3.1 Introduction
3.2 Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
3.3 SNAP – SummitSkills National Assesment Programme
3.4 Engineering Services SKILLcard

3.1 Introduction
Over the next decade, there will not be enough young people entering the labour market to fill the jobs needed in the UK.

It is estimated that two-thirds of the vacancies will need to be filled by adults - including older people, those moving from benefits to work and those arriving by inward migration to the UK.

To assist employers in the recruitment of adult workers, a new section has been added to the HVCA Guide to Courses on the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) for mature students, experienced workers and those seeking Engineering Services SKILLcard. Copies of the guide can be obtained from the HVCA Education & Training Department on 0207 313 4929

3.2 Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) enables craft and technician vocational qualifications to be more attractive and achievable for existing workers, particularly those who need acknowledgement of their skills and experience by receiving formal recognition that their work meets the occupational standards of the hvacr sector.

The award of NVQ/SVQ gives that formal recognition. Other categories of existing workers with industry qualifications can follow the same process. NVQs/SVQs are open to all members of the hvacr industry - regardless of their age or previous employment experience.

Click here to download diagram of APL (PDF).

Advantages for the existing worker
There are a number of reasons why existing workers may be well-placed to more quickly gain NVQ/SVQs than young new entrants to the industry:

• Their college time is often reduced or eliminated
• Subjects they have previously studied may not have to be studied again
• They can be accredited in more than one discipline.

SummitSkills Experienced Worker packs and Guidance Notes are available for the various disciplines. Once existing workers have registered through an approved centre they will be given an induction and should complete their candidate pack.

For APL, what evidence of previous work is required?
Examples that demonstrate competence could include the following:

• A certificate from any previous course
• A witness statement from previous colleague
• Job documents or reports
• Videotapes and/or photographs.

Once the assessment centre receives the completed pack, the assessor will meet the candidate and discuss their pack and work history, asking any appropriate questions and perhaps inspecting some of the candidate's work and interviewing their employer/
supervisor to verify some of the evidence.

The completed Assessor pack can show that the candidate has met the NVQ/SVQ competence requirements which activates the NVQ/SVQ certification process.
Candidates who do not satisfy the NVQ/SVQ competence requirements will have an Action Plan drawn up giving them the opportunity to collect suitable evidence to fill in any identified gaps in knowledge, skills or experience.

Initial profiling
The initial profile will examine the competence of the experienced worker against industry-set occupational standards, both within and outside the working environment. Other relevant factors might include gas, welding and abrasive wheels competence certification, first aid training, etc.

An assessor will undertake the skills profiling with the experienced worker and they will want to see as much evidence as they can of the experienced worker's working activities such as training or course certificates, job documents or reports, photographs of work in progress/installed, etc.

This leads to an action plan towards achieving the NVQ/SVQ.

Costs
There will be a fee for NVQ/SVQ registration and the initial skills profiling. The approved training organisation / assessment centre will register the worker on an NVQ/SVQ programme and charge for any further work it undertakes, such as any additional training it may need to provide.

Different methods of payment can be discussed with the training organisation / assessment centre. Some funding to help with the costs may also be available through that organisation. It is worth also seeking guidance from your local Business Link or Regional Development Agency

Other contacts for further information: SKILLcard Leaflet 'Your Licence to Work'. Contact SKILLcard on 01768 860406 www.skillcard.org.uk or contact SummitSkills on 08703514620 www.summitskills.org.uk

3.3 SNAP - SummitSkills National Assessment Programme
The SummitSkills National Assessment programme (SNAP) was launched to the Training Provider network in 2004 building on the success of the previous system for qualifying experienced workers via the accreditation of prior learning SummitSkills and the HVCA have been working together so that the programme can be used by those seeking to have their skills recognised within the Engineering Services SKILLcard This fast track process for experienced workers has enjoyed much success enabling people with Industry experience to gain an NVQ in recognition of their competence

3.4 Engineering Services SKILLcard www.skillcard.org.uk
Engineering Services SKILLcard registers the skills and competence of people working throughout the mechanical services sector of the building services engineering industry.
A credit card-sized 'skills passport', valid in the majority of cases for five years, is issued to all individuals registered with the scheme.

Engineering Services SKILLcard is the industry recognised scheme for the registration of personnel working in the building services engineering sector throughout the UK.
It has been designed specifically with a view to enabling:

• individual workers to get on many construction sites and demonstrate their awareness of workplace health and safety, and their skills, competence and qualifications; and
• contractors and service providers to demonstrate to third parties - such as clients, consumers and end-users - the competence, skills and qualifications of individual members of their workforce.

Who can register?
Anybody working in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration industry, including ductwork and other specialisms associated with the building services engineering industry - such as service and maintenance, commissioning, domestic heating and plumbing, etc.

You do not have to be employed in order to register. You could be self-employed, an agency worker or unemployed. Membership of the scheme is confirmed through the issue of an Engineering Services SKILLcard - a credit card-sized 'skills passport' - which is valid, in the majority of cases, for five years.

Aims, Objectives and Benefits of SKILLcard
Engineering Services SKILLcard aims to provide the following benefits to individuals:

• access to many construction sites
• industry-wide recognition of skills, competence and qualifications
• improving knowledge and awareness of workplace health and safety
• enhancing employment prospects
• identifying training needs, and the chance to develop and add to existing skills
• confirmation of professionalism - and differentiation from the industry's "cowboys".

Engineering Services SKILLcard aims to provide the following benefits to employers:

• access to many construction sites
• highlighting those members of your workforce with recognised skills, competence and qualifications
• enhancing the health and safety awareness and professional quality of your workforce
• identifying the training and development needs of your workforce
• demonstrating the competence of your workforce to meet client requirements
• increasing client satisfaction and recognition of your firm as a professional contractor/service provider.

For the industry as a whole, Engineering Services SKILLcard:

• is a record of those working in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration industry who have achieved a recognised level of competence
• raises standards of health and safety to reduce risks and workplace accidents throughout the industry
• encourages employers (including those in specialisms associated with the building services engineering
  industry) to use skilled workers
• provides a means of identification for those working in the industry
• provides the basis for undertaking industry-wide manpower planning, to help the industry avoid skill shortages.

For more information on the Engineering Services SKILLcard please contact SKILLCard on 01768 860400 or visit their website at www.skillcard.org.uk

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Engineering Services SKILLcard is affiliated to the pan-industry Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). The terms of affiliation ensure that Engineering Services SKILLcard complies with the requirements and standards of CSCS. There is no need, therefore, for separate registration with CSCS.

Mutual recognition of SKILLcard in Northern Ireland
It has been agreed that there should be mutual recognition between, on the one hand, the Construction Skills Register (CSR) scheme run by the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) in Belfast in relation to construction personnel and, on the other hand, the occupations covered by SKILLcard. This mutual recognition is in regard to both NVQ/SVQ standards and health and safety training.

The details of the CSR/SKILLcard recognition agreement are contained in an exchange of letters between the CEF Managing Director and the SKILLcard Project Manager.

Copies of this correspondence may be obtained from Viv Shepherd at HVCA on 020-7313 4916 (employment_affairs@hvca.org.uk).