Concrete Industry Lays The Path To Competence Recognition

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 NI (QPANI), in partnership with CITBConstructionSkills NI, have launched the NVQ Level 2 qualification in the placing and finishing of concrete in the workplace.

Recently, QPANI and CITBConstructionSkills  NI hosted an  introduction evening in the  Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim, at which  over forty concrete laying  contractors gathered to hear 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,  CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, said:  “We are delighted to be  associated with this initiative. The  QEW ‘Qualifying the Existing  Workforce’ project will qualify five  hundred 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 and 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  to concrete layers – McKinney  Plant and Safety and Building  Learning NI – have many years  experience delivering training and  competence assessments in the  construction industry.  Gordon Best, Regional Director of  QPANI, stated: “This qualification  is long overdue and will  undoubtedly raise standards  within the concrete industry here  in Northern Ireland. Achieving the  NVQ Level 2 will recognise an  individual’s skill and give  customers the confidence that  they have engaged someone with  the right skills to leave a quality  and long lasting job.”  Michael Hardy, Chairman of the  QPANI Concrete Technical  Committee, explained: “A lot of  hard work has gone into  developing this qualification over  the last 18 months. It is our aim  now 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.”  QPANI is Northern Ireland’s top  trade association for the  quarrying industry. For further  information, visit the official  website at www.qpani.org