Street Works Card Production – January 2021

In accordance with government advice, card production for Operatives and Supervisors will cease from 14 January until 31 January.  The decision on whether card production can resume in February will be posted on this website and will be based upon further updates and levels of restrictions imposed by government.

What does this mean for centres and candidates?

Centres and candidates should continue to submit applications to Street Works as normal, we will respond to emails and answer phone enquiries 09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday.  All applications sent to us will be held by Royal Mail and processed when we return to our offices.  Please call us for urgent enquiries only.

Can Street Works confirm to employers / inspectors that I am on the Register?

Street Works can confirm to the candidate via e-mail if:

• we have received and processed your application;
• you are on the Register;
• your card has still to be printed.

Can I submit my applications electronically?

Street Works will shortly be publishing a digital application form, which will be available on our website for candidates and centres to submit their applications.  We will also be contacting centres with high volumes of applications to submit these via SharePoint.

How do I make sure I am kept up to date with any changes?

You can sign up to our License Reminder and Alerts service on our website at https://www.swqr.org.uk/SWQR/subscribeToAlerts,  You can also check our website for our regular updates on changes to our application processing etc.

Today’s email contains an update on the latest Site Operating Procedures; news on the expiry of Site Safety Plus certificates; details of how to access a communications toolkit to support the Construction Talent Retention Scheme; and finally, an extension to the consultation on Training Group funding.

Following the announcements last week of further lockdowns across England, Scotland and Wales, we now know that these are likely to stay in place for all of the UK until at least the end of the month, if not longer. However, construction remains operational, and the Business Secretary has emphasised the industry’s pivotal role in the economic recovery in a recent open letter. For this reason, it’s even more important that workers follow guidelines and understand how to safely operate during these difficult times.

Staying safe from COVID on-site

In accordance with the latest Government guidance in England, the Construction Leadership Council’s Site Operating Procedures have been updated. The changes in Version 7 are minor, including updated guidance on self-isolation and shielding. However, with a more contagious variant of COVID-19 rapidly spreading, it’s essential that workers have a clear understanding of how they can apply the guidance in practice to maintain the highest possible standards on-site. Therefore, CITB’s COVID-19 – Site safety checklists and forms are currently being updated. Please follow our social channels and Urgent Messages page for the latest information.

Site Safety Plus certificate expiry

In response to various feedback, I can confirm the introduction of a revised grace period to Site Safety Plus certificates. This will provide support to delegates who are unable to access a Site Safety Plus refresher course, due to the new lockdown measures.

All delegates now have until 30 April 2021 to join a SSSTS/SMSTS refresher course, if their current certificate expires after 1 October 2020. Any delegate whose certificate expired before the 1 October 2020 and does not attend a refresher course before 31 January 2021, will be required to join a full SSSTS/SMSTS course, rather than the refresher equivalent. Find the centres delivering remote refresher training here.

Construction Talent Retention Scheme communications toolkit

The Construction Talent Retention Scheme, designed to match individuals seeking both redeployment and new employment in construction with businesses in need of their skills, now has its own communications toolkit. With a range of downloadable materials, text and graphics, the toolkit can be used to promote the scheme in your organisation’s communications and play an important role in assisting an employer or skilled worker. The toolkit will be frequently added to, refreshed and updated, so it’s important that you check back regularly to receive the latest information.

Training Group consultation

In a previous update, I informed you of the funding CITB provides to a network of Training Groups, and invited your views on the best ways to help employers’ access training at a local level. Following requests from several organisations, we have extended the industry consultation on Training Group funding, to ensure as many employers and interested parties have time to submit their feedback. Therefore, you now have until 5pm on 29 January 2021. More information and a link to the survey can be found here.

Celebrating apprentices

With national apprenticeship weeks coming up shortly in England and Wales and then in Scotland, we are very keen to celebrate the contribution that apprentices are making to our industry and to society. If you have examples of exceptional apprentices, particularly if they have been working on-site during the COVID-19 period, please contact press.office@citb.co.uk.

A reminder…

CITB’s COVID-19 Urgent Messages page is refreshed regularly and includes updates on the full range of our work. You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Best wishes and stay safe everyone,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Hi folks,

Hope this finds you well in these strange times.

I am looking for help and support with my Construction class this year. Obviously we had an excellent partnership last year with KEIR Construction who supported the class whilst building our fantastic new school. Many thanks to them for such an awesome building. This year we were looking for a new industry partner to help support the class but COVID-19 saw to that! I have 6 practical units still to deliver – bricklaying x 2, painting and decorating x 2, plumbing and electrical.

