Construction Plant Competence Scheme-CPCS

CPCS - Construction Plant Competence Scheme

CPCS was created from the need of construction and similar employers who required a recognised qualification for their plant and machinery operators. The original CTA Scheme served its purpose well as a provider of safe operating skills and site safety.

However the industry needed to improve safety, initiatives such as the Rethinking Construction and Revitalising Health and Safety agendas meant that a generally recognised scheme was needed. As such organisations such as the Confederation of Construction Clients and the Major Contractors Group where established, there job was to set minimum safety standards, and encourage the use of a single card scheme for the industry under the umbrella of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).

CPCS - Construction Plant Competence Scheme

Members of the CTA Scheme Management Committee spent three years devising a skills based scheme, with widespread consultation with federations, organisations, employers, operators and stakeholders. All supported the need for a simple, robust yet realistic system of competence assurance.

In February 2003, CPCS was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of CSCS and initially comprised the CTA Scheme, Lantra Awards and the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme. The mandatory attainment of NVQs/SVQs within CPCS promoted the concept of a fully qualified workforce encouraged by the Government.

It further supports the recognition of plant operators as skilled individuals. CPCS is an ideal support for the federations' goals by enabling accredited plant operators to meet these criteria to nationally accepted standards. Qualified individuals are also provided with a card that forms a portable recognised standard. With just a few exceptions, the CPCS card is now the only record scheme for plant operators that is accepted by MCG and NCF.