Contractors and unions are to hold crunch talks in a fresh bid to oust Construction Skills Certification Scheme chairman Trevor Walker.
The talks follow August’s failed attempt to force Walker’s resignation by a number of CSCS board members. A motion to remove him failed to pass after Walker used his casting vote as chairman to tie the ballot and save himself.
CSCS chief executive Brian Adams, who is stepping down at Christmas, voted to support Walker, along with three union representatives and the clients’ group board member.
But CM has learned the unions may withdraw their support in return for a commitment from Walker’s opposers that they will develop the current CSCS card amid speculation that the UK Contractors Group wants to abandon it for its own scheme.
A source close to the row said: “Those opposed to Walker could meet with a sympathetic ear if they are committed to developing the CSCS card. The card needs to be much more rigorous in its health and safety requirements, for example, and if there is a commitment to that I suspect the unions will support the rebels. But any talk of establishing a new card when the current one has over a million users is a non-starter.”
UKCG chief executive Stephen Ratcliffe declined to comment on whether his organisation will set up an alternative skill card and refused to confirm upcoming talks with construction unions. He said: “We’re working very hard to resolve the situation. The UKCG is fully committed to having a card scheme that has the full support of all the industry.”
Whilst I agree that the current CSCS card scheme could do more regarding H&S I also think it has come a long way in a short time, to make noises about the UKCG proposals for it’s own scheme somewhat devalues the hard and important work already done within the construction industry by both CSCS and constructors.
Leave it alone but promote and enforce, this will drive H&S standards to an all time high, bringing in another scheme will set us all back 10 years.
David
-With over 1,000,000 users already ,there is no way we are going to accept a new scheme. It would be so much better to restructure the management of the scheme than to bring in something new altogether.The cscs scheme should stand the taste of time just like RICS and CIOB.
After working in government office departments, and being enforced by the Jobcentreplus to acquire a CSCS card that has “No Value”. The fraud thats involved with the Data bank level has incurred to many times, within test centres where I have visited to be Insulted by the MD when investigating by phone. Corruption Strategy Cowboy Success is what its called by practically every person I have been associated with, that I have submitted complaints to Parliament to refund all money to every person who has been Robbed and abolish the false qualification.. This has enforced the majority of people from acquiring employment as they have been altering the answers before submitting to their head office. This information I acquired from a personal freind who works within Data Banking in Parliament and Banks..
The CITB should have abolished the card scheme at the start of this year and still havent.
The HSE has started that it does not matter which accrediting body endorses you ie: CITB, ITSSAR, RTITB, etc.
All accrediting bodies make their policies and syllabuses together so there is absolutely no reason to demand such cards / licences.
So true is this in fact ITSSAR [the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register] have begun taking the companies that demand these CPCS/CSCS cards to court for doing so.
They have not lost a case thus far.
I agree with the comment 27/11/2013. The system for getting new cards is a total shambles. Contacting CSCS is an absolute nightmare, letters don’t work, emails don’t get replies, you can spend half an hour waiting to get through on the phone. The whole system needs rethinking.
The cscs scheme, is an absolute shambles, I have level 1 2 and 3 which entitles me to a gold card, I currently have a blue , so cscs asked me to supply my qualifications which I have lost level 3 certificate. But I have my advanced certificate which you can only obtain by passing 3, also I know guys who only have level 2 or less, and have all been awarded gold cards, so it is very clear that cscs DO NOT CARRY OUT CHECKS to authenticate people’s qualifications, but we are being judged on our abilty by these cards, and we are being forced to pay for it, and yet it is clearly not achieving the very thing it is supposed to do !!!!!!!!!
Typical of the UK construction industry to disenfranchise good people wanting to come into the industry due to poor management, lack of insight and bureaucracy. It’s easier to buy these cards on the black market than to go through the legitimate route.
It seems I will be forced into getting a CSCS card. The things that spring to mind – “if we had too many rules we’d be German and if we didn’t have any rules we’d be French” and where there’s a scheme there’s usually a schemer. Over regulation and data collection seems to be the priority. You have to laugh though “not for profit organisation” as though that’s what ltd stands for…… what, so the directors work for free, they’ll be earning more than any construction worker. The cards have an expiry date, well I never, and you have to pay for an update. I’ve got a black one, I’ve got a gold one. I’ve got a red one…………I know my place. (control of the masses) as you may have guessed this doesn’t float my boat.
