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Close Please accept the following as formal application to the role of CSCS Alliance Chair, with the permission and support of the National Association of Shopfitters and Interior Contractors Executive Council (the NAS) and the board of my sister organisation the Institute of Carpenters. (IOC)
With now close to 20 years’ experience in interior systems and 5 years of Alliance Scheme Management under SICCS I have seen many changes. None so rapid as the current industry acceleration into digital modernisation clearly present from within the CSCS and highlighted, albeit not exhaustively, via the Big Data project and the many wider working groups of the alliance. The alliance itself has, under Jay Palmers leadership internally undergone successful governance development, licencing progressional works, and future proofing in line with its response to the building Safety Act 2022 and the Competence Frameworks in the backdrop of a new skills system and modern methods of construction.
From within the alliance, under the current leadership and steering groups I continue to be impressed and dedicated to our collective outputs including the current and future iterations of the big data project, where very soon it will be possible to activate real-time workforce competencies across the 3 home nations, heat mapping that will work with the skills systems, major construction projects and in line with independent regional mayoral development works, where we can see the demand requirements of all crafts against supply needs, that connects itself perfectly with the competence and skills alliance working group to ensure that the right crafts people are operating on all works with competence.
I could talk more about each steering group outside of this document, but to me one of the most significant outputs and evolution of the alliance and the CSCS board is the ability to inform government and the new construction skills mission board, also our wider industry partners, the home office and ministers as to all construction workforce requirements in the post Brexit era across Scotland, Wales and England, while continuing to provide the valuable service to every individual in the construction family with skills passports and competency cards.
In my mind the alliance leadership is a pivotal force and presence whether it be in the upper echelons, the board room or onsite or in our workshops, it is the driving force that inspires continuous and new collaborative relationships, inspires the membership, drives change, creates meaningful impact, and achieves the vision and goals in a manner that supports, listens and responds in real time to the challenges we face. With this in mind, and if I may I would like to introduce my current works in support of this application.
I am the UK’s Skills Lead at the NAS and IOC, as a prescribe organisation I am responsible for the directorship of the skills strategy and its implementation across the UK 4 home nations in my sector. This includes skills leadership to over 170 member companies, 500 additional individual crafts person members, 50 IOC colleges, 1000 student members, 22 corporate partners and 48 associate members across the spectrum of wood crafts and timber trades, from education to employment and the long term sustainability of my sector – the full end to end range.
I sit across multiple boards and believe myself experienced and effective in reference to the undertakings of the new Alliance Chair. One of the biggest roles to date in my background (that could compliment your requirements) in which I work with industry, multiple regulators and ministers is my appointment as the Chair of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for all Wood Occupations. This is the largest suite of any NOS across the entire industry and sees me create and lead the National Working Group. Compiled of technical specialists and multiple federations, industry employer representatives, awarding organisations and education providers in a phasal approach, which will ultimately lead to government ministerial sign off and the implementation of fit for purpose standards into our occupationally competent qualifications, and finally mapped by our CSCS and alliance cards systems. Which also includes revalidation and continuous professional development skills ensuring that any individual bearing our cards will be proven competent while building. Resulting in proficient works that maintains the safety of all end users across the product lifespan.
I have the ability to switch gears publicly when representing those I serve. As the UK Commissioner for Timber Construction Europe, (TCE) I am required to attend the General Assembly and inform the membership of UK Wood Occupations and Timber Engineering developments as we seek strong partnerships and support the UK government wider construction ambitions.
I also collaborate with the CLC, CITB, CSCS and SLG10 in support of the competence frameworks (CF) for installers. Having just released the CF for Site Carpentry, I continue to lead the CF’s for architectural joinery and shopfitting. Along side my role of SICCS scheme manager, my works within the NOS, and drive to support satellite federations, gives the vision to see how the above is completely interconnected and pivotal to the extraordinary works of the CSCS and our Alliance. Whereby all works lead to the output that we are as alliance members responsible for, the mapping of our schemes to a modern, and digitally enhanced card system.
It would be an honour to represent the Alliance as Chair or Vice going forward and hope you consider my application favourably.
Amanda Scott. UK Skills Lead. NAS and IOC.