Cskills !!
Dear Mr Quinney
As discussed when we spoke last year there is no alternative to the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) which is recognised by the construction industry as a whole.
The only way your members can obtain the necessary Construction Skills Certification Scheme card (CSCS) is to meet the requirements of the CISRS.
The transition process from the old card scheme has been in operation for some 10 years and had been extended for a further year to help your members confirm their competence in accordance with the requirements of the CISRS and thus be eligible for the necessary CSCS card.
I am fully aware that you have very experienced and competent members but in the current climate legislation dictates that we all have to prove and confirm our capabilities at regular intervals, no matter what sector of construction we work in, and the old card scheme is no longer available.
A two day Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) is available to simplify the process should this be of interest.
It is difficult to ascertain whether you or any of your members have contacted the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) or the Access & Scaffolding Industry Training Organisation (ASITO). As Peter George has stated NASC are looking to help where possible to facilitate getting your members carded. However, if you would let me have a list of your members with a note of their qualifications and experience I will take up the mater with NASC / ASITO to look at the options available.
Regards *******
********* FIoR
Training Advisor
Construction Skills
My Reply
Dear Mr ******,
Thank you for contacting me.
I have had a very busy last 6 months & do not recall the conversation with you.
I have on several occasions tried contacting you.
My first port of call was the NASC, they pointed me to CISRS, Mr Mosley who I have had a lot of contact with. We are currently putting a proposal together with the intent of being invited to attend the ASITO.
It seems to me in this current climate that if you have been scaffolding 10-20 years then you are put to the back of the queue but if you are 18 or just out of prison then you can get an advanced scaffolders card within 18 months!!!
I am sorry that the CITB or Cskills do not want to enter into a debate about the current situation. The issue of the old card scheme to new having a ten year period keeps coming up but the real issue has only been two to three years because no one asked for it before. Then you have employers faced with losing money or changing staff.
The ECITB issue has forced good men out of work & out of pocket, you also have a lot of skills within the Industry that do not want to start at trainee because they are skilled men. I will pass your details onto my members as I am not in a position to pass out their details without permission. We are a non-profit organization & would not have the time to gain that permission to our membership.
Any meetings we attend are at our own cost & we have & are willing to meet with any or all parties that are involved with this matter.
Is it possible to get any minutes form the last ASITO's meeting?
The fact that experienced workers have not been given the right information at the right time to gain like for like qualifications is a major issue for us & we will be perusing this till the end.
Regards Stewart Quinney
SCCR Chairman
cc ECITB Sub Committee, Main Committee, Web Pages.
