CEDA Technical Conference
Formerly known as the Service Managers Conference, the CEDA Technical Conference has traditionally only been open to CEDA members, however, as the event has grown to be the major event of the year for all involved, directly or indirectly in installation and after sales service of commercial catering equipment, it was decided to open it up to all interested parties.

Peter Kitchin - CEDA Chairman Delegates were welcomed by CEDA Chairman - Peter Kitchin who outlined the days programme and thanked the CEDA Technical Steering Group for organising the conference		CEDA Partners CEDA wish to thank their supplier partners for their continued support The CEDA Technical Conference welcomed those partners who specialiesd in supplies of spare parts and accessories.
David Perry - Scobie and MacIntosh - CEDA Technical Steering Group Member David introduced Pat Barrett of Carnegie College with whom CEDA has been working to introduce a modern apprenticeship scheme for catering equipment engineers		Pat Barrett - Manager - National Gas Training and Assessment Centre - Carnegie College - Dunfermline Pat outlined the new City and Guilds 6224-32 Modern Apprenticeship Course which has been developed by Carnegie College in conjunction with CEDA and Energy Utility Skills.  The 3 year course is based on block release with apprentices attending college for 2 week periods and then returning to their employers for work experience for a further 4 or 5 weeks. The course is now established in Scotland and it is planned to role this out in the rest of the UK in 2009
Kevin Mallon - Skills Director - Energy Utility Skills Kevin explained the role of EU Skills in sourcing funding for the Modern Aprenticeship Course at Carnegie College and also in rolling out the course in the rest of the UK.  He also confirmed that EU Skills would administer an industry accreditation scheme for engineers, with the basic accreditation being based on the succesful completion of the apprenticeship or equivalent qualifications.		Manufacturers' Training Courses Keith Atkins - Parry Catering Equipment Ltd Mark Bloyce - Rational UK Simon Lohse - Hobart UK John Quipp - Lincat Four manufacturers outlined their company policies for training distributors service engineers.  This was followed by a Q&A session when it was established that CEDA had a role to play in organising courses for member companies as part of the proposed engineer accreditation scheme
Jamie Cooper - Technical Support Manager - CORGI Jamie outlined the changes to the ACS assessments to bring them into line with the latest requirements of HSE Catering Information Sheet 23a and also showed the delegates the information about assessments and assessment centres on the CORGI web site. He also gave the audience an update on the transition between CORGI and Capita		Paul Phillips - Manager Water Industry Approved Plumbers Scheme Paul explained the reasons for the introduction of the new "approved catering installer" scheme and outlined the method of testing.  It was at one time expected that the scheme would apply to all service engineers, however after successful lobbying by CEDA and other bodies, it was agreed that the scheme would only apply to installation engineers.
SORRY YOU MISSED IT? If you would like to be included on the mailing list for next years CEDA Technical Conference, please email CEDA Director Peter Kay and let him know