Industry Placement card set to launch ahead of new academic year

by Clair Mooney | 6 Sep, 2021 | CSCS, Skills

The Industry Placement card is to be made available by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and a number of other partner schemes on 1 September 2021, in time for the new academic year.

Initially announced back in June, the card is for learners aged sixteen or above on qualification or training programmes requiring a minimum of 30 days’ work placement, which is intended to ultimately lead to a job in construction and the built environment.

The card is designed to support learners transitioning from the classroom to the workplace and mirrors changes to educational policy in the UK, which have seen an increased focus on vocational education.

This includes the introduction of the Traineeship Skills Development Programme and T Level qualifications, with these new pathways into construction involving a mixture of classroom learning and extensive on-the-job experience.

Initially the following four card schemes will make the card available from 1 September 2021:

• The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
• The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS)
• The Engineering Services SKILLcard
• JIB Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services (JIB PMES)

All card schemes are keen to highlight the importance of applying to the card scheme relevant to the learner’s chosen construction pathway. For example, a learner undertaking a T Level in Building Services Engineering with a specialist pathway in Protection Systems Engineering should apply to the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme.

The introduction of the Industry Placement card follows extensive engagement with the industry including engagement with the Construction Leadership Council and the Department for Education, alongside feedback from an industry-wide consultation carried out in early 2021.

Visit the Industry Placement card page for further information and application requirements.

NEBOSH qualification now accepted for CSCS Academically Qualified Person registration

by Clair Mooney | 6 Aug, 2021 | CSCS, Skills

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is to formally recognise the NEBOSH Health & Safety Management for Construction (UK) qualification for its Academically Qualified Person (AQP) card, effective immediately.  CSCS, the UK’s leading skills certification scheme within the construction industry, will accept the qualification alongside a range of already recognised NEBOSH courses, with applicants required to supply a copy of their qualification while also passing the CITB Managers and Professionals Health, Safety and Environment Test.

The course will replace the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, although both will run in tandem until 21 July 2023 to allow existing learners to complete their final assessment.  The new course is primarily intended for construction site managers, contract managers, site workers with health and safety responsibilities and construction health and safety advisors.  It centres on areas including workplace injuries and illness, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, employee wellbeing and demonstrating, as well as strengthening, health and safety culture.

Applicants can apply for their AQP card online via CSCS’s online service, with the card valid for five years from issue.  The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is a leading global organisation, which provides health, safety and environmental qualifications.  Their internationally recognised qualifications help to raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace.

How should students on industry placements be recognised by card schemes?

by Clair Mooney | 11 Mar, 2021 | CSCS, Skills

Following the introduction of T Levels and a request from the Department for Education (DfE) for employers to recognise formal work experience, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has asked CSCS to carry out a consultation exercise on how students on industry placements should be consistently recognised by card schemes carrying the CSCS logo.  FIS encourage members to complete this survey which may lead to the introduction of a new easily identifiable card based on either the existing Trainee or Work Experience cards already used by a number of card schemes.

RICS recognised by CSCS

by Clair Mooney | 3 Mar, 2021 | CSCS, Skills

CSCS has announced that Associate and Chartered members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) can use their memberships to apply for CSCS cards.

A CSCS card provides proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do on site.  In most cases applicants are required to achieve a recognised construction related qualification (usually an NVQ or SVQ) as well as pass the Construction Industry Training Board’s health, safety and environment test within the last two years

CSCS also offer cards for members of certain recognised Professional Bodies.  In such instances, applicants for CSCS cards can use their Professional Body membership to prove their competence, rather than the achievement of a vocational qualification or other equivalents.

CSCS has worked closely with the RICS to carry out a detailed mapping exercise of their membership criteria.  As a result, the following CSCS cards can now be offered to those at the following level of RICS membership:

Alan O’Neile, Head of Communications at CSCS said: “This is another great example of the industry working together to improve standards and safety on UK construction sites.  The RICS have been maintaining professional standards in chartered surveying for over 150 years and it is their commitment to continual professional development that really ties in with the objectives of the PQP card.”  The PQP card is valid for five years and all applicants must pass the CITB Managers and Professionals Health, Safety and Environment Test.

When applying for this card, Associate RICS members will need to provide a letter from the RICS confirming how they gained their membership to ensure that they are applying for the correct card.

Student and Chartered RICS members must provide proof of their current RICS membership.