Scheme administration and FAQ
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Scheme
administration and FAQ |
Contacts
for Further Information |
If you need to speak to someone to clarify any
points, you might find the contact details given below of assistance.
Engineering Services
SKILLcard Ltd
Old Mansion House
Eamont Bridge
Penrith
Cumbria
CA10 2BX
Tel: 01768 860406
Fax: 01768 860401
e-mail: skillcard@welplan.co.uk
website: www.skillcard.org.uk
For:
- SKILLcard general enquiries and administration
- card issue and renewals
- welding certification administration
- details of approved training organisations/assessment
centres

HVCA Education and Training Department
Esca House,
34 Palace Court,
London W2 4 JG
Tel: 020 7313 4929
Fax: 020 7792 8682
e-mail:adoig@hvca.org.uk
Website: www.hvca.org.uk
For:
- bookings for SKILLcard recommended
health and safety awareness training courses organised by HVCA.

SummitSkills
Ltd
Vega House
Opal Drive
Fox Milne
Milton Keynes
MK15 0DF
Tel: 01908 303 960
Fax: 01908 303 989
e-mail: enquiries@summitskills.org.uk
website: www.summitskills.org.uk
For:
- general enquiries about the assessment
of experienced workers
- availability of NVQ/SVQs
- relevance of NVQ/SVQs to different
occupations in the h&v and building services engineering industry
- availability of workbooks and other
materials relevant to the assessment of experienced workers
- further information on approved training
organisations/assessment centres
- availability of funding
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Important
dates |
download
important dates
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Latest
News
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SKILLcard
News and Information Bulletins
No.
20 (20 March 2006): SKILLcard coverage extended to include
technical specialisms and other ancillary occupations
No.
21 (20 March 2006): Revised arrangements for the application
of SKILLcard to fire sprinkler installation personnel
No.
22 (1 November 2006): Industry Accreditation extended for Supervisors
and Managers
No.
23 (1 November 2006): Major Contractors Group policy for qualifying
the workforce
No.
24 (1 November 2006): Engineering Services SKILLcard–price
increase
No.
25 (1 November 2006): SKILLcard renewal process
No.
26 (20 April 2007): Health and Safety Testing
No.
28 (6 December 2007): End of Window of Opportunity – Commissioning
Technicians and Commissioning Engineers
No.
30 (21 December 2009): Industry Accreditation Extended for Supervisors and Managers
No.
31 (21 December 2009) Skillcard Fees– Increase in rate of
VAT
HVCA Newslink articles
March/April
2006: First Experienced Worker
cardholder progresses to full SKILLcard
July/August 2006: SKILLcard hits 50,000 milestone
ARCHIVE
January/February
2005: SKILLcard welcomes 40,000th registration
March/April
2005: Current Routes to a SKILLcard
20,000th
SKILLcard issued (HVCA
Newslink Nov/Dec 2003)
1000th
Supervisory/Managerial SKILLcard issued (HVCA Newslink July/August
2003)
5000th
SKILLcard issued (HVCA Newslink Nov/Dec 2002)
New
SKILLcards for Supervisors and Managers (HVCA Newslink Nov/Dec
2002)
SKILLcard
extends into the Service and Facilities sector (HVCA Newslink
Sep/Oct 2002)
SKILLcard
developments (HVCA Newslink Jul/Aug 2002)
SKILLcard
gains recognition in the Republic of Ireland (HVCA Newslink
Jul/Aug 2002)
Copy
of the Agreement PDF
SKILLcard
wins industry award (HVCA Newslink Jul/Aug 2002)
1000th
SKILLcard issued (HVCA Newslink May/Jun 2002)
Recognition
letter for SKILLcard from Major Contractors Group (Nov 2001)
SKILLcard
affiliates with CSCS (HVCA Newslink Sep/Oct 2001)
Engineering
Services SKILLcard launched (HVCA Newslink Sep/Oct 2001)
SKILLcard News and Information Bulletins
No.
15 (25 February 2005): Industry Accreditation
and "Experienced
Worker" SKILLcards for Fire Protection/Sprinkler Installation
Personnel
No.
16 (12 September 2005): New SKILLcard website
No.
17 (12 September 2005): End of window of opportunity Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Personnel
No.
18 (12 September 2005): Employer Endorsement/Industry Accreditation
Route for issue of SKILLcard to Skilled/Unqualified Personnel
Service
and Facilities
No.
19 (14 November 2005): Industry Accreditation extended for
Supervisors and Managers
No. 27 (29 October 2007): Industry Accreditation
extended for Supervisors and Managers
No.
29 (8 December 2009): Skillcard Fees– Reduction in
VAT Rate
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Frequently
Asked Questions |
Who can register for a SKILLcard?
What SKILLcards
are available?
How do I obtain
a SKILLcard?
How much does
a SKILLcard cost?
What is industry
accreditation?
What is the health
and safety test?
Why do I need
a SKILLcard?
I have passed
my health and safety test what do I do now?
I have lost my
SKILLcard. How do I get a replacement card?
I have lost
my apprenticeship certificate. What do I do? I have
no formal qualifications. How do I apply for a SKILLcard?
What is the
Experienced Worker route and how long does it take to gain a SKILLcard
by this route?
Why do I need to renew my SKILLcard?
My SKILLcard is approaching
its expiry date. How do I renew my SKILLcard?
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Who can register for a
SKILLcard?
Anybody working in the heating, ventilating,
air conditioning and refrigeration industry, including ductwork
and other specialisms associated with the building services engineering
industry such as service and facilities, domestic heating
and plumbing, and refrigeration and air conditioning.
The scope of SKILLcard also covers those with
supervisory and managerial responsibilities in the building services
engineering industry.
