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IIn the next of a series of moves to enhance the robustness of cardholder qualifications, CSCS and SKILLcard are requiring all applicants to have satisfactorily completed the CITB health, safety and environment test or approved equivalent. This will now be the only way to show satisfactory evidence of health and safety compliance other than the exception gained by completing the H&S requirements of an apprenticeship which will also be recognised.

SKILLcard’s Head of Certification, Duncan Sibbald said: “By introducing this change to our acceptance criteria for applicants gaining a SKILLcard,...

Applying for Engineering Services SKILLcards has been made easier and quicker following the launch of a new online service.

The Engineering Services SKILLcard is operated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and is held by more than 60,000 people working in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. It provides evidence that they have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out on construction sites. Engineering Services was the first of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) affiliated cards to go...

As the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) prepares to stop issuing Construction Site Visitor cards from 28 February 2020, we would like to assure all current SKILLcard Construction Site Visitor cardholders that their card remains valid until its stated expiry date.

SKILLcard is discussing the future of this card with CSCS and further announcements will follow. Until then, SKILLcard will continue to accept applications and issue Construction Site Visitor cards.

If you are a Construction Site Visitor cardholder and would like to speak to a member of our team please call 01768...

Work has commenced by SKILLcard to develop a framework to close the CRO application route and identify paths for those affected occupations to be signposted to an agreed industry qualification for that occupation. In cases where occupations are deemed non-construction related, the current SKILLcard route will be withdrawn. 

SKILLcard would like to reassure all CRO cardholders that their current card remains valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

The withdrawal of SKILLcard CRO cards will be a phased approach, starting with a small number of affected occupations. SKILLcard will be in...

As the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) prepares to stop issuing Construction Related Occupation (CRO) cards from 31st March 2017, we would like to assure all current SKILLcard CRO cardholders that their card is not affected by the recent CSCS announcement and remains valid until its stated expiry date.

SKILLcard will continue to accept applications and issue CRO cards relevant to the engineering services industry until further notice.

We will contact all current SKILLcard CRO cardholders in the lead up to their expiry date, with further information and guidance going forward.

It has been reported this week that construction workers across the UK should be prepared to show their cards, with news of an industry-wide card audit planned for Wednesday 8^th February 2017.

With member companies of Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association being instructed to check all cards on that day, to ensure that they are up to date and of the smart card variety.

The audit is seeking to promote the value of the smart technology used by SKILLcard, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and other CSCS partner schemes to drive increased industry uptake and...

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has confirmed plans to stop issuing Construction Related Occupation (CRO) cards, which will come into effect from 31st March 2017.

As a partner of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, we are working with CSCS to provide alternative solutions for current CRO cardholders.

SKILLcard will contact all CRO cardholders with further information as it becomes available, including guidance around the alternative solutions going forward.

The Building Engineering Services Association recently sponsored a RAC/H&V round table debate attended by representatives from across the industry including M&S, Sainsbury’s and the Institute of Refrigeration. The debate discussed the well documented skills shortage within the industry, and considered the importance of evidencing an operative’s competence.

Many industry experts have called upon the HVACR sector to use training to tackle what they regard as a pressing skills shortage. Paul Alway manager of refrigeration specification at M&S, doesn’t see the problem as a shortage of skills “It...

Yesterday Construction News reported on the latest incident of fraudulent skill certification cards within the industry following a CITB investigation, with the individual in question receiving an 18 month jail term and facing deportation.

The news follows after the BBC Fake Britain expose last December, which highlighted the use of fraudulent cards within the industry.

As a partner of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), and the first partner scheme to adopt smart technology, we want to reassure all SKILLcard holders that we are committed to working alongside CSCS to further...