FACT - Fencing and Construction Training
The largest specialist provider of training, advice and support to the fencing industry within the UK
The Health Safety and Environmental Awareness for Fencers training is a one day course. It is the approved course needed by all fencers and labourers and a requirement for green and blue card renewals.
Get the Highways England Passport before the end of October 2019 or you will not be able to work on Highways England Projects.
FaCT are pleased to announce that Highways England have now confirmed their commitment to the Highways England Passport Scheme, a programme to reduce the repeated induction process and validate all workers approved to work on the network. Make sure you are not left off the road!
FaCT are continuing to deliver this training for companies and individuals across the country. A programme of open courses is scheduled with more being added weekly.
| Birmingham Training Centre (B31 2ET) | Greater Manchester & Lancashire (BB4 5HU) |
| 17th June | 20th June |
| 3rd July | 10th July |
| 26th July | 1st Aug |
| 5th Aug |
FaCT also delivers training at their client’s venues across the country for groups of candidates between 10 and 15.
This training is normally delivered during the week, but due to popular demand can also be delivered at weekends.
The course covers the following topics
There is a multiple chose test paper at the end of the course requiring a 75% pass rate to enable the candidate to be certificated and uploaded to the national database, validating the passport.
This article will detail some recent developments concerning skills cards. It covers the CRO card replacement options for gate installers and site hoarders and the withdrawal of the CSCS yellow card. The article also covers the increased demand, from sites, for blue skilled worker cards.
Since the CRO (Construction Related Occupation) cards were discontinued in October 2017 there have been various issues for automated gate and barrier installers. Well, Fencing and Construction Training (FaCT) have come up with a solution to the problem.
The rules now require installers to hold a formal qualification. However, there was no specific qualification for gate installers. Therefore, FaCT have devised a programme that will allow the installers to gain a formal qualification in a much shorter time. And once again, FaCT have been able to access some funding!
The programme will allow the installer to gain a Blue FISS CSCS card, through the achievement of a Level 2 Diploma, in around 2 months, rather than the usual 6-9 months. The programme will include; just one day of classroom-based learning and one/two site visits. This programme is specifically for gate installers who have held a CRO card and part of the evidence required is the physical installation of a gate.
Hoarding companies have also suffered from the lack of CRO card replacement. FaCT have now been informed that these companies must put their employees through the Level 2 Diploma in fencing to replace the CRO card.
FaCT have funding for you to do this.
Get in touch with FaCT for more details about either of these programmes 0121 476 4731
Or email joe@fctrain.co.uk
Fencing and Construction Training (FaCT) have reported that many of their clients have experienced sites demanding Blue cards rather than Green cards. We spoke to Tim Drew (FaCT’s MD) and asked him to explain these developments.
“I visited a client of ours in Wales in May, they do a lot of work with a major housing developer. The housing developer is insisting that (from January 2019) all of the fencing company’s workers must hold the Blue FISS CSCS card rather than the Green. This is due to them all actually installing fences and they must be able to prove that they are qualified to do so”.
“I’ve also recently met with a local fencing company (west Midlands) who have experienced more of the same. They’ve put together a plan to upgrade their Green card holders to Blue cards. They’ve experienced sites demanding this, in line with the Build UK requirements.”
“Another company doing the same is an established VRS installation business in the North of England. They have committed to enrolling all new starters on to our VRS apprenticeship programme. The company have again experienced sites demanding Blue cards. So, the apprenticeship programme is one way for them to achieve Blue cards whilst utilising our funding!”
“it’s not just about meeting minimum requirements. Think of the increased reputation to the business when sites can see that you are taking strides to have all staff qualified to installer level. This can certainly help win contracts!”
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme aims to improve safety on UK Construction sites. To do this they have, over the past few years, focused on the achievement of construction related qualifications as a requirement for their cards.
They have now taken another step towards their goal. They have implemented the withdrawal of the yellow CSCS card, the site visitors card. This card was originally created for site visitors, who although were often visitors to site, were not directly involved in manual construction work.
CSCS have been in contact with companies from across the industry and created a plan that will lead to the withdrawal of the card. All Construction Site Visitor cards issued from 3rd September 2018 will expire on 31st August 2020 and CSCS will stop issuing the card from 28th February 2020. All site visitor cards issued before 3rd September 2018 will remain valid until their expiry date.
CSCS have announced that those people, who hold site visitor cards, but do not work in a construction related occupation, will not need to acquire a different CSCS card. It is only those, who directly work in a construction occupation that will need to do so.
Following the closure of the Construction Related
Occupation card in 2017, the Site Visitor card is now the only card issued without the need for the
applicant to achieve a recognised qualification. The Construction Site Visitor card does not support
industry’s desire for a fully qualified workforce and as such it will be withdrawn.
Graham Wren continued:
The withdrawal of the Site Visitor card will see an increase in the
numbers of individuals turning up to site without a card. We are not suggesting site supervisors and
managers turn non-cardholders away from site. If a worker is there to carry out a construction
related activity then a card is required as proof of their training and qualifications. If they are there
to perform a non-construction related activity it then becomes the responsibility of site supervisors
and managers to induct and supervise these people to ensure they remain safe at all times when on
site.”
We’re pleased to announce that we’re supporting Band of Builders as they take on the national Three Peaks Challenge.
A group of seven fundraisers from the organisation (Martin O’Donnell, Richard Patchesa, Gavin Crane, Louise Stevenson, Craig Cashmore, Andrew Pell & James Everitt) will be completing the National Three Peaks challenge, which includes scaling the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales (Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon) in just 24 hours…… Good luck guys!
Preparations are already underway – the guys have already completed the Yorkshire ‘Three Peaks’ as training ahead of taking on the national challenge in September. We’d love for you to join us in sponsoring the guys or donating to their fundraising page.
To organise sponsorship please contact: richardpatchesa@bandofbuilders.com
Or donate to their fundraising page here: https://www.gofundme.com/band-of-builders-3-peaks-challenge
For those of you who don’t know, Band of Builders is a charitable organisation that focuses on helpingconstruction workers in need. For an organisation that brings such joy and positivity they started out in the most tragic of circumstances. Keith Ellick, a close friend and colleague of founder Addam Smith, was devastatingly diagnosed with terminal cancer. Upon hearing this distressing news, Addam wanted to do anything in his power to help his mate.
The original plan was to landscape Keith’s garden. However, with the support of construction businesses and tradespeople from all over the UK this developed into a full-scale renovation of Keith’s house.
Lovely stuff, right? Well they didn’t stop there.
Since the first project Band of Builders has gone from strength to strength. BoB has taken on multiple projects and really made a difference to several people’s lives. One of the most heart-warming things is the numerous construction companies and tradesmen and women who have volunteered time as well as resources to make these projects happen.
But none of this is possible without fundraising. So, get behind the guys on the Three Peaks Challenge and donate or sponsor them today!
So, there’s just a few days left to make the most of our Highways England Passport Scheme discount. The compulsory training, The Common Induction Course, is necessary to hold a passport card. The passport itself will be compulsory for anyone who works on Highways England sites.
Depending on the number of people you put through the course you could save a huge amount of money! It’s a compulsory course that you’ll need to complete to work on Highways England sites. So why not take advantage of our offer and reduce the cost?!
The training certification lasts for longer the sooner you do it. Highways England have increased the validity period of the certification if you complete the training sooner rather than later.
There are around 50,000 people that need to be trained in the industry. This is obviously a huge task logistically and there is bound to be a rush as the deadline date (April 2019) gets closer. By completing the training early, you can pick and choose dates to suit you! We’ve just created a plan to deliver Tarmac’s training which is staggered over six months. Because they decided to sort it early they were able to create a schedule to suit them!
There are many reasons that the Highways England Passport Scheme has been designed. Below are just some of the reasons:
Give us a call on 0121 476 4731 email joe@fctrain.co.uk
or you can also