GET STARTED - Qualifying the supply chain
Purpose
The skills pledge is an opportunity for leaders of a business or organisation to show publicly and demonstrably the importance they place on investing in having a skilled and competent workforce, which research shows is a key ingredient to a productive and successful business.
Stage 1
The Company leader is to review ‘Skills Pledge – Information for Employer’ documentation.
[The Skills Pledge is a voluntary public commitment made by the leadership of the Company to support its employees in developing their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant valuable qualifications to at least NVQ Level 2 Standard].
Stage 2
The Company leader is to make the skills pledge.
See general form of words to be used for minimum commitment.
Download the General Form of Words
This commitment is to be placed on a company header sheet.
The Company leader is to sign and date the pledge.
Stage 3
The Company leader is to send the ‘Skills Pledge’ to the Minster College Training Initiative Coordinator via email to mcti@stepnell.co.uk and make available to all of it’s employees.
Once received the coordinator will register your company into the initiative.
Stage 4
The Company leader should then contact the Initiative ‘Train to Gain Brokerage’ via the hotline number 0845 6099060 stating that they are part of the Minster College Training Initiative.
Your details will be taken and passed to the dedicated Minster College Training Initiative Broker.
What is Train to Gain?
- A free service to the employer of any size/type to help identify training, development and related business needs.
- The funded element of the training provisions delivered by contracted providers.
Stage 5
Once you details are received, the Training Initiative Broker will contact the Company leader to arrange a meeting at a convenient time to complete:-
- An overall organisational needs assessment using a simple survey, which will assess training needs based on business goals including management and craft competencies. This process will take approximately 2 hours to complete.
The Brokerage will:-
- Provide a training package, tailored to your company’s needs, which will detail the qualifications of most benefit to employees.
- Always attempt to provide you with a choice of three training providers, depending on the training needs you specified.
- Source appropriate funding depending on the training provided.
- Monitor and review the processes.
- Assess and process any application for wage compensation.
Stage 6
CSCS Certification (Where relevant or appropriate).
You need to:-
- Complete the health and safety touchscreen test that is relevant to your occupation. (If you are a CITB Levy Payer, you can claim the payment back through the grant scheme).
- Complete a relevant NVQ with your preferred training provider.
- Complete the CSCS Application Form that is relevant to your occupation.
- Send your CSCS Application Form along with required payment to ConstructionSkills.
- You will then receive your CSCS Card, which you should always carry with you as you will be asked to produce it on the Minster College project site.
Stage 7
Now you have your CSCS cards, you will have...
- Access to construction sites (more and more clients are demanding 100% CSCS status).
- Industry-wide recognition of your skills, competence and qualifications.
- Improved knowledge and awareness of workplace health and safety.
- Enhanced employment prospects.
- Confirmation of your professionalism, the card will help differentiate you from the industry’s “cowboys".
Summary
The Skills Pledge recognises that everyone - the employee, the organisation and the Government - will need to invest more in skills to improve our productivity.