NI concrete industry lays path to competence recognition
QPANI and CITB-Construction Skills NI launch NVQ level 2 in concrete placement and finishing
IN a major initiative that should pave the way for the recognition of skills and competence in the placing of concrete, the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI), in partnership with CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, have launched the NVQ level 2 qualification in the placing and finishing of concrete in the workplace.
QPANI and CITB-ConstructionSkills NI recently hosted an introduction evening in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim, at which over 40 concrete laying contractors heard how the assessment qualification has been put together, its recognition and value both locally and nationally, and how it will be delivered to the industry.
Barry Neilson, chief executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, said: ‘We are delighted to be associated with this initiative. The ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ (QEW) project will qualify 500 unqualified, employed construction workers to NVQ level 2 and this will include the qualification for concrete layers.
‘This initiative is a partnership between CITB-ConstructionSkills NI and the Joint Council for the Building & Civil Engineering Industry, supported and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning.’
The two companies who won the QEW contract to deliver the NVQ, Mckinney Plant & Safety and Building Learning NI, have many years experience delivering training and competence assessments in the construction industry.
Gordon Best (pictured second from right), regional director of QPANI, said: ‘This qualification is long overdue and will undoubtedly raise standards within the concrete industry here in Northern Ireland. Achieving the NVQ level 2 will recognize an individual’s skill and give customers the confidence that they have engaged someone with the right skills to do a quality and long-lasting job.’
Michael Hardy, chairman of the QPANI Concrete Technical Committee, added: ‘A lot of hard work has gone into developing this qualification over the last 18 months. Our aim now is to communicate the benefits of achieving the NVQ to the whole of the construction industry and government construction clients.
‘As suppliers of concrete, we would prefer our material to be laid by contractors holding this qualification and our long-term objective will be to have the NVQ level 2 qualification in the laying of concrete made mandatory on all public sector contracts.’
