Mark Priestman is a Director of a training consultancy whose mantra is: Qualify the Workforce! Here he presents the latest moves that can help you do that.
CITB is investing £800,000 in a new employer network pilot project to aid the way the industry accesses funding for training.
The pilot will involve nearly 4,000 in-scope businesses.
The focus is on giving small and micro businesses a simplified process to get their hands on the funds for training.
According to the CITB: “Through the support of established and experienced delivery partners, the pilot enables employers to recognise their training priorities and receive guidance on how best to find and fund the training most appropriate to them.
“This transformative way of working provides a huge opportunity for employers to not only voice their training requirements, but also play a fundamental role in deciding how funds are used in their local area.”
If you find yourself involved in this pilot, you will not need to process the grant scheme, as CITB will directly support those involved.
CITB Chief Executive, Tim Balcon says: “The pilots are being funded by CITB and delivered by local organisations with a pedigree in finding and delivering training in their area.”
If any readers of this magazine are asked to participate in the pilot, we’d love to hear from you to see how it maps out.
CSCS cards are not for everyone
I’ve heard lately of some contractors trying to force a square peg into a round hole by ensuring anyone who visits a site as part of their company holds a CSCS card.
But this is not necessary. Anyone can visit a site as an escorted guest. The only people who need a CSCS card are those undertaking construction works on the site.
NVQ assessors, for example shouldn’t need a CSCS card if they are escorted by their learner.
Sign up for a fee-neutral SAP
We at Priestman Associates are currently looking for people who want to enrol on CITB Specialist Applied-Skills Programmes (SAPs)in either Stone Fixing or Façade Preservation.
The programme is fee-neutral and available to employees of in-scope businesses who have the facilities to mentor their employees’ learning.
Those who enrol must attend off-site training for 20 days during the first 12 months of the programme. In the following six months they undertake level 2 NVQ assessment. This allows the learner to be connected to their employer’s work as much as possible.
Those interested should contact me using the details under the picture above or on the website below.