星空传媒

You鈥檇 be forgiven for thinking this is like Groundhog Day. Previous deadlines have come and gone with no real belief that they could ever be met. However, the prospect of MCG maintaining its tough stance is more likely this time, as two significant changes in 鈥渃arding and qualifying鈥� the workforce could speed up the process dramatically.

First, CITB-ConstructionSkills is rolling out its Skillsdirect phone service, claiming it has a capacity to serve up to 750,000 applicants a year. It provides the three key elements of the CSCS card: the CITB-ConstructionSkills Health & Safety Test, S/NVQ assessment (where required) and the application process. Workers make one call to the hotline and CITB-ConstructionSkills automatically selects the simplest route for them to qualify, then manages them through the process. On completion, CSCS cards will be issued within seven working days.

More telling is the introduction of the Experienced Worker Practical Assessments, meaning experienced tradespeople will be able to complete an NVQ with a day鈥檚 assessment. This should help address the problem with 鈥渂iblical trades鈥� where CSCS cards are still thin on the ground.