Plumbing and heating professionals who are operating under historic grading 鈥榞randfather rights鈥� are being warned that time is fast running out for them if they want to retain their grading card, without which they will be ineligible to work on sites.
As part of a shake-up by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), significant changes are being made to the SNIJIB grading card scheme with effect from1st January 2021. The changes mean that plumbers will not be able to renew their SNIJIB/CSCS Plumber, Advanced Plumber and Technician Plumber cards without being able to show that they have attained an SVQ Level 3 Certificate or a City & Guilds Certificate in plumbing.
Stephanie Lowe, industrial relations manager for the Scotland & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers鈥� Federation (SNIPEF) and secretary of the SNIJIB, said that her team had written to each individual concerned at the end of last year, but that the response had been disappointing.
She said: 鈥淭he industry鈥檚 grading cards carry the CSCS recognised hologram and CLC imprimatur, so the Joint Industry Board needs to meet their criteria. These bodies want to ensure that everyone on site is appropriately qualified so that customers, as well as other personnel, can feel safe and confident.
鈥淎ctive registered plumbers who previously qualified under 鈥榞randfather rights鈥� must now achieve and submit plumbing occupational qualifications before the expiry of their current Grading Card if they wish to renew it.
鈥淔or anyone who cannot provide evidence of qualifications, the last opportunity to seek a grading card will be at the end of this year and the card will expire in 2025, since current grading cards have a five-year lifespan.鈥�
The SNIJIB team is also engaged on an industry-wide pilot study to help identify levels of experience in the 鈥榞randfather rights鈥� cohort in order to see if the SNIJIB can create an 鈥榓pplied prior learning鈥� scheme for them.
It has already gained qualifications for some 300 active plumbers, but there remain around 1,000 plumbers without proof of qualifications who, if they do not act on their grading cards by December 31, will not be allowed on site.
Fiona Hodgson, chief executive of SNIPEF, said: 鈥淪NIPEF has made great efforts to maintain communication with its 750 member firms which employ 3,500 plumbing and heating professionals. If companies are concerned about the changes to the SNIJIB Grading Card Scheme, they should get in touch with the SNIJIB now.
鈥淐SCS cards are proof of training and qualification to work on construction sites. A card-carrying workforce ensures that a business is compliant with safety standards and regulations. For workers, it is an easy way to display the ability to perform certain jobs on a construction site to a specific standard.鈥�
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