Training by Mark Priestman : Mine's a Pinacolada
Mark Priestman has more than 20 years’ experience in the natural stone sector. He plays an active role in the development and delivery of training in this specialist environment. Along with his father, David Priestman, he runs a training consultancy whose mantra is: Qualify the Workforce!
Ahhhhhh! Right now I am writing to you from my table overlooking a glistening sea, drink in hand, on my family's annual summer holiday. Bliss!
Of course, as everyone who runs their own business already knows, you never really stop working. So later on I will attempt to answer a batch of requests for information about NVQ assessment.
The bigger challenge will be standing in the right position under the wi-fi mast at the right time of the evening when internet use has reduced enough to allow me sufficient access to the worldwide web of civilization so that I am able to send my replies.
The enquiries are, of course, welcome. And I am glad there have been more of them lately. We definitely have the capacity for more work.
Many of the enquiries seem to be born of the discontinued, pending discontinuation, or rule changes regarding CSCS cards for Site Operative (now Labourer), Construction Related Occupations and Industry Accreditation (also known as grandfather rights).
It seems that CSCS has become more vigorous in the policing of the card scheme through its own audits and the management of its member sites as we approach 2020.
Previously, we had noticed a couple of divisions. Firstly, there was a division between the South (specifically Greater London) and the North.
In the South the CSCS card was routinely required, whereas in the North contractors sometimes wondered why they had bothered getting CSCS cards at all. This gap seems almost to have disappeared lately.
The second division seemed apparent between architectural stone masonry projects, where cards were required, and internal stonemasonry fitting, which often escaped the requirement.
Again, this gap appears to be closing as a large number of companies working on interiors are now pursuing the card for their employees.
Another factor that has changed the landscape in this respect has been the enforcement of the CSCS initiative for the cardholder to bare the actual card for the occupation they are undertaking.
It is apparent that simply having a CSCS card in whatever category you might happen to have it in is no longer a passport to working anywhere you are needed on site. Instead, people are expected to hold the correct card for the job they are doing. That is surely going to benefit projects and reward more professional companies.
For now, before I embark on the wi-fi pasodoble, I bid you all a happy summer season, especially those of you on holiday right now also doing the wi-fi dance.
As for me... umm? Pinacolada or Long Island iced tea?