Our tutor Paul Smithies is currently working on a new qualification which will be approved by
EAL to meet the requirements of the new Smart Home Technician Apprenticeship. Delivery
is planned to start from October 2024. This apprenticeship is funded by the Government,
100% for learners aged 16-18 and 95% funded for learners aged 19+ with no upper age
limit.
The growth of home networks connected to the internet and the level of communication
between people and devices has created a new technological landscape in which almost
every aspect of our homes can become one home technology ecosystem. From our audio,
video, home cinema, and security systems to our heating, air conditioning, and ventilation
systems, and even our window blinds, doors, and gates, our home environments are
integrating into single, controllable home experiences.
Today’s Smart Home Technician (SHT) is the professional who installs, configures, and
maintains this ecosystem. Their work objective is to deliver a simple, secure, reliable, and
sustainable user experience according to industry best practice and within project timelines
and scope. The SHT will work on construction sites and in homes with senior colleagues
such as a Senior SHT, Smart Home Designer, Networking Specialist, or Home Theatre
Designer to create integrated systems using a variety of equipment and services from other
suppliers. These projects will vary in size and scale from small homes to luxury mansions,
yachts, multi-dwelling developments, and will range from simple component installation to
creating a complex, electronic integrated systems environment.
The SHT will be able to install, configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot a range of electrically
connected Digital Home Technologies or Separated Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) devices. To
do this, the SHT will have a good working knowledge of common hardware, software, IP
networking, audio and visual distribution, and RF systems and user interfaces. Additionally,
they will have appropriate personal skills to deal with home owners and colleagues in
associated construction trades, such as electricians, IT professionals, Security, Access
Control, Fire and Intruder Alarm companies, Lighting designers and Installers, professional
light and sound suppliers, Commercial AV companies
Duration
Typically, 18 – 24 months
Qualifications
Apprentices must achieve level 2 English and maths prior to taking the end-point
assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the
apprenticeships English and maths requirement in Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language
qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary
language.
Level
Level 3 Apprenticeship
SWCA are working in partnership with Zmart Hohm Ltd, who are based in Gloucester.
After leaving college in 2007, company owner Zach Meek decided to start an apprenticeship
with his father’s electrical company in Gloucestershire. The company quickly redirected
interests towards the renewable industry with solar panels starting to become increasingly
financially incentivised for customers. While working on executive homes across the UK,
Zach got to experience several different smart home automation solutions. He could see that
this industry was heading in the right direction; however, he also saw that a lot of the
systems had old-fashioned products and were limited in terms of features.
That’s why Zach created Zmart Hohm. To offer intelligent home and commercial systems fit
for modern properties. To offer systems that give people smart features that make their day-
to-day lives easier, without them having to compromise on convenience.
We now work on and supply systems across the entirety of the UK – from large-scale
commercial projects like offices and restaurants to typical family homes. We’ve worked on
commercial gyms, modern office spaces, MOT testing centres, cocktail bars… the list goes
on. However, while the environment might change our commitment to providing intelligent
systems that simply work without a complicated level of control will never change.
