CSCS Moving All Industry Accreditation (IA) to a Recognised Qualification.

Essential Site Skills emailed us details of a move to a recognised qualification, which we have shared below for your convenience:

CSCS has announced it is developing plans to move all Industry Accreditation (IA) also known as Grandfathers rights cardholders to a recognised qualification.

What does this mean for current card holders?
In the meantime existing IA card holders can continue to renew their cards in accordance with the scheme rules. These cards will include Blue Skilled worker, Gold Supervisory, and Black Managers cards that state on the back of the card gained through Industry accreditation.

The withdrawal of Industry Accreditation will be the final step towards achieving the Construction Leaderships Councils requirement of ensuring nationally recognised qualifications are in place for all occupations.

What can you do now to get ahead of the scheme?
If you are a CITB registered Employer - take advantage of the CITB Flexible Skills & Training Fund to gain the relevant qualification whilst funds are available to cover the cost before the option to renew is removed and the requirement to complete the appropriate qualification is mandatory.

Applications for CITB Flexible Skills and Training Fund opened on the 7th February 2017 and will remain open until the 20th November 2017.

Who can apply?
CITB registered construction employers with fewer than 100 direct employees.

How to apply?
Essential Site Skills (ESS) can offer advice and support with the application and any training requirements involved. Call 0115 8970 529 or email training@essentialsiteskills.com.

Eligible applicants can submit an application at any time from 7 February 2017 to 20 November 2017, and accumulated applications will be scored at six points in the window:

• Window opens - 7 February 2017
• Review date 1 - 6 March 2017
• Review date 2 - 24 April 2017
• Review date 3 - 29 May 2017
• Review date 4 - 17 July 2017
• Review date 5 - 2 October 2017
• Review date 6 - 20 November 2017
• Window closes - 20 November 2017

At each scheduled point, all applications which have accumulated since the last point will be evaluated and those applicants will be notified of decisions.

How much can I apply for?

• Up to 10k – less than 100 direct employees
• Up to 7.5k – less than 75 direct employees
• Up to 5k – less than 50 employees

What training activities can I apply for?
Skills and training activities that are vital for the construction industry, which identify you are reducing a skills gap, reducing skills shortages, and improving access to the right training. For example, in the last round of funding we have had successful applications for CPCS training/testing, First Aid and Construction NVQs.

Restrictions:
Only one bid allowed per CITB registered employer each per 12 month period. The CITB Grants Scheme rules aligns grant eligibility to those employees that appear on a Levy Return covering the period in which training is provided; therefore, funding bids for training where CITB grant is currently available will not be allowed/approved in respect of any individuals included in the bid who are specifically excluded from eligibility under the Grants Scheme rules, for example, but not restricted to, training provided to gross paid CIS subcontractors.