How does a construction site worker progress through the qualifications and accreditations necessary to get a Skilled CSCS Card. As a leading provider of both bookings for the Health Safety Test, and recruitment services for construction jobs London, we thought it would be useful to publish a case study. We’ll follow a single site worker through the qualification processes and tests that he or she needs to acquire a skilled Card in his or her trade.
Acquiring a Red CSCS Card for Construction Jobs London
Our new worker must first get his or her hands on a Red CSCS Card. The Red Card shows that he or she has successfully passed a relevant Health, Safety & Environment Test, and is therefore able to apply for most basic construction work in London. All the work that he or she applies for will be trade specific – subsequent Cards will be based on the NVQ level that he or she has achieved in the trade in question.
Moving Up the Colour Chart – Getting Skilled CSCS Cards for Construction Jobs London
Achieving a Red CSCS Card is necessary for all workers in construction jobs in London: but having one does not necessarily imply that a worker has completed an NVQ in his or her trade. Next in line for the site worker who has yet to complete an NVQ is the Green Card – which shows that he or she has NVQ Level 1 in his or her trade. The Red Cards for most new site workers are valid for three years – so an employee has three years to achieve the relevant qualification and pick up his or her Green Card.
Once the Green Card has been achieved, our employee can move onto the Skilled Cards via higher Levels of NVQ. The first Skilled Card colour is Blue.
Can a Construction Jobs London Worker Get a Blue Card without a Green Card?
Yes. The Skilled Card colours are determined by the NVQ Level that our construction jobs London worker has obtained. If he or she gains NVQ Level 2 in his or her trade, he or she is immediately eligible for the Blue Skilled Card (provided that he or she has also passed the correct CSCS Test). The subsequent Skilled Card – Gold – is available to candidates who have achieved NVQ Level 3 in his or her trade.
Both Blue and Gold Cards are valid for five years, at the end of which time the candidate is required to re-qualify.
How Far up the Construction Jobs London Ladder do the Skilled Cards Go?
The final Skilled Card colour for construction jobs in London is Gold. Once a London construction worker has achieved a Gold Card, his or her next step up is to go for supervisory or management status. Possession of a Gold Card does not automatically qualify a worker for supervisory or management positions, of course: at this point our construction worker is subject to internal applications and job vacancies.