ACAD was selected by CITB almost 5 years ago to ensure high quality NVQ assessment delivery at the required standard across the Asbestos industry.
The background relates to the CLC decision of January 2015 that introduced NVQ L2 as the minimum standard for skilled occupations to gain a CSCS logoed card. As an industry that has never fully embraced qualifications, we face a significant challenge in moving from a trained to a qualified workforce.
ACAD’s vision for the centre included engaging with those organisations who represent commercial training providers, the IATP and UKATA, to open up the option for their members to deliver NVQ to support the Asbestos Industry.
It also enabled Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors to undertake NVQ assessments in-house, taking advantage of the existing HSE requirement to assess and monitor competence to deliver NVQ achievement and unlock renewable blue, gold and black ACAD Skill Cards. The efficiency, quality and cost saving of this approach being obvious.
To assess NVQ an individual needs to gain their Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. This includes two units, the first is theory and the second is practical and typically entails taking two candidates through their L2 qualification. Whilst ACAD does not deliver this qualification, you would link to our centre for the assessment of the two L2 candidates and we would provide as much support as you need to support your development. Most local colleges offer this, alongside distance learner providers, typically in the £400 to £600 cost bracket.
Once qualified, your assessor can assess operatives at L2, supervisors at L3 and potentially managers at L4. All NVQ achievements through the centre trigger the production of the appropriate ACAD Skill Card, subject to having the CITB HS&E test at the correct level within the preceding two years.
One ACAD member who has embraced this route is DCUK. Their Health & Safety Director, Jamie Carraher, stated “We started down this route as soon as we heard ACAD had been successful in their bid and now have two people assessing competence and delivering NVQ achievement to our site teams. To us, it was all about investing in the quality and development of staff to ensure the quality of our delivery for our clients. The site teams have really taken to NVQ and they get a real sense of achievement upon gaining their qualifications. These have also allowed DCUK to offer a defined career & pay progression pathway which we use to attract and incentivise the workforce. It is clear the wider Asbestos industry faces a looming skills crisis as we implement the CLC decision and move to a fully qualified workforce, but that’s exactly why DCUK continues to engage with ACAD who have been leading on NVQ and so much more for the Licensed Asbestos industry for almost a decade”.
To find out more about the centre and how it can benefit you and your organisation, click on the link or get in touch via training@acad.uk.com