You do not have to be employed in order to register.
You could be self-employed, an agency worker or unemployed.
Membership of the scheme is confirmed through
the issue of an Engineering Services SKILLcard.
Engineering Services SKILLcard is affiliated
to the pan-industry Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).
The terms of affiliation ensure that Engineering Services SKILLcard
complies with the requirements of CSCS.
There is no need, therefore, for separate registration with CSCS.
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What SKILLcards are
available?
For detailed information about the types of
SKILLcard that are available, go to Card
Information.
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How do I obtain a
SKILLcard?
There are three main stages in applying for an Engineering Services
SKILLcard:
1. The minimum requirement for the issue of
an Engineering Services SKILLcard is that you must fulfil the
health and safety criteria of the scheme.
2. You will need to prove the skills you possess
using one of the accredited methods recognised by SKILLcard.
3. You must satisfactorily complete the relevant
application form.
For more information about these and related
issues, go to How
to Apply.
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How much does a SKILLcard
cost?
| |
from 1 January
2010 |
| Trainee card |
Free |
| Update from Trainee to NVQ/SVQ
Level 2 card |
£7.00 |
| NVQ/SVQ card |
£25.00 |
| Apprenticeship Route card |
£25.00 |
| Industry Accreditation card |
£25.00 |
| Experienced Worker card |
£25.00 |
| Supervisors' and
Managers' card |
£25.00 |
| Construction Related
Occupations card |
£25.00 |
| All categories
of renewal |
£25.00 |
| Replacement card
(e.g. to replace lost card) |
£9.00 |
| Update card (e.g. to update
details during lifetime of card) |
£9.00 |
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What is industry accreditation?
Even if you have no formal industry qualifications,
such as an NVQ/SVQ or apprenticeship, you will still be able
to
acquire a SKILLcard by means of Industry Accreditation through
an endorsement of your skills, competence and experience from
your present or previous employer.
When a SKILLcard is issued on this basis, you
will be able to keep your Industry Accreditation membership of
SKILLcard for life (subject to renewal rules).
SKILLcards issued on this basis are valid for
five years.
There is a time limit for applying by Industry
Accreditation, and the closure dates are shown against individual
occupations in Occupations
Available.
After the end of the period available for Industry
Accreditation, applicants without formal industry qualifications
will need to apply via the Experienced Worker route see
'Blue (Experienced Worker) Card', which you can access through
Card Information.
Further
details are contained in the Scheme Booklet which is downloadable
from the link below.
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What is the health and
safety test?
For detailed information about health and safety
testing, you can follow the link at the top of this section.
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Why do I need a SKILLcard?
Engineering Services SKILLcard aims to provide
the following benefits to individuals:
- access to many construction sites
- industry-wide recognition of skills,
competence and qualifications
- improving knowledge and awareness
of workplace health and safety
- enhancing employment prospects
- identifying training needs, and the
chance to develop and add to existing skills
- confirmation of professionalism
and differentiation from the industry's "cowboys".
Of major importance, from 1 January 2007,
everybody working on a Major Contractors Group (MCG) site must
have an appropriate skills card; it will not be sufficient only
to have passed the health and safety test. So, possession of
a SKILLcard is your licence to work.
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I have passed my health
and safety test what do I do now?
You must apply for your SKILLcard. If you know
which application form you need, go to Download
Application Forms. Otherwise, if you are not sure which form
you need, go to Occupations
Available.
If you have any enquiries that are not covered
on this website, please contact Engineering Services SKILLcard,
as follows:
Engineering Services
SKILLcard Ltd
Old Mansion House
Eamont Bridge
Penrith
Cumbria
CA10 2BX
Tel: 01768 860406 Fax: 01768 860401 e-mail: skillcard@welplan.co.uk
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I
have lost my SKILLcard. How do I get a replacement card?
Click
HERE for a replacement SKILLcard application form.
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I
have lost my apprenticeship certificate. What do I do?
You should contact the organisation or awarding
body that issued your apprenticeship certificate and request a
duplicate certificate or letter confirming your completion of
the apprenticeship.
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I have no formal qualifications.
How do I apply for a SKILLcard?
If you are an unskilled worker (such as a Mate
or an Assistant) you do not need formal qualifications to apply
for a Green SKILLcard.
If you are a skilled worker, you may still
be able to get a SKILLcard by means of Industry Accreditation
through an endorsement of your skills, competence and experience
from your present or previous employer.
There is a time limit for applying by Industry
Accreditation, and the closure dates are shown against individual
occupations in Occupations
Available.
If you are a skilled/experienced worker and
you have missed the chance to obtain a SKILLcard by Industry Accreditation,
you will need to register for a relevant NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or 3
and complete an NVQ/SVQ profile with an NVQ/SVQ assessor. For
full details refer to Blue
(Experienced Worker) SKILLcard.
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What is the Experienced
Worker route and how long does it take to gain a SKILLcard by
this route?
For detailed information about the Experienced
Worker route, go to Blue
(Experienced Worker) SKILLcard.
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Why do I
need to renew my SKILLcard?
Many clients and contractors are insisting
that they employ only workers with a current SKILLcard. In addition,
from 1 January 2007, everybody working on a Major Contractors
Group (MCG) site must have an appropriate skills card. So, it
is more important than ever that you renew your SKILLcard which
is your licence to getting work.
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My SKILLcard
is approaching its expiry date. How do I renew my SKILLcard?
Firstly, you must pass the relevant SKILLcard/CITB-ConstructionSkills
health and safety test. Secondly, complete and return your completed
SKILLcard renewal application form to Engineering Services SKILLcard.
It really is as simple as that. For full details of the renewal
process refer to Renewing
your SKILLcard.
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