New look for contactless SKILLcard

One of the building services industry’s largest personnel registration schemes has revamped the cards operatives must carry to gain access to sites.

Engineering Services SKILLcard has produced a new design to better reflect its contactless operation and make it easier for site managers to check all workers have the appropriate training and qualifications for their specific occupation.

The new look card now has a contactless symbol in place of the old chip and the holographic ‘health and safety tested’ symbol has been removed. The contactless facility makes it easier to check the holder’s qualifications are up-to-date and to spot any possible counterfeit cards to make sure only competent people are allowed on site.

SKILLcard celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year and is managed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).  It is part of the construction-wide Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) scheme and is used by more than 64,000 heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration operatives to provide proof of competence and qualifications.

Smart
It was the first of the CSCS Partner card schemes to go ‘smart’ easing the process of updating the holder’s qualifications and making it simpler and quicker for site managers to check skills and prevent potential fraud. Holders are also now able to renew their cards online following an upgrade of the application system last year.

“We are always looking for ways to make the SKILLcard more visible and accessible,” said Rachel Davidson, director of certification at BESA. “This latest development is another way of making it easier for site managers to recognise genuine cards and the contactless scanning process means managers can access the very latest information about the card holder.”

All of the CSCS Partner schemes, including SKILLcard, are playing a crucial role in the government’s 2025 Construction Industry Strategy by helping clients check whether workers have the right qualifications for the job in hand and have suitable health and safety training.

BESA was also the first training provider to integrate the coronavirus Site Operating Procedures (SOPs) into the health and safety test that is used as part of the application process for SKILLcard. The online BESA Academy embedded a series of mandatory SOP questions into the test so that anyone applying for or renewing their card would be automatically tested on the latest Covid-safe working practices during the pandemic.