London-based Marble Arch, major suppliers, manufacturers and installer of natural stone, have started training 18 employees to get them on to the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS).

CSCS is designed to register competent construction operatives throughout the UK. Once qualified, all the students will receive an individual CSCS registration card proving that their skills have been validated against national standards and that they have acquired the appropriate health and safety knowledge to operate safely on site.

In order to meet the standard, Marble Arch\'s employees are studying English Language and Health, Safety, Ethical & Environmental at Lambeth College. Ten of the students are also working towards the CITB Intermediate Construction Award for Stone Masonry at the College\'s Vauxhall Centre, one of the government\'s Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Construction.

This National Vocational Qualification Level 2 course includes practical masonry work, related theory, site procedures, health and safety, and project work for granite and marble. Continuous assessment with assignments and practical tests means a high standard of work must be displayed over the entire course.

Robert Merry, managing director at Marble Arch. "We are committed to on-going staff training, and entering schemes like the CSCS is an important part of that training."