Skip to main content

Latest News
and Updates

Welcome to our News page, the essential resource for everything happening at Hampshire Training and Assessments and across the trades industry. Here, you'll find a curated collection of our latest blog posts, industry updates, and practical tips and hints to help you succeed. Whether you're a new learner considering a career change or an existing professional looking to stay ahead, our articles offer valuable insights, advice on our courses, and the latest news from the world of gas, plumbing, electrical, and construction. Dive in and explore, your next piece of knowledge is just a click away!

Centre acheivements
LCL Awards Inclusivity Charter
Building a Brighter, More Inclusive Future

Discover how our family-run center is breaking down barriers and building a more supportive, diverse future for the building services engineering industry.

Gas Updates to industry
Mastering IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4: The 2026 Guide to New Gas Testing Standards

Learn how the 2026 IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 update shifts industry standards from meter-based to volume-based tightness testing and discover the new compliance requirements for gas engineers.

Electrical Updates to industry
The 2026 EICR Regulations “Renewal Cliff”: How Electricians Can Prepare for the Surge

Five years ago, the industry saw an unprecedented surge in demand as EICRs became mandatory across the private rented sector. Now, the clock has nearly run out. April 2026 marks the first major ‘renewal cliff,’ where thousands of certificates issued in 2021 hit their expiry date simultaneously.

Combined with new, strict safety mandates for social housing and a 28-day window for remedial works, the next 12 months represent both a logistical nightmare and a massive commercial opportunity for electrical firms. Is your business prepared to handle the bottleneck, or will you be left chasing the surge? Here is how to audit your database, streamline your reporting, and secure your schedule before the rush begins.

Electrical Updates to industry
An Electrical Apprenticeship in the UK or professional in a hands-on course inspecting notes and a circuit board, learning to work with a consumer unit at Hampshire Training and Assessments.
The 2026 EICR Deadline: Why Your “Experience” Is No Longer Enough

The “experience-only” route for EICR inspections officially ends on October 1st, 2026. With the introduction of mandatory individual Level 3 qualifications and the upcoming BS 7671 Amendment 4, the bar for electrical safety has been raised. Is your business ready for the shift, or are you at risk of being sidelined? Read our breakdown of the key compliance dates and how to secure your Level 3 certification before the deadline.

ELCAS Funding
Poster promoting a 10% discount for Blue Light Card holders at Hampshire Training and Assessments. Features a blue and white design with emergency service symbols, including a police badge, fire helmet, medical cross, and military insignia. Text highlights the discount and mentions eligibility for ELCAS users.
Unlock 10% Off with Your Blue Light Card at Hampshire Training and Assessments

At Hampshire Training and Assessments, we deeply appreciate the dedication of those who serve our communities and country. To show our gratitude, we’re excited to…

Career Electrical Funding Renewables
Electric vehicle charging station with multiple charge points installed at a workplace parking lot, symbolizing government grants supporting EV infrastructure
Important Changes to OZEV Home and Workplace Charge Point Grants: What You Need to Know for 2026/27

The UK government is updating OZEV home and workplace charge point grants for 2026/27, extending key schemes with increased funding while closing others by March 2026. These changes simplify access, introduce a new digital platform, and adjust grant rates to support the transition to electric vehicles. Stay informed on what this means for homeowners, businesses, and education institutions.

Funding
Get Your Trade Training Fully Funded: A Guide to the DWP Low Value Provision

Are you ready to trade in your current situation for a high-demand career in Gas, Electrical, or Plumbing? If you are currently receiving benefits, the path to becoming a qualified professional might be fully funded for you through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Career
Signpost with arrows pointing in different directions labelled Sales, Marketing, Business and Vision against a blue sky background.
Marketing & Advertising Tips for Trade Businesses, big or small!

Running a trade business is non-stop. Between jobs, quotes, paperwork and customer calls, marketing often gets pushed aside. But the truth is simple: the busiest…

Plumbing Updates to industry
Blue industrial water pipe valve with handwheel control on a commercial water system.
Water Regs UK Updates RPZ Valve Installation & Testing Guidance (Effective 1st January 2025)

RPZ valves are one of the most important backflow prevention devices used to protect public water supplies, so testing accuracy and correct installation methods are absolutely critical. These updated Water Regs UK requirements are a positive step forward for the industry, ensuring testers are using reliable equipment, following consistent procedures, and maintaining competency over time. Ultimately, it raises standards and strengthens confidence in compliance testing across the UK.

Visit our Training Centre

Come and see for yourself! Visit our purpose-built training centre at Hampshire Training and Assessments to meet the team, see our practical facilities and find the perfect course to start your new career.

Contact us

Your Next Mission: Transitioning to a Civilian Career with ELCAS

As an approved training center for the MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Scheme, we are proud to support members of the Armed Forces in their pursuit of lifelong learning. The ELC Scheme is a valuable initiative designed to help service leavers and personnel gain nationally recognised qualifications, easing their transition into a civilian career. We are dedicated to providing high-quality, industry-relevant training that honors your service by helping you validate your existing skills and acquire new ones, opening up a world of opportunities in the trades.

Find out more
Two paratroopers with black flippers on their feet jump out of the open ramp of a plane over a large body of water.
Contact us

Your journey starts here!

Have questions about your training journey? Lily, our friendly office administrator, is on hand to answer all of your enquiries. From course details to enrollment, she's here to guide you and make the process of gaining your new qualifications as simple as possible.

Lily, an office staff member, smiles while talking on the phone at her desk, with a computer monitor in front of her displaying the Hampshire Training and Assessments website.

    Earn trade qualifications with our partners