🎄✨ It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

and this December, we’re adding a sprinkle of holiday magic by introducing Abingdon & Witney College’s Advent Calendar 2024 🎅.

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Join Abingdon & Witney College, an award-winning employer

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Fully accredited ACS Gas Centre on your doorstep!

CCN1 accreditation, Appliances, LPG, Unvented Hot Water, Water Regulations and much more available now.

Call 01235 541 111 for information on all our courses including refresher training.

Take a video tour of the centre

We work in partnership with top quality companies such as Worcester Bosch, Grant & Sons and Anton by Crowcon to make sure our apprentices are using the latest cutting-edge products and technology when they study with us. Our facilities are second-to-none and include a professional gas centre, electrical training bays and a large carpentry workshop.



Dedicated ACS training area...

A full catalogue of courses aimed at registered gas engineers who need to renew their accreditations or returning operatives who have spent some time away from the industry.

Our reassessment courses help you maintain the assurance that you are working safely and legally, and can remain on the Gas Safe Register.

Our courses take place throughout the year, are competitively priced and easy to book.

Call us now on 01235 541111

Staff Profile: Graham Hill

Staff Profile: Graham Hill

Graham joined the teaching community thirteen years ago having previously been a gas engineer for twelve years. He also managed teams of gas engineers as well as managing a gas training and assessment centre.

Since becoming a lecturer, he has mainly trained and assessed level 3 plumbers and gas engineers, as well as trained and/or assessed qualified gas engineers returning to renew their qualifications.

"I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to help design the new gas training and assessment centre in Bicester. I am currently installing the equipment which will support the apprentices learning experience. I am looking forward to meeting the local employers and their apprentices who will join our new centre when it opens.

We are building some of the best facilities in the area which will support the students’ learning and provide them with the widest possible experience in the industry.

The apprentices will have access to some of the latest appliances and training material thanks to direct links with manufacturers such as Worcester Bosch."

Staff Profile: Mark French - Centre Manager

Staff Profile: Mark French - Centre Manager

Mark is a qualified engineer and plumber who spent a number of years working in industry before moving into Further Education nine years ago as a Technician/ Trainer. He taught a mix of full-time students and apprentices at level two and three. He moved on to become Apprenticeship Manager at Abingdon and Witney College, covering areas including construction and engineering.

After a period as Interim Head of Apprenticeships he is now responsible for leading the innovative new Construction Skills Centre in Bicester.

"The best thing about working at the college is working closely with apprentices and employers to help them achieve their goals, whatever their backgrounds and previous experience. As a former apprentice myself I remember that so much of the knowledge I gained at college was not relevant in the workplace, so making sure that we deliver high quality training that makes a difference in the workplace is really important to me.

Particularly for apprentices who are working in SMEs, college provides the opportunity to talk to other apprentices in similar positions to get a broader understanding of how it feels to be an apprentice. For some students it can also be a really big jump into the workplace, and college provides a really important bridge between school or full-time college, and work.

Did you know?

You can add additional appliances to your registration? One day courses available, contact us for details.

Your unvented hot water qualifications also run out every 5 years.

Our students receive a 15% discount & free shipping on ViperGas publications

Our ACS Gas Centre has been Blue Flame certified.

Find out more

You can talk to us about extending your qualifications with LPG.

Hector

I think the facilities here are amazing, everything is brand new and easily accessible. The bays and workstations have been really well thought out and are easy to use and practical. I’ve been learning the basics at the moment; pipe bending and joining and the principles of plumbing. But it’s not all plumbing - we’ve also been studying customer interaction and behaviour which has been very useful. It's taken me a while to get the right apprenticeship , so now I’m on the course I'm definitely going to make the most of it!

Conor

The teaching, facilities and resources are excellent! It’s all brand-new and of the highest quality. We’ve been building up our skills, learning: pipe-bending, soldering, working with steel pipe-work. We’ve also looked at solvent welds and waste management. All-in-all I’ve learnt a lot in quite a short space of time. This course was a career change for me and the possibility of a better life for me and my family is my prime motivation!

Bicester Gas Centre courses

Carpentry & Joinery - Architectural Joiner Level 2 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS350P

Carpentry and Joinery apprentices typically either work on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner. Separate information about site carpentry is also available....

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Carpentry & Joinery

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Carpentry & Joinery - Architectural Joiner Level 3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS200P

Carpentry and Joinery apprentices typically either work on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner. Separate information about site carpentry is also available...

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Carpentry & Joinery

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Carpentry & Joinery - Site Carpenter Level 2 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS150P

Carpentry and Joinery apprentices typically either work on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner. Separate information about architectural joinery is also available....

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Carpentry & Joinery

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Carpentry & Joinery - Site Carpenter Level 3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS250P

Carpentry and Joinery apprentices typically either work on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner. Separate information about architectural joinery is also available....

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Carpentry & Joinery

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Core Gas Safety (CCN1) - Re-assessment Plus Appliances

Part Time XSBT110P

This course will provide you with the certification you need to continue to work as a domestic gas engineer. Candidates must already hold the CCN1 certification to take this course.The course is 5 days in total. 2 and a half days training, and 2 and ...

