LRWA Celebrate the Completion of the First Basic Competency Programme in Parliament
The Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA) are proud to announce the launch and completion of the first Basic Competency Programme (BCP), a roofing industry led initiative which brings together trade associations, which is being led by LRWA working with Polyroof Products Limited. The candidates who completed the first ever BCP from Telnik Roofing Ltd, based in Aylesbury, were presented with their certificates by David Hanson MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Roofing Industry at the Houses of Parliament.
The Basic Competency Programme (BCP) recognises, for the first time, the contribution of manufacturers towards providing a skills base through training provided in the use of their materials to satisfy the requirements of the red, experienced worker CSCS card. The programme supports training, competencies and qualifications via the approved BCP manufacturer training in all roofing disciplines: flat, metal and pitched roofing.
The programme is aimed at experienced operatives with a minimum if of two years’ experience on site. Competencies for the BCP have been mapped against the requirements of NVQ level 2, ensuring health and safety and basic roof technology is addressed to the required standard. This ground breaking new training programme is supported by the CSCS, CITB and major roof trade associations.
Having obtained a BCP Certificate an operative can then apply to upgrade from a green card to a red, experienced worker CSCS card, with immediate effect assuming their standard health and safety accreditation is up to date. The operative should then work towards achieving a blue skilled worker card within three years.
Held at Polyroof’s recently upgraded training facilities in Flint, North Wales, the extended course lasted for three days and covered the full spectrum of liquid roofing as well as wider subjects, such as contract planning.
The Managing Director of Telnik Roofing Ltd, Nick Seaton, explained how delighted he was to have been chosen to be involved in the pilot programme, “Contractors like us who use accredited roofing systems know that the leading manufacturers offer excellent training and support, which we’ve always used to help get our operatives to the standards of workmanship and professionalism that our client’s expect. After expanding our operative team with some experienced new members, I contacted Polyroof to get training organised. When I was presented with the opportunity to be a part of this pilot scheme incorporating the BCP, I leapt at the chance – we spent a little longer on the course, but to have everyone come away their certificates is a huge boost for the operatives and our company as a whole.”
David Hanson MP helped commemorate the achievement and commented, “It was a pleasure to present the first ever BCP Certificates for this pioneering training programme. It’s fantastic that Polyroof, a company within my own Delyn constituency, was responsible for conducting the training and let’s hope that many more roofers can benefit from it in the future. Where better to hold the ceremony than underneath the roof of Westminster Hall which, dating back to 1098, is probably one of the oldest in the UK.”
After the success of the very first BCP training at Polyroof, LRWA is now expanding this pilot scheme to a further ten manufacturers and has targeted the issuing of over 100 Basic Competency certificates by the end of the year. Terry Wain the Technical Secretary of the LRWA explained “We believe this is the most exciting development in training for the last 10 years. I am delighted with the success of the pilot scheme and the level of commitment being shown to BCP by the leading liquid manufacturers”.
(left to right) David Roberts & Lee Holden (Polyroof Products Ltd), Simon Barnes, Nick Seaton, David Hanson MP, Mark Seaton, Jack Seaton, Terry Wain (LRWA)