We have a lovely external fenced space to complete the bricklaying and possibly (weather dependant) the other units in.

As this is a new course to Alness Academy we do not have any of the materials required to complete the units – KEIR Construction provided these last year.

Would any of you be able to support us this year? Or know of any support? Ideally the materials required, I,e; bricks, lime mortar etc. as I can deliver the units myself, however last year KEIR Construction provided the contactor once a week to help support the class. This could be a socially distanced visit to work in our outside space or perhaps a virtual meeting? I know this is not ideal but I have some great children here who want to learn all about the construction industry and improve their lives by getting a trade.

Any thoughts please drop me a message,

Thanks,

 Tracy Robertson

Alness Academy

Faculty Head of Art,Design and Technology,

Education,Culture and Sport Service,

Highland Council

01349 883341 Work

07784026329  Mobile

tracy.robertson@highland.gov.uk

@AlnessCDT

Following the CITB communication on 06 January 2020, regarding the grace period for SMSTS/SSSTS certificate expiry, CITB can confirm the introduction of a revised grace period, to support delegates who are unable to access a refresher course due to the new lockdown measures implemented across the UK.

All delegates now have until 30 April 2021 to join a SSSTS/SMSTS refresher course, if their current certificate expired after the 01 December 2020.

CITB will continue to review the situation on a regular basis and will communicate any further updates if Government advice changes.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and continued support at this difficult time.

If you require any support with delivering courses remotely or have any concerns/queries, please email: sitesafetyplus@citb.co.uk

Stay safe and stay well.

Kind Regards,

The Site Safety Plus Team

With varying lockdowns now in England, Scotland and Wales, this is clearly another very difficult time both for construction workers and for their families. Crucially, the good news is that construction is able to continue to operate with restrictions and safeguards in place across all three countries. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is also set to produce a minor update to its Site Operating Procedures guidance soon and will continue to ensure this is up to date – go to the CLC website for the latest information here.

I’d like to set out below what the lockdowns mean in terms of the CITB services that remain in place for you. We will apply what we have learned in the past year to ensure we provide the right support for employers and apprentices wherever possible. We continually review and update our support and training services. You can take our free COVID-19: Setting up and operating a safe construction site e-course, and also access other free site operating procedures resources are available on our urgent messages page here.

The National Construction Colleges (NCC) in England and Scotland will be closed for face-to-face training until at least 22 February, which removes risk for delegates and colleagues and ensures consistency across the nations. The NCCs will remain open for other services such as remote learning, which makes use of videocall technology like Zoom or Skype to ensure training can continue during lockdown measures. Contact the NCCs here to find out what’s available.

Our Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) testing centres operated by Pearson Vue in England and Scotland remain open, those in Wales have closed based on previous Government guidance, other Independent Test Centres may be open at their discretion, however we are seeking further clarification and will keep our approach under review. We will update our COVID-19 urgent messages page as well as our social media accounts as soon as we can.

We will of course continue to support apprentices in accessing remote and online learning, as we have done throughout the pandemic and following the lockdown closures of their colleges and training providers. We will not be furloughing any CITB customer support staff, to ensure employers and apprentices continue to receive necessary assistance at this time.

CITB grant funding covers remote delivery training, which has adapted during the pandemic to ensure learning continues amid lockdowns. There are now 180 training standards that have been adapted to support remote delivery. Search ‘remote learning’ to find eligible standards here and use the Training Directory to source your required remote training with an ATO. You can also take our free COVID-19: Setting up and operating a safe construction site e-course.

England

In England, the lockdown will continue until further notice. Construction can proceed, though office-based staff are required to work from home.

The National Construction Colleges (NCCs) at Erith, Kent, and Bircham Newton, Norfolk, will be closed for face-to-face training until at least 22 February. A detailed summary of Government guidance for the lockdown in England is available here.

Scotland

In Scotland, the lockdown will continue until at least 31 January, when it will be reviewed. Construction is permitted to carry on, but only for essential work in people’s homes.

NCC Scotland at Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, will be closed for face-to-face training until at least 22 February.

The latest information on Scottish Government guidance for the lockdown is available here.

Wales

In Wales, the lockdown will continue until at least 18 January when it will be reviewed. Construction is also allowed to continue during this period.