It’s a scam and a waste of time I’m not renewing mine or my employees and I only do NHBC sites so if they kick me off so be it but I reckon they will over look it as many already do. Time to abolish this job creating scam that’s just gonna get worse, or just say you’re Polish and get one free with no test.
Not only is this whole process costly and very complex and this is aimed at construction people – some of whom struggle with administration (my son is dyslexic and I have had to help him). A renewal may be easier but a new card completion is a nightmare and I am an exporter so if I struggle then lord help others – the website is not helpful and the links are not good at all some not even working. I gave up on the helpline as they never answered my call with my average wait being 20 minutes plus!!! my son passed the test but the application for the card was terrible!!!
I am a self employed plumber who passed the cscs card last year. I have 3 lads who I would like to employ but they have all failed their cscs card at least two times each. One of the lads is lil bit slow and will never be able to pass so he’s back on the dole and gave up. Why is it so hard when all they will do is pass me tools and help out with cleaning up?
scrap it waste of time
There are thousands of people in the construction industry with 10 – 50 years experience working as highly skilled tradesmen that are being required to get an nvq to qualify for a blue cscs card.
I agree, there needs to be a h and s course relevant but the one i did in 2011 was pathetic – nothing relevant to my experiences in the trade – i do a lot of private work and assumed i was still covered by passing the test.
What a surprise on applying for a recent site job and finding out I had to renew a virtually pointless course after 2 years and getting an NVQ to get a blue card in my own time and expense.
H and S is a very important requirement for management of site but this scheme for workers is nothing but a sickening, money-making scam that should be abolished immediately.
Are people expected to re- take their driving test? – only if they’ve done something outrageous and been prosecuted and convicted.
I honestly think this scheme is an abuse of peoples rights – people who’ve been making a living for many years and learnt their trade and skills the hard way – they re being penalised for not having a bit of paper saying they can do what they can do.
Being self employed leaves you few rights and I’ve seen incompetent people told to leave site many hundreds of times with little or no notice.
I can’t see this scheme helping the construction industry finding the right people for the right job.
Surely a tradesmans tax record alone is proof enough that they are qualified to work in this industry.
Much of the industry is unregulated – these cscs card are just going to exacerate things.
It’s like an extortion racket – you aren’t threatened with violence though – just the means of making a living unless you tow the pointless line.
cscs scheme is a complete rip off and purely a money making scam designed to fleece tradespeople who are already qualified and/or experienced who should not have to pay any extra monies in order to work .
It should be scrapped immediately and all monies refunded. A campaign against the cscs body should be started to do this.
I qualified as an Architect in Australia, so guess what, I wasn’t considered ‘qualified’ by CSCS, as the Architects regulator ARB doesn’t recognise qualifications outside the EU.
Somewhat pathetic to instead be given a ‘graduate’ card when far less experienced poeple in my office were considered professionals.
I’m a 65 year old bricklayer. I’ve been in the trade for over 45 years. My cscs card is up in June 2019 and to renew it I’ve got to pay for a nvq costing over £700. My problem is that my indentures have been lost and there are no records of city and guilds prior to 1975. I refuse to pay to prove that I can do the job. This will effectively make me retire.
12 years working on site. Due to changes i now have to sit the new H&S and environmental test. So thats £180 all in just for the course and card. Plus my fuel and 2 days lost wages .. so all in all £430 lost so i can get back onto a site….just to get a health and safety induction before starting work. I wont be renewing. Construction is in trouble and it has been for years.
These are not a legal requirement, merely a way to short cut checks by company HS workers. We use specialist blast equipment, the only thing the scheme can offer is a pressure washing course. Because using a jet washer is JUST like 240cfm of air at 10 bar!
We have offered as a group to write a course for NVQ but no interest as the service is too specialised.
Don’t confuse not for profit with not making a profit, so long as it all gets spent on admin, offices and meetings that’s all ok.
I am 54 and have been working as TIE since 15 yrs old and have had blue card through CSCS , but TICA are saying to renew my card need to prove I am a lagger with indenture docs which I no longer have or I can only get labourers card .
I am having to turn down work because of this