Accreditations
City and Guilds
City and Guilds are academic and vocational qualifications – proving that a tradesperson has been properly taught in their trade. They are not specific to any one area – covering over 500 qualifications in 28 industry areas.
These areas include Gardening (Alan Titchmarsh is C+G qualified), Catering (Jamie Oliver has C+G qualifications), construction and building. See the City and Guilds website at www.cityandguilds.com
Builders, Construction (general)
Construction Skills
Construction Skills (previously known as CITB - Construction Industry Training Board), is the (Government) Skills Council for the construction industry – including the industry training board. They exist to ensure a safe, professional, fully qualified UK construction workforce, and are involved in schemes such as apprenticeships and other pre-City and Guilds training.
As well as providing training courses, they also provide card schemes for employers in the construction industry which help ensure that migrant workers are legal and suitably qualified to work. See the website for Construction Skills at: www.cskills.org .
For more information about specifically the card scheme, see: www.cscs.uk.com. CSCS was set up to help the construction industry to improve quality and reduce accidents. CSCS cards are increasingly demanded as proof of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients and others. They cover hundreds of occupations so whatever you do in construction there will be a card that is suitable for that role.
NFRC, CHAS & Competant Roofer.
The NFRC is the largest and most influential roofing trade association in the UK, promoting quality contractors and quality products, ensuring that its members are at the forefront of all roofing developments.
NFRC actively ensures that all members offer high standards of workmanship and sound business practice through a strict code of practice and vetting procedure, including site inspections and adhering to the Government endorsed standards. The Federation also offers training services, technical advice, and represents member interests to the wider construction industry and Government. (https://www.nfrc.co.uk/about-us)
CHAS (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) was created by experienced health and safety professionals in 1997 to improve health and safety standards across the UK. (https://www.chas.co.uk/about-chas)
The CompetentRoofer scheme was initially created in 2006 by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited (NFRC). NFRC wanted to create a scheme that brought reputable contractors together with members of the public looking to comply with the relevant Building Regulations for roofing. (https://competentroofer.co.uk/about-us/)
Central Heating Engineers, Plumbers
GASsafe, CORGI
It is a legal requirement that all gas installers are on the GASsafe register: See www.gassaferegister.co.uk for details.
(Prior to April 2009, this was known as CORGI - which still exists as a quality-based trade association, although it is now open to most trades). For more information about CORGI see: www.trustcorgi.com