The latest information on Welsh Government guidance for the lockdown is available here.

A reminder…

Our local team members are continuing to work through the lockdown period and are available to support you. Employers with apprentices should email apprenticeships.covid19@citb.co.uk and for all other enquiries partnershipteam@citb.co.uk

CITB’s COVID-19 Urgent Messages page is refreshed regularly and includes updates on the full range of our work. You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Finally, I hope you all remain safe and well during this difficult start to the year.

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

As our last update before Christmas, I wanted to reflect on the turbulent year we’ve had, and how we have worked together to meet the skills challenges construction has faced. There has been a real emphasis on keeping workers safe on site, adapting to remote learning, protecting apprenticeships and securing direct funding for employers.

Putting employers’ needs first

During the first stages of the pandemic, employers told us cashflow was their top priority. With this in mind, we suspended Levy collection, creating a 5-month Levy holiday, cutting bills by 25% across two years. We also raised the Levy threshold so 5,000 smaller firms would be exempt from payments in 2021.

We introduced an apprenticeship support package to assist with funding, later extending this to Higher Level Apprenticeships. We ensured the maximum number of apprentices received support, contacting over 11,000 apprentices.

The amazing response from so many employers has meant that just 2.5% of CITB apprentices have been made redundant, and of those over 50% have now restarted an apprenticeship within construction. The way employers have supported our young talent is something to truly celebrate.

Working in partnership

In times of crisis, working together is a necessity. It’s been great to be part of an industry-wide effort to deliver the Construction Talent Retention Scheme. The service, which matches workers to roles, is fully funded until April ‘21, meaning it’s free for job seekers and employers to use.  We’ve also worked closely with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to produce a range of interactive checklists and forms to help workers return to sites safely.

In Scotland, an initial priority was to better understand employers’ needs, leading to the creation of the Scottish Construction Apprentice Task Force. We’re also excited to support the delivery of the pilot Pathway Apprenticeships programme, to provide more apprenticeship opportunities to young people.

In Wales we’ve worked with the Alternative Ways of Working Group, a new pilot created to provide virtual opportunities for learners to visit sites. In partnership with the Construction Wales Innovation Centre and University of Wales Trinity St David, we also launched a new Scaffolding Training Centre filling a gap in training provision in Wales.

Adapting training delivery

Enabling staff and learners to continue to train has posed challenges for us all. Despite the difficulties, the National Construction Colleges have worked hard to maintain services and have been our key workers throughout the pandemic. Whilst many of us could work from home, reducing our personal risk, they in many cases needed to attend the college and other work places to support our learners. They have continuously reviewed government guidance and advice from the Department for Education, ensuring delegate and staff safety, while enabling face-to-face services to continue.

In some cases, we have also made adaptions to the way training is delivered. The first remote Site Safety Plus course took place in early April, at a time when face-to-face training was not available, and has been hugely beneficial in maintaining a level of health and safety awareness.

There are now around 180 assured courses which have been identified as suitable for remote delivery. We launched our eCourses platform and our free ‘COVID-19: Setting up and operating a safe construction site’ course, completed by over 5500 delegates. Scottish housebuilder, Stewart Milne demonstrated the benefits of remote learning. They administered a fantastic 1,678 hours of training in just three months, saving around £80,000.

Key funding support

We have adapted our funding support, refreshing our Skills and Training Fund for small and micro businesses, with a greater emphasis on innovation, management and leadership. We then launched a new strand of the fund, for medium sized businesses. Finally, we introduced the Leadership and Management Development Fund to cater to the needs of larger businesses. Since November 2020, £6m has been used to support over 1,300 businesses through the Skills and Training Fund.

We also extended the Construction Skills Fund (CSF), with £7.5m awarded to 14 hubs. They aim to place 3,000 learners into sustained employment, on top of the 13,200 learners who are employment and site ready from the first phase.

Looking ahead to 2021

With reduced income, it’s essential that we focus on the most important priorities, targeting funding to equip industry with the right support. This will involve onsite skills, and we’re aiming to provide 19,000 people with onsite experience to ensure more learners become employment and site ready.

Lastly, as the year draws to an end, as does the Brexit transition period, and it’s important to be aware of the changes coming into place from 1 January 2021.

A reminder…

CITB’s COVID-19 Urgent Messages page is refreshed regularly and includes updates on the full range of our work. You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a peaceful Christmas break, and a very happy and healthy New Year!

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive