ConstructionSkills refutes claims of rift with CSCS

ConstructionSkills is denying a fresh political rift with CSCS management - this time involving the skill card accreditation of plant operatives.

Industry sources claim that ConstructionSkills is set on cutting the CPCS plant operatives scheme adrift from the overall CSCS operation and leaving it as a free-standing scheme both owned and administered by the training board. It is alleged that affiliation of the plant scheme with CSCS would raise doubts about its ownership.

ConstructionSkills has refuted that claim. It says talks about a CPCS/CSCS affiliation are already underway.

Ownership of the skill card schemes is seen as crucial in terms of both the income they generate and access to the databases on which they have been founded.

Brian Adams, chief executive of CSCS, said he was pleased that CPCS will stay as part of CSCS. "We have major synergies between the two schemes. It is important they work together."