CSR Changes: 18 months to go

29 June 2023   CSR News Industry Standards

Employers and individual cardholders are reminded that there is only 18 months to go until the deadline for Construction Skills Register (CSR) skilled cardholders and above to have an NVQ qualification, or equivalent, to renew their card.

The change, announced in December 2019, is required to ensure CSR complies with the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) One Industry Logo requirements so CSR cards remain accepted in GB.

Cardholders impacted are those who have a skilled card or above (blue, gold, platinum or black) that was previously issued on the basis of an occupational assessment and Industry Accreditation. Changes to CSR, and all card schemes in the UK, required all skilled cards and above to be issued on the basis of an NVQ qualification, or equivalent, relevant to the cardholder's occupation by 31 December 2024.

Labourer cards are not impacted.

Further information and guidance on the routes available if your card has been previously issued based on an occupational assessment and Industry Accreditation is available on our website.

There is lots of information including flowcharts outlining the specific options for each card type. The main messages are:

• Check to see if you have an NVQ applicable to your current occupation.
• Alternative qualifications are accepted including apprenticeships, City & Guilds Craft and Advanced Craft certificates, overseas qualification, construction related degrees and Professional qualifications.
• If you don’t have an accepted qualification, you will have to register for and complete an NVQ Level 2. This does not involve going back to college as there are routes available that include experienced worker on site assessments and professional discussion.
• Grants may be available from CITBNI for levy paying employers.

CSR is in the process of writing to any cardholder who has a card that has been short dated to expire on 31 December 2024 because a relevant qualification wasn’t held when the card was last renewed, to remind them to act now.

With 18 months to go before these cards expire it is important to act now, review options and make a plan.

Should you require further information, please contact CSR by email [email protected] or by phone on 028 9087 7150.