CPA Bulletin

38 CPA Bulletin > November 2022 www.cpa.uk.net TRAINING TRAINING: 1 Apprenticeships Construction Plant Operative The Construction Plant Operative (CPO) apprenticeship for plant operators - based on the previous framework-based version - requires learning on four plant types including ride-on roller, dumper or dump truck, forklift and 360 excavator over a 15 month period. Since launch, the CPA’s Apprenticeship Ambassador has been working with the concrete pumping sector who are seeking an apprenticeship for concrete pumping operatives whilst the suction and vacuumexcavator sector are also seeking an apprenticeship. Further calls have beenmade by employers to expand the scope of plant as not all of them use the current four listed plant types. The CPO Steering Group has now devised a number of optional routes which either group machines for a particular sector, or uniquely with the specialist machines listed. Proposed additional machines include agricultural- based tractors and 180 degree excavators within a series of options to maintain the overall learning period of 15 months. The standard - the skills and knowledge to be learnt - require little change to accommodate the new options and the steering group has now presented the options to the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfATE) to seek approval. When approved, a new assessment plan will need to be devised and submitted for approval to IfATE. It is hoped we will gain final approval by early 2023. Construction Equipment Maintenance Technician Apprenticeships The first formal working groupmeeting was held inmid August 2022 to start the submission process for this new apprenticeship for plant technicians at Level 3. The first aimof the group was to elect a group Chair. Bob Harper, Head of Training for Sunbelt Rentals, was unanimously elected by the group. Bob has fully participated on both the Level 2 plant mechanic and hire controller trailblazer working groups and is Chair of the Training of Plant in Construction (TOPIC) working group. The group is being administered by the CPA Technical Manager and the CPA’s Apprenticeship Ambassador. The remainder of the meeting was to devise the information required by the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfATE) for the submission which includes an outline of the occupation, expected numbers per annum, roles and responsibilities and the duties of the occupation, for which around 20 duties need to be listed. Much of the focus is on new technologies such as battery/high-voltage driven equipment, electronic information and control systems, etc. as well as traditional skills such as fabrication activities. This submission process is a lengthy one in getting all the required information collated and listed. It is envisaged that the formal submission will be made prior to the end of the year. When approved, the remaining work will be based on devising the required skills, knowledge and behaviours, for which a lot of this work has already been undertaken and finally, the assessment plan, along with likely costings which will determine the funding band. CITB Plant Operations Short Course Duration Training Standards The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is developing and introducing a set of short-duration training standards for the operation of plant categories and from which grant payments will be subsequently based. CPA technical staff have been providing comprehensive advice to CITB on how the development programme should be arranged, which plant categories they should prioritise and have further been assisting in writing the draft standards for each of the working groups to review. The Earthmoving Working Group commenced development work on the Dumper and Dump Truck categories in April 2022 and on completion, the group subsequently developed the standard for the 360 Excavator category. The Lifting Operations Working Group concentrating on the Telehandler and Slinger/Signaller categories whilst the remaining Working Group developed the Ride on Rollers and Plant/Vehicle Marshaller categories. Other categories for which are being launched in the first tranche but not requiring employer-led working groups include the Industrial Forklift category, where CITB have stated that the standards for this category are directly referenced within the HSE’s Lift Truck Approved Code of Practice - L117. Each technical group has been chaired by CPA technical staff or CPA members. CITB aimed for completion of the first eight categories by October 2022 to allow their approved training organisations (ATO) to prepare their delivery mechanisms for the new standards implementation, scheduled for January 2023. Each training standard incorporates a series of learning outcomes and within each outcome is the technical content that needs to be delivered by the training provider, along