12th May 2025 - 16th May 2025

Monday to Friday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Core Gas Safety (CCN1) - Re-assessment Plus Appliances

Part Time XSBR106P

This course will provide you with the certification you need to continue to work as a domestic gas engineer. Candidates must already hold the CCN1 certification to take this course.The course is 5 days in total. 2 and a half days training, and 2 and ...

20th Jan 2025 - 24th Jan 2025

Monday to Friday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Core Gas Safety (CCN1) - Re-assessment Plus Appliances

Part Time XSBT111P

This course will provide you with the certification you need to continue to work as a domestic gas engineer. Candidates must already hold the CCN1 certification to take this course.The course is 5 days in total. 2 and a half days training, and 2 and ...

9th Jun 2025 - 13th Jun 2025

Monday to Friday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Core Gas Safety (CCN1) - Re-assessment Plus Appliances

Part Time XSBT107P

This course will provide you with the certification you need to continue to work as a domestic gas engineer. Candidates must already hold the CCN1 certification to take this course.The course is 5 days in total. 2 and a half days training, and 2 and ...

10th Feb 2025 - 14th Feb 2025

Monday to Friday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Core Gas Safety (CCN1) - Re-assessment Plus Appliances

Part Time XSBT108P

This course will provide you with the certification you need to continue to work as a domestic gas engineer. Candidates must already hold the CCN1 certification to take this course.The course is 5 days in total. 2 and a half days training, and 2 and ...

17th Mar 2025 - 21st Mar 2025

Monday to Friday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Foundation Gas Course

Part Time XSBV002P

This intensive course is designed to support candidates who have no previous experience in the gas industry to achieve Gas Safe registration. The course includes the Blue Flame Management Learning Programme which delivers practical and theory trainin...

6th Feb 2024 - 24th Jul 2025

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Foundation Gas Course

Part Time XSBS002P

This intensive course is designed to support candidates who have no previous experience in the gas industry to achieve Gas Safe registration. The course includes the Blue Flame Management Learning Programme which delivers practical and theory trainin...

4th Feb 2025 - 24th Jul 2025

Tuesday & Thursday

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Gas Engineering Operative Level 3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS050P

Gas engineering involves the safe installation, commission, decommission and the ongoing service and repair of gas appliances in either a domestic or non-domestic setting. Appliances can include central heating boilers, unvented hot water storage, co...

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Plumbing & Heating

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
LPG Training and Assessment

Part Time XSBS123P

This course is designed to enable qualified gas engineers to add LPG to their exixting natural gas qualification....

3rd Feb 2025 - 4th Feb 2025

Mondays & Tuesdays

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
LPG Training and Assessment

Part Time XSBS124P

This course is designed to enable qualified gas engineers to add LPG to their exixting natural gas qualification....

2nd Dec 2024 - 3rd Dec 2024

Mondays & Tuesdays

Gas Centre | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS100P

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems....

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Plumbing & Heating

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Plumbing and Heating - Level 2 - NVQ

Part Time XPKV000P

This will allow the learner to become a qualified plumber and is an industry recognised City & Guilds qualification....

4th Feb 2025 - 12th Jan 2026

Tuesday

Construction | Bicester Construction Skills Centre

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Plumbing and Renewables Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship XMBS400P

Plumbing and Renewables Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. Plumbing and Renewables technicians can find themselves working inside or outside a property. Customer service sk...

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Plumbing & Heating

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship Level 2

Apprenticeship XMBS300P

Property Maintenance Operatives optimise property condition and quality and ensure that buildings are kept in a safe working condition whilst providing a high level of satisfaction to customers....

1st Aug 2024 - 31st Jul 2025

Various

Property Maintenance

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Unvented Hot Water: Initial

Part Time XSBR114P

This course will enable candidates to install, commission, repair and maintain domestic unvented hot water cylinders to comply with building regulations and standards....

23rd Sept 2024 - 23rd Sept 2024

Monday

Gas Centre | Net Zero Skills Hub

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Unvented Hot Water: Initial

Part Time XSBR111P

This course will enable candidates to install, commission, repair and maintain domestic unvented hot water cylinders to comply with building regulations and standards....

5th Aug 2024 - 5th Aug 2024

Monday

Gas Centre | Net Zero Skills Hub

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Unvented Hot Water: Initial

Part Time XSBR115P

This course will enable candidates to install, commission, repair and maintain domestic unvented hot water cylinders to comply with building regulations and standards....

11th Nov 2024 - 11th Nov 2024

Monday

Gas Centre | Net Zero Skills Hub

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Unvented Hot Water: Re-assessment

Part Time XSBR118P

This course will enable candidates to install, commission, repair and maintain domestic unvented hot water cylinders to comply with building regulations and standards....

19th May 2025 - 19th May 2025

Monday

Gas Centre | Net Zero Skills Hub

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details
Unvented Hot Water: Re-assessment

Part Time XSBR117P

This course will enable candidates to install, commission, repair and maintain domestic unvented hot water cylinders to comply with building regulations and standards....

13th Jan 2025 - 13th Jan 2025

Monday

Gas Centre | Net Zero Skills Hub

Bicester Construction Skills Centre

View course details