Click on the advert above to visit the company web site

Product category: Cabling, Conduit, Accessories and Signal Conditioning
News Release from: Fibreoptic Industry Association | Subject: SkillsMatch Scheme
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 24 May 2000

Fibreoptic skills database launched

Request your FREE weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter. News about Cabling, Conduit, Accessories and Signal Conditioning and more every issue. Click here for details.

The latest initiative from the Fibreoptic Industry Association is its SkillsMatch Scheme, an online database where any individual, can submit details of their relevant qualifications

The fibre optics industry, in common with other "hi-tech" areas, suffers from a critical shortage of skilled expertise in certain areas In a rapidly growing market, finding skilled people can be a major growth limitation for many companies

Conversely, when compared with other industries, for example, the copper IT cabling market, there is abundance of fibre optic installation training schemes and qualifications.

Many FIA members have difficulty in accessing the right people - who not only have the basic qualifications, but also have the necessary proven ability to manage teams and interface with clients.

The latest initiative from the FIA is its SkillsMatch Scheme, an online database where any individual, can submit details of their relevant qualifications to the FIA who will post them on its online database at www.fibreoptic.org.uk for a small fee.

The applicant does not necessarily have to be a member of the FIA, but must have attained City of Guilds qualifications in the 3466 series or National Vocational Qualifications in IOL or SVC series.

SkillsMatch is constrained to UK national qualifications; however, with many of the major networking and cable manufacturers running well-regarded training courses, there is space on the database for individuals to note qualifications gained from proprietary schemes.

FIA member companies will be able to access this database on-line at anytime bringing prospective employers together with potential employees.

For an annual fee of ?25.00, (including VAT) an individual can register on the "Record Only" section of the SkillsMatch web-base.

This will list full name and qualifications.

This allows employers to check credentials and the FIA will provide information regarding further training and education opportunities in our technology area.

Alternatively, "Full Access" registration via the payment of an associated upgrade fee of ?15.00, (including VAT) displays more information including the general location (city, county etc) and enables FIA member companies to access the individual's selected contact point.

This information is available to all FIA members, all the time, from the web site.

In addition, a list will be e-mailed to all FIA members once per month.

Over a year, this equates to an individual paying an additional 11p per day for advertising to more than 200 prospective employers.

With a severe shortage of skilled people, particularly those with project supervisory and management skills, access to SkillsMatch is a major advantage to member companies - and it is just one of the many services available for an annual subscription of just a few hundred pounds.

Fibreoptic Industry Association: contact details and other news
Email this article to a colleague
Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
Engineeringtalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites