Dry-liners get EU cash for training

Dry-lining contractors can win grants of £650 per employee to train their workforce to NVQ standards under a scheme funded by £480,000 cash support from the European Social Fund. The initiative introduces a special industry programme which will assess current site operative skills and identify training needs.

Employers who register for the scheme will be able to have their workforce assessed for NVQ Level 2 with little or no time away from the workplace. Any gaps in skills identified will be met with the guidance of a local coordinator from the Construction Industry Training Board.

Operatives who gain an NVQ will also get a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card free of charge. The contractor can claim a CITB grant of up to £650 per person.

Details of the scheme were announced last weekend by Terry Wright, chairman of the Gypsum Training Group. He was speaking at the Federation of Plastering and Drywall Contractors conference in Nottingham.

The bid for European funding was made by the CITB in conjunction with the Gypsum group and the employers' federation. The EU money is available under regional funding arrangements and the programme applies to contractors in England and Wales.

Paul Cano-Lopez, CITB specialist training manager, said: "We applied for this European cash because we are always striving to give employers more value for their levy.

"Upskilling and qualifying workers through this project should increase their motivation and will also help employers win more contracts.

"More and more clients are asking for proof of a workforce's competence before they take on a company."