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Press Release

Published: October 21, 2022

The Scaffolding Association welcomes the announcement for subsidised Operative Training Scheme (COTS) courses made by the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) earlier this week to attract a new generation of workers to the scaffolding and access sector.

The initiative will see CISRS subsidise a series of its one-day COTS training courses enabling participating training centres to deliver training for only £50 per delegate – a substantial saving from the usual cost to businesses and individuals.

The COTS course teaches the basics of the industry and how to work safely with scaffolding and access equipment. Upon completion of the course and with a CITB HS&E Test (or recognised exemption) delegates will receive their first CISRS Scaffolder Trainee or CISRS Scaffolder Labourer Card.

CISRS has said that the aim of the subsidy is to attract more young people from school or college into the scaffolding sector. Existing Labourer card holders can also benefit – as CISRS Scaffