To try and clarify the position of the MCEA and AWS, and some insight into both.
The AWS was set up as a Trade Organisation by the NCC and in its early days only had Dealer workshop participants, as mobiles were not very well known or as many as there are today.
The MCEA was set up by a long time caravan engineer as he saw the need for mobile engineers as well as fixed workshops.
The AWS relied on workshops training their engineers on site (and on YOUR vans), not by necessarily qualified people but by those who had "been working" on vans for a number of years.
The need for qualifications came in not so long ago, about 10 or so years ago.
The MCEA training is not advertised or promoted as the ONLY training anyone needs, in fact it is a very basic INTRODUCTION to caravan servicing.
From the initial training it is up to each engineer to get all the necessary training from the various manufacturers, but some of the actual van manufacturers refuse to offer any training other than to their dealer network or specially chosen Mobiles.
Most of the equipment makers, ie Truma, Al-Ko, Thetford, , do offer training sessions but they all cost a considerable amount of money , but without them an engineer cannot do his job.
On top of that , every Mobile engineer MUST be Gas qualified and the MINIMUM qualification is ACoPS.
Gas Safe is not a requirement but is preferable if available, but at £3000 to gain Gas Safe it is out of the reach of many Mobiles.
Every mobile MUST be qualified in LV (Mains) and ELV (12v) electrics.
In most dealer workshops there may be one qualified person for gas and one for electric who oversee any work done by others who are not actually qualified.
Add to the training, qualifications, time and accommodation costs, then comes all the tools and special tools and safety equipment, paperwork, update training, vehicle, comprehensive stock of spares, Insurance etc etc etc and the Mobile guy has a lot riding on his reputation, and his lack of bank balance to recoup over a number of years.
There is no formal Apprenticeship route, I know as I tried to get an Apprentice but the Scheme could only offer either a Gas Fitters course, OR an Electricians course, or a Water course.
They would not even entertain a multi skill course covering just what a caravan engineer needs to know, which is a shame as it stops some very talented young people from doing a very interesting and varied work .
Lastly, the idea that there is some rivalry between AWS and MCEA is only held by a blinkered few, as many of the MCEA trained engineers have gone on to become AWS members too.
The MCEA actually offers very good backup to engineers with help only a phone call away if needed. the AWS offers NOTHING to its members other than a number of service year stickers, and very expensive courses which are not very good.
The MCEA has taken the very dangerous subject of Gas and CO testing to the next level and all the MCEA trained members will do comprehensive testing of the gas system and its combustion products with the use of very expensive Combustion Analysers, unlike dealer workshops who do NOT , as it is NOT a requirement of the AWS to carry out combustion testing , despite the topic being brought up many times that I know of.
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