WJA’s vocational water jetting qualification boosts competence and commercial success

A water jetting contractor is demonstrating how the Water Jetting Association’s Level 2 Water Jetting Technician Certificate can be used to grow competent and confident teams that deliver high quality work and win more business.

WJA member Rentajet Group Limited agreed to pilot the new ABBE-accredited qualification – the first designed to demonstrate competency in water jetting – and has now built it into its workforce development programme.

Combined with other training and team-building initiatives, the company, which trades as RGL Services, has widened the scope of the WJA’s Level 2 water jetting qualification in its aim to build high-performance teams.

‘This has won us new contracts’

RGL Services Contract Manager Jack Wood said: “Integrating the WJA Level 2 water jetting technician programme into our workforce development strategy has been very positive for us.

“A key advantage is that the qualification gives our operatives a Blue CSCS card, which is required by key leading contractors to work on their sites. There’s no doubt that it’s won us new contracts.

“Without it, there was less chance we would have been selected. The qualification has become part of RGL’s competitive edge. Customers are reassured that our staff work in safe environments. It’s now an important selling point.”

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “RGL has done a fantastic job of proving this new qualification’s value. Their experience will make it easier for other water jetting contractors to improve their safety and performance by adopting it themselves. Promoting the Leve 2 certificate is a priority for the WJA in 2026.”

Part of a competent learning team

Julie Kehoe, RGL’s Contracts Administrator, who has worked with operatives to gather and collate evidence needed to pass the Vocational Qualification (VQ), sees candidates grow in confidence.

She said: “They learn that they need to stand back and think about what they’re doing. This makes them more confident. It also makes them more capable of working in a competent, learning team, motivating colleagues to work more safely and smartly. It’s making a real difference.”

The qualification now forms a key part of the career progression process at RGL. Obtaining the WJA’s first VQ is a key step the pathway to becoming a team leader at the expanding business.

Workshop technicians at RGL are now also being offered the chance to obtain the WJA’s first VQ, so they better understand how colleagues use the equipment that they maintain and repair.

RGL is working with Priestman Associates LLP to run the programme. Priestman Associates co-developed the qualification with ABBE and the WJA and continues to act as the WJA’s programme partner.

WJA qualification ‘part of RGL’s success story’

Mark Priestman, of Priestman Associates, said: “RGL’s experience and impressive application of the qualification demonstrates the advantages it delivers for water jetting contractors.

“It can help develop higher-performing, safer, more commercially successful, and more resilient operational teams. Using it as an appraisal and team-building tool is part of RGL’s success story.

“The WJA’s qualification is the first that dovetails water jetting competence with wider industry standards, especially in the construction sector. This will create more business opportunities for contractors who, like RGL, embrace it.”

RGL Services, based in Romsey, Hampshire, delivers specialist water jetting solutions for industrial, marine and construction projects, including hydrodemolition, surface preparation, tube bundle cleaning, and abrasive water jetting cutting.

To complete the WJA Level 2 certificate, delegates must have passed the WJA Safety Awareness course plus at least two out of the six WJA Practical Modules, one of which must be Surface Preparation.

They then complete at least 122 hours of guided learning. It could last longer depending on their capability and work carried out. This should give a total of at least 174 hours of structured and assessed learning time.

Find out more

Go to the WJA training web page to find out more about the ABBE-accredited Level 2 Water Jetting Technician course, and our City & Guilds-accredited training programme.

Or talk to the WJA today.
Telephone: +44 (0)208 320 1090.
Email: info@waterjetting.org.uk.