CSCS boss Graham Wren heralds 鈥榝resh start鈥 in frayed relations with CITB-ConstructionSkills

Graham Wren

The industry鈥檚 skills card scheme, CSCS, will look to resolve its commercial differences with the scheme鈥檚 administrator CITB-ConstructionSkills by the end of the year, CSCS鈥 new boss has said.

In his first interview since taking charge in April, CSCS chief executive Graham Wren said both organisations had agreed to make a 鈥渇resh start鈥 in their relations. In early 2011 the CITB put its contract to administer the skills card scheme for 1.7 million workers on notice.

Wren admitted the scheme had to reform 鈥渜uickly鈥 to make up for 鈥渢he view that time was lost鈥 during disputes with the CITB and industry employers.

Wren said the scheme has to reform 鈥榪uickly鈥 to make up for the view that 鈥榯ime was lost鈥

Industry employers forced CSCS chairman Trevor Walker to resign last December after a prolonged dispute over a perceived lack of reform. He was replaced by former Labour MP Mick Clapham.

Wren said the new management had begun consulting with unions, federations and firms on planned reforms and had the 鈥渟upport鈥 of industry.

CSCS cards are demanded as proof of occupational competence by most major clients and contractors on sites.

Wren said he wanted to extend CSCS membership to the 鈥渉undreds of thousands of workers we鈥檙e not currently covering鈥 and will explore including workers in the domestic sector and Green Deal in the longer term.

CSCS is also committed to rolling out 鈥渟mart cards鈥 to all members by 2015, which can also be read by smart phones, he added.

He said CSCS would consult with industry on beefing up the application criteria for cards, particularly the entry level 鈥済reen card鈥 used by 500,000 workers.

Wren said the green card 鈥減robably didn鈥檛鈥 demonstrate occupation competence in its current form.

CSCS is considering introducing five additional training modules - in addition to the sole mandatory health, safety and environment test - as part of the criteria for gaining a green card.