password. The website offers online courses and qualifications certified by City & Guilds, CIBSE, and The Construction CPD Certification Service and the number of students enrolled in the courses has reached 12,000 recently. The Refrigeration and Air conditioning Fundamentals courses are still available at no cost via www.elearning-training.com and are targeted to refrigeration, air conditioning and heating technicians, plumbers, electricians and mechanics who need some basic understanding on how these systems work.

In response to new market challenges and customer demands the online learning platform,  which began offering CPD (continuing professional development) certified eLearning courses six years ago, is now offering a range of solutions including, full qualifications, bespoke courses and a free library containing a wealth of technical information -health & safety, standard specifications, method statements, risk assessments and more-. It also offers license agreements based on course provision and/or LMS provision use to end users, suppliers, contractors and training centres worldwide. 

Currently, Star Learning Solutions resources are vastly dedicated to F-Gas Certification as according to the company this is an extremely busy period since the EU requires that all personnel working with refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems obtain the European F-Gas certificate. Astrid Prado, marketing manager of Star Learning Solution clarifies that “although there was a last minute rush to get certified for F-Gas before the deadline of 4th of July, many technicians have not yet been able to obtain such accreditation. Also in some countries in Europe the certification process is slow.  We are expecting more partnership with other European training providers to deliver the F-gas qualification using the elearning methodology: the theory training is online via the elearning courses and the practical training and exam to obtain the full accreditation is carried out at the local training provider’s centre.”

This training and assessment methodology offers contractors a very appealing solution since it reduces personnel travel and accommodation expenses but also significantly reduces the amount of time technicians are off work. Astrid Prado believes that “this alternative training method will play a greater role in addressing the industry’s skills needs in the future. We are already witnessing the launch of new e-Learning initiatives from different organisations around Europe as the industry is suffering a major upskilling of the workforce due to recent changes in regulation and the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies. This is driving demand for readily available information and educational resources as well as new job opportunities.”

elearning-training.com is also offering CO2 Refrigeration training for retail operators Marks & Spencers and Tesco using this unique method: theory underpinning knowledge online + 1 day assessment or training at any of our 9 UK centres. Marks & Spencer’s practical training is carried out at Oaksmere training premises. In both cases, when candidates arrive to the centre for practical training, they have already mastered the basics, which means  that technicians are able to focus entirely on the practical side of things.

elearning-training.com have been working closely with the British Refrigeration Association and City & Guilds in the development of a new vocational qualification for CO2 Refrigeration.  This is now in the final stages and it will be released later this year. The qualification will cover Installation & Commissioning and Service & Maintenance of CO2 systems and will be structured in a similar way to the F-Gas Assessment. Also, a new course on Pressure testing will be launched at the end of the month.

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