Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd and CITB-ConstructionSkills agree blueprint to strengthen and develop CSCS scheme

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd and CITB-ConstructionSkills have agreed a blueprint aimed at developing their working relationship and giving fresh impetus to the drive to achieve a fully qualified workforce by 2010.

Both organisations are committed to working together and have agreed the principles of a new contract, to be finalised by March 31 2006, and designed to put their relationship on a commercial footing.

CSCS Ltd own the scheme and CITB-ConstructionSkills will be the service provider. The agreement, a five-year rolling contract, will commit both organisations to a minimum contract duration of 7 years.

There will be a new, simplified price structure - a price of £25.00 including VAT, for all cards. The price of a CSCS card has remained unchanged for over ten years. The increase has been kept to a minimum because of improved efficiencies in the card administration process.

CSCS Chairman Graham Medcroft said: “I am delighted that we have made such significant progress on a new working relationship that will strengthen and develop the CSCS scheme.

“CSCS Ltd and CITB-ConstructionSkills can go forward from here, working in harmony towards a common objective of achieving a fully qualified workforce by 2010. The past relationship, which was based on a loose form of co-operation, will now be underpinned by an agreement which places it on a firm commercial footing.

“The new contract, together with the appointment of a Chief Executive for CSCS, heralds an exciting era for both the scheme and the industry which it serves.”

Peter Lobban, CITB-ConstructionSkills Chief Executive, commented: "We are very pleased with these new working arrangements. They give an excellent platform to drive forward the industry’s qualifying the workforce initiative.”