GRANDFATHER RIGHTS AND INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION
Want to find out more about how the ending of grandfather rights and industry accreditation might affect your construction career? Find out more below!
Here at DMR Training, we get a lot of questions about grandfather rights and what this means for construction workers and businesses in the UK. Understanding how the ending of grandfather rights will affect the industry as a whole and what it means for you can be complex – however, we want to make sure our clients and customers have the most accurate information possible.Â
If you or your workers need CSCS cards in order to be able to work on certain sites, you need to be aware of how Industry Accreditation to get these cards is changing. Industry Accreditation rules, more commonly known as Grandfather rights, are ending.
What was Industry Accreditation?
CSCS cards were launched in 1995 in order to help construction workers provide proof that they are competent at their occupational role. In order for workers to get their CSCS card, they will need to provide evidence that they can do the work.Â
When CSCS cards were first introduced, many construction workers did not have an NVQ because they learned on the job. However, they still needed to be able to get their CSCS card – which meant that industry accreditation was brought in so that workers who had been performing their occupational role for years could still get their card.Â
Industry Accreditation meant that CSCS cards could be issued with evidence from former employers, who would testify that the person was competent at their job. This evidence could be based on the work that the person had completed, or just the opinion of the person submitting the reference.
The Start of Grandfather RightsÂ
Industry Accreditation ended in 2010 – this meant that new applicants needed to have their NVQ before getting the relevant CSCS card. However, so that construction workers had time to be prepared, grandfather rights were introduced. This meant that previous cards issued through Industry Accreditation could be renewed, even if no new CSCS cards were issued through IA.Â
The CLC ended Industry Accreditation because the different criteria made it difficult to assess safety on site. It also meant that quality of work could not be properly assessed. However, grandfather rights were brought in to ensure that construction workers had time to prepare and could still work while working to get their NVQ.Â
Grandfather rights refers to a provision where an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases – which is what happened with CSCS card application.Â
For over a decade, people who got their CSCS card with Industry Accreditation could still renew their CSCS card under grandfather rights. However, grandfather rights are ending. This means that old cards issued through IA will no longer be able to be renewed, and if you want to continue working with a CSCS card, you will need to get an NVQ.Â
Grandfather rights ending means that workers who didnât need to get their NVQ will now need to do so in order to get their CSCS card and continue working on certain sites. They will no longer be able to renew their CSCS card issued under IA – they will have to re-apply with an NVQ certificate in their occupational area.Â
What Do I Need To Do Now That âGrandfather Rightsâ Have Gone? Â
If you are a construction worker with a CSCS card issued under IA, or have a workforce with lots of workers with this sort of CSCS card, they will need to get an NVQ by the time grandfather rights end in 2024. The ending of grandfather rights means that you must get the NVQ in your chosen occupational area. If youâre in one of the trades, you will probably need to get your NVQ in order to renew your CSCS card.Â
At DMR Training, we can help you get your NVQ – the ending of grandfather rights doesnât mean the end of your construction career! All of the construction NVQs we provide are right here on the website, and this list is growing!
For construction workers who are affected by the ending of grandfather rights, we can do your NVQ on-site, so that you can achieve your qualification without taking time away from your job. One of our trusty assessors will come out on-site to collect evidence, and will help you with any question you have when it comes to the job knowledge questions. Our flexible delivery and exemplary learner support means that the ending of grandfather rights is easy to manage when you choose to get your NVQ with us!Â
Furthermore, the ending of grandfather rights might not mean you need to pay for your NVQ. At DMR, we have access to NVQ funding across England – depending on your eligibility, you could get your NVQ at no cost at all. If youâve been affected by grandfather rights ending and want to know more about which NVQs are funded and in what areas, please get in contact with us or call the office today.Â
However, if youâre not eligible for NVQ funding, you can pay for your NVQ in four instalments – you donât need to go out of pocket just because grandfather rights are ending!
How Long Will My NVQ Last?
Grandfather rights running out means that you will need to get your NVQ – however, once you have your NVQ you are qualified to that level. You donât need to renew your NVQ or take it again, unless you want to move from a level 2 qualification to a level 3 qualification and so on. Once you are qualified, thatâs it.Â
Getting your NVQ soon would be a very smart choice – because of grandfather rights ending, you will no longer be able to renew your CSCS card after 2024 if it was issued under Industry Accreditation. Make sure youâre not left without a CSCS card by getting your NVQ with us today!
CSCS cards were first introduced in 1995 to help improve standards in the construction industry. However, many construction workers did not have an NVQ because they had decades of experience and learnt âon the job.â However, they still needed to be able to get their CSCS card – which meant that industry accreditation was started, meaning that experienced workers could still get their CSCS card without an NVQ.Â
Industry Accreditation meant that CSCS cards could be issued with evidence from former employers, who would testify that the person was competent at their job. However, there were issues with this and it was scrapped in 2010. However, grandfather rights were introduced, which meant that workers who got their CSCS card through Industry Accreditation had time to get their NVQ.
Grandfather rights means a situation where an old law/rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases – which is what happened with CSCS card application in 2010 when Industry Accreditation ended. New applicants had to have their NVQ before getting the relevant CSCS card. However, so that construction workers had time to achieve their NVQ grandfather rights were introduced, meaning that previous cards issued through Industry Accreditation could be renewed.Â
Grandfather rights are ending in 2024 – this means that old cards issued through IA will no longer be able to be renewed. If you want to continue working with a CSCS card, you will need to get an NVQ in your occupational area.
No, not at all. CSCS cards are still the main way you can prove your skills if youâre a construction worker. The only thing that is being scrapped is CSCS cards earned through industry accreditation grandfather rights. This means that CSCS cards earned through industry accreditation will no longer be able to be renewed, when they were protected via grandfather rights. Grandfather rights ending means that you will need to get your NVQ to be able to get a CSCS card, as industry accreditation cards will no longer be eligible for renewal.
Grandfather rights are ending in 2024. This means that if you gained your CSCS card under Industry Accreditation, it will no longer be able to be renewed by 2024. The ending of grandfather rights means that you have to get the NVQ in your chosen occupational area. If youâre in a construction trade, you will probably need to get your NVQ in order to renew your CSCS card.
In the past, industry accreditation and grandfather rights meant that you didnât need to get your NVQ to get or renew a CSCS card. However, industry accreditation has been over for longer than a decade, and grandfather rights have now been stopped too. This means that if you want to achieve your CSCS card in your occupational area, you will need to get the relevant NVQ. At DMR Training, we can help you get your NVQ – the ending of grandfather rights doesnât mean the end of your construction career! Contact us today for more information about how we can help you with NVQ funding, on-site assessment and learner support.