CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > November 2021 37 TRAINING: 2 A number of organisations including plant hirers, training providers andmanufacturers are now offering training programmes through direct or remote learning-based programmes on fuel saving techniques formobile IC-engined plant in a bid to both reduce emissions and fuel costs. One CPA Member has devised such a programme, which is accredited through an awarding organisation, NOCN. Wishing to promote and encourage the adoption of fuel-saving techniques by others for the benefit of industry, they are keen to share their course programme externally to others and have had discussions with CPA on the best approach to achieve this aim. One of the overriding factors in a national, pan-sector adoption is to ensure that the learning programme content and assessment methodology - the ‘standard’, is applied consistently to any delivery programme. Furthermore, to encourage widescale adoption by industry means that there should be no barriers to any organisation wishing to adopt the standard and issuing of certification. However, if the standard is only available through a single awarding organisation, there may be a potential reluctance from other certificating bodies, providers or employers to use them, which limits the wholescale adoption to industry. This may further compel other certificating bodies or providers to develop their own programmes, resulting in a lost opportunity to have a national and single, consistent standard. The solution is that an overarching and impartial body develops, endorses, promotes and ‘badges’ a single standard as an open-source programme that can be used and delivered by any of the certificating bodies and providers operating in construction and who can ensure that the standard fully reflects the needs of industry in general. The Plant Sector Representative Organisation (PSRO) has offered to undertake such an approach and are further in discussions with CITB to seek specific grant aid on achievement of the PSRO-derived standard. The PSRO is forming a working party, with interest received already from a number of plant hirers, and will become ‘custodians’ of the standard, drawing in expertise from across the sector as well as liaising with other bodies, such as the Supply Chain Sustainability School. In the meantime, the CPA Council is endorsing the NOCN-accredited programme to the membership whilst the PSRO version is being developed. Eco-Operator Learning Programme CITB Training Standards and Grant Survey CITB are in the process of reviewing their Plant Short Duration Standards and Grants. Following an initial consultation earlier this year, they have now launched a full consultation exercise with industry until late November 2021. CITB have stated that they are keen to hear industry views on what any new plant standards and grant provision should look like. CITB registered employer wanting to have a say in what the future CITB Short Duration Plant Grants will look like can complete an online survey at https://citb.citizenspace.com/plant/plant-short- duration-training-review/ This CITB survey is not connected with or seeking the same information as the current CPA Training Provision Survey, managed by Pye Tait, which is seeking feedback from CPA members on how the association can better support the members in training delivery.