Bricklaying cscs card

Author
Discussion

keslake

Original Poster:

657 posts

206 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
Why the hell is everything so bloody confusing!!!

Been laying bricks for 30 yrs but no paper qualifications per se, just learnt the old way etc.

Now looking at going back out on site and after advice as to which card i actually need.....and have to start with.

Am i correct in that i will be issued with a Red experienced worker card only if i am enrolled on an NVQ course? (£750)

anyone able to give me a definate answer will be very much appreciated as when i try to phone the helpline i am apparently call number 11-20 in a queue so given up there.!

Cheers guys.

Saleen836

11,111 posts

209 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
As far as I know if you have no other formal qualifications you should get the NVQ paid for by the state.

Might have changed since I did mine though

akaAlso

38 posts

132 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
This might help narrow it down for you.

http://www.cscs.uk.com/card-finder/

keslake

Original Poster:

657 posts

206 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
Thanks guys, already been on that card finder site and tbh its still double dutch.

As far as i can make out i have no choice but to cough up £750 to enrol in the NVQ test, although i can most certainly
put the examiner to shame as far as laying bricks is concerned.

No wonder there is such a shortage of brickies!

Probably won't bother with the site work, far too much red tape for my liking but cheers for your help guys.

kev b

2,715 posts

166 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
I sympathise, I needed a card and passed the exam but before my card was issued the rules changed, meaning, I think, that I needed to take a further exam at a significant cost to obtain a card that I had already earned.

I was mega P'd off about this so I bluffed it for a while using my recent pass certificate number as most supervisors weren't up to date with the changes but that won't work now I think, so an avenue of earning has been closed to me. I only need a card occasionally to assist a mate so it's not worth paying out for the NVQ course or whatever they are calling it at the moment.

stoop44rio

100 posts

188 months

Friday 15th May 2015
quotequote all
Over here in N.I. the CSR card (CSCS equivalent) costs around £100 and takes a day to complete a classroom Q&A session.

davepoth

29,395 posts

199 months

Friday 15th May 2015
quotequote all
stoop44rio said:
Over here in N.I. the CSR card (CSCS equivalent) costs around £100 and takes a day to complete a classroom Q&A session.
I guess the pertinent question would be "can you work in the rest of the UK with that card?"

torqueofthedevil

2,074 posts

177 months

Friday 15th May 2015
quotequote all
That'll be down to the contractor in question as it's not s legal requirement -
It's a company requirement as they use it demonstrate competence. I strongly suspect they would NOT accept that card however. Every one I have know is strict - CSCS only

stoop44rio

100 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th May 2015
quotequote all
Yes, it allows us to work anywhere in the UK and the Rep. Ireland as its the 'equivalent' card thats issued over here. CSR/CSCS/FAS (I think that's what it's called in R.O.I.)) all affiliated schemes.

keslake

Original Poster:

657 posts

206 months

Saturday 16th May 2015
quotequote all
Spoke to cscs helpline today and they can issue me with a 6 month provisional including my test for £80.
At the end of the 6 months i then have to 'enrol' on an NVQ site assessment to gain my skilled card.....i will make a point of requesting said assessor to demonstrate his ability:-)

Have spoken to a couple of Bricklaying contractors and site agents and seems i am ok with the provisional
as end of the day, as long as i am legal, all the guys onsite are concerned with is if i can lay bricks.

No wonder this country has such a shortage of good trowels as a lot of the guys who i have seen onsite appear to be straight out of college....nothing wrong with that at all but i didn't see any what i would call 'old school'.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

125 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Not many of the brickies on our sites are 'old school'. Majority of them are young lads who have gone through apprenticeships and all have NVQs.

IIRC even the new bricklaying vacancies at our firm are required to have NVQ2.

groucho

12,134 posts

246 months

Monday 1st June 2015
quotequote all
I'm in the same boat as you, OP. It is annoying, I may have this new contract and have no card...been in this game (roofing) for 36 years. It's ridiculous.

CRB14

1,493 posts

152 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
It isn't like its a new scheme though and has caught everyone out. It's the industry standard now - although I did read yesterday about a new proposed regulatory scheme.

groucho

12,134 posts

246 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
CRB14 said:
It isn't like its a new scheme though and has caught everyone out. It's the industry standard now - although I did read yesterday about a new proposed regulatory scheme.
That's interesting. Any links?

CRB14

1,493 posts

152 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
groucho said:
That's interesting. Any links?
Ah I got it wrong. It's a new trade body formed from two merging bodies - that'll teach me to skim over articles on a Monday morning.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/05/28/new...

TheExcession

11,669 posts

250 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
Surely it's nothing more complex than this...wink

Jokes aside, can someone tell me what sort of stuff is covered in the NVQ?

Saleen836

11,111 posts

209 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
TheExcession said:
Surely it's nothing more complex than this...wink

Jokes aside, can someone tell me what sort of stuff is covered in the NVQ?
Don't know about the bricklaying one but for my NVQ (drywall finishing) it consisted of someone taking photos of me in different scenarios, i.e putting my rubbish in the bin! (I kid you not!!)

Promised Land

4,724 posts

209 months

Tuesday 16th June 2015
quotequote all
CRB14 said:
It isn't like its a new scheme though and has caught everyone out. It's the industry standard.
Exactly this, it's been on site now for 10 years, I've just had to re do the test for the third time. 5 year cards which is b0llox.

The most bizarre part is here in the East Midlands Bloor homes don't implement it, one of the countries biggest house builders, ask a lifer on there about it, they haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

We were told back in 2004 that this card means when you go to a new site you won't need inducting as all the H&S was done in this test, but the site inductions have got longer.

It's just a money making scheme by the CITB, here to stay as well.

groucho

12,134 posts

246 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
That's true. I just priced up a site for Bloor Homes and they are not worried about CSCS cards.

keslake

Original Poster:

657 posts

206 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Update is i have been working for a subcontractor for the past 3 weeks where no cscs card is required by the developer so, as per the posts above, there is work out there on some sites who are not governed by it.

I will be obtaining one in the near future though so i have all my options covered longterm.