Senior Craftsperson Scheme

ConstructionSkills funded the Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC) to develop the National Occupational Standard (NOS), and currently the Construction Awards Alliance is developing the business case for this NVQ Level 4, which will be available to new-build and built heritage sector craftspeople. The potential qualification would be recommended for use by the guilds, livery companies and federations/associations, together with peer review, towards their conferring the designation of master craftsperson.

Considerable work is also being undertaken to support and align higher level qualifications, including Foundation Degrees.

Livery Companies Awards

The Construction Liveries Group is developing further the Master Certificates Scheme, introduced in 2001 by a partnership of City & Guilds, Livery Companies and Professional Bodies.  The scheme, pioneered by the Plumbers Company, was soon followed by similar programmes for Carpenters and Joiners.

Over 200 Master Certificates have now been awarded and it was felt that the pathway to “mastery” of a career founded on a specific skill required attention.  Thus, two preliminary landmarks are being introduced to encourage those who embark on a route to skilled employment to complete the journey.

The first of these is the Apprentice Certificate.  This is an award for people who qualify by study, training assessment or examination at NVQ Level 2 and thereby also obtain necessary work experience.  Successful applicants will also have committed themselves to proceed to NVQ Level 3 as required by the “charge”, or undertaking, that they accept on award of the Apprentice Certificate.

The next step is to reach the Journeyman point on the career pathway.  At this position the skill traveller has achieved success at NVQ Level 3 and will be setting out to accumulate further experience.  This will include supplementary qualifications and demonstrating an active interest in upholding professional standards.  Therefore, the Journeyman’s charge incorporates a pledge to continue with career development until ready to apply for the Master Certificate.

Further details can be obtained from the Livery Companies Mastercraft Working Group.