CSCS Heritage Skills Cards update

 Urgent Call for More Craftspeople and Built Heritage Sector Professionals to Apply for CSCS Cards 
 
9th February 2010, Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of ConstructionSkills today joined with other industry partners to call for more craftspeople and building professionals in the built heritage sector to apply for CSCS cards. In a speech to clients, contractors, trainers, professional bodies and industry groups at the German Gymnasium, St Pancras, London he stressed the need for the right blend of skills, expertise, knowledge and experience and demonstrating competency to do this work.

On the day, representatives from the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG), English Heritage, Unite the Union and CSCS joined forces to promote the benefits of the card scheme. 

A new Quick Guide to CSCS for the built heritage sector was launched. This includes the CSCS Heritage Skills card for craftspeople who work on pre-1919 building projects. Managed Industry Accreditation application for this card expires on 1st September 2010. After this, craftspeople will be required to obtain this by having a Heritage Skills NVQ Level 3.

Mike Moody, Chairman of NHTG spoke of the value of a safe and suitable qualified workforce to business and in attracting, developing and retaining people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise. He reinforced the objective of a traditional building skills workforce that is fully qualified to a minimum National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 and displays competence and safety training through CSCS.

Brian Adams, Chief Executive of CSCS in launching the Quick Guide stressed the need for grater client demand, which by asking for the relevant cards on-site will drive up-take by contractors and craftspeople.  CSCS is here to help the sector and its individuals, but a qualified workforce and improving safety within construction is achieved by working together.

John Edwards spoke of the English Heritage endorsement for the CSCS Heritage Skills card and those for building professionals for work on their properties and sites. He outlined the actions taken by English Heritage and that the skill of the workforce is directly related to the quality of the work undertaken. The CSCS cards are important to clients by improving consistency, reducing risks of damage and allowing efficient quality management.
 
Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of Construction Skills said: “The built heritage sector is benefitting from its own specific cards. Clients, heritage organisations and funding bodies should demand this evidence of competency and the right skills for the job and we are working with contractors and trade bodies to help those in the sector to obtain the CSCS Heritage Skills card.”
 
Brian Adams, Chief Executive of CSCS said: “I am delighted to be launching the Quick Guide to CSCS for the Built Heritage and for us to be working in partnership with this important sector of the construction industry to help its craftspeople and building professionals display competency and health & safety awareness”.
 
Mike Moody, Chairman of the National Heritage Training Group adds: “As an employer, I know full well the benefits to my business of having safe and qualified employees and as qualifying the workforce is the key objective of the National Heritage Training Group we are urging other employers and individual craftspeople to follow suit and apply for the CSCS Heritage Skills card as soon as possible”.

John Edwards, English Heritage said: “English Heritage now asks for craftspeople employed by contractors working on its own estate of over 400 historic sites to hold the CSCS Heritage Skills Card for new contracts. We hope that in future this will be mandatory, once the number of cards has reached a viable level, but in accordance with EU procurement regulations. This will help improve the quality of the workforce which will help to ensure better treatment of historic buildings.”

The CSCS Heritage Skills card was developed jointly by CSCS and the NHTG and has been available since September 2008. This was in response to the NHTG research report findings that around two thirds of those who work on pre-1919 buildings do not have the right skills to do so. This is most commonly due to the vast majority being general builders who move from new-build to repair and maintenance.
 
This call for more people to sign up for the card scheme will help to further integrate this highly-skilled sector into mainstream construction practice, as well as contributing to maintaining the built heritage stock in a sustainable and sympathetic manner.
 
Sir Michael Latham concluded: “Training and development is key to a competent and safe workforce and as Chairman of ConstructionSkills, I believe that we are all striving to make sure that our industry and its many sectors has the right skills in place and the CSCS helps us show that people are competent and possess these skills.”.
 

For existing craftspeople it's possible to achieve the heritage endorsement to the CSCS card via Managed Industry Accreditation, but for a limited time only. The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) is working in partnership with CSCS on the validation process for this card.

The presentation of the first two heritage-endorsed cards to be issued under this route took place at the NHTG Regional Heritage Skills Action Group Conference at Alnwick Castle on November 11 2008. Charlie Catlow and Alan Foster, both of Historic Property Restoration Limited (HPR), were the recipients.

The setting was particularly appropriate as the company is involved in a long-standing programme of masonry conservation and repair work to the Duke of Northumberland’s building – used for filming scenes from the Harry Potter films.

English Heritage has taken the lead in endorsing the Heritage Skills NVQ Level 3 and CSCS Heritage Skills card. It is demanding that all craftspeople undertaking conservation, repair, maintenance and restoration on their 400-plus properties and sites will be working towards this card by 2010.

Cadw, Welsh Assembly Government has similarly endorsed the qualification and the CSCS card for those working on pre-1919 buildings in Wales.

“It is expected that other heritage bodies and organisations with responsibility for pre-1919 buildings will follow suit” said Seamus.

Find out more about the CSCS Heritage Skills card here.