Ever thought of a career as an OFTEC inspector?
Inspectors will play a critical role in the future of the heating industry as we strive to achieve our net zero ambitions, as John Vinter, OFTEC’s inspection services manager, explains.
The heating industry is going through a period of significant change as we begin the transition to renewable heating. It’s an exciting time and, while OFTEC’s commitment to liquid fuel and solid fuel heating remains, we’re seeing rapid growth in heat pump registrations. To encourage and support this, we’ve launched our own heat pump training and assessments which are already proving popular.
It also means we need to expand our team of contracted regional inspectors and build on their skills and experience to meet the challenges of a changing industry.
Most registered technicians are familiar with the OFTEC Inspectors and the work they do. It’s not a glamorous role, but an essential one for an organisation committed to ensuring high standards are met and encouraging continuous improvement. While ‘Inspector’ is an old-fashioned term, the role is anything but - our inspectors must be technology savvy, up to speed with the latest developments in the industry and audit to Government scheme requirements for the competent person scheme (CPS) and microgeneration certification scheme (MCS). Full induction and training on these scheme requirements are provided free of charge.
Conducting an inspection takes a fair bit of organising:
- Confirming everyone is available on the day
- Making sure the technician being inspected knows what to expect
- Measuring work consistently against industry standards (like building regulations, manufacturing instructions, technical books etc.).
As well as carrying out their day-to-day role, OFTEC’s inspectors make an important and valuable contribution as the eyes and ears of the industry. Their feedback helps improve our technical books, training, and the information we publish for registered technicians. The heating industry has a history of always improving and OFTEC’s contract inspectors are very much at the forefront of this process.
There are currently vacancies in OFTEC’s sub-contracted team of regional inspectors, and we would love to hear from you if you’re interested. Ideally, inspectors have at least five years practical experience in the heating industry, but no longer work on the tools, which helps avoid any conflicts of interest. Inspectors work on a contract basis under a service level agreement which provides ample opportunities for flexible working. OFTEC is no longer just about oil heating registration, so experience in renewables, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and solid fuel would be a definite asset.
If you would like to understand more about the role of an OFTEC Inspector, please contact John Vinter at jvinter@oftec.org or visit our website www.oftec.org/careers.