Linbrook Commits to Qualified Workforce

Partnership with local college provides necessary work based training programme under the Government’s “Train to Gain” initiative

Linbrook has made a commitment to ensuring that all its work force is qualified to NVQ level 2 from the end of 2008 onwards. This also means that they will be eligible for Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) accreditation at the “Blue Card- skilled worker” level rather than the “Green Card-construction site worker” level carried by many contractors’ workforce

Graham Scott Linbrook Managing Director said “Linbrook strongly supports CSCS accreditation and believe that the Blue Card is more appropriate. It gives our clients proof that our operatives working for them are qualified in their trade as well as fully aware of the correct health and safety procedures”.

This commitment is in tune with the position taken by major players in the social housing market such as Liverpool Housing Trust who have made working towards CSCS compliance mandatory to qualify for their approved contractor list.

Linbrook plan to achieve this aggressive goal by partnering with Southgate College whose Construction department have developed an NVQ level 2 and level3 work based learning programme under the government backed “Train to Gain” scheme.

“It is good to see companies like Linbrook committing to developing their workforce” said Alan Westall Head of Construction at Southgate College “it demonstrates that they are serious about building a more professional workforce. More companies should be following Linbrook’s lead”.

This week the first 10 Linbrook operatives start the 3 month work based training programme as a prerequisite to qualifying for the CSCS blue card. This NVQ programme consists of some workshops but most of it is based on creating a portfolio of work and on the job assessment by CITB accredited assessors.

“Linbrook considers it has a responsibility to develop and train its staff.” said Angela Lambard Linbrook’s, HR manager “The Southgate College work based learning programme offers them an opportunity to formalise their knowledge gained from experience and demonstrate their competence”.

As the programme progresses the Southgate team will train and accredit some of Linbrook’s own supervisors to be course assessors so that the NVQ programme can be integrated into the day to day management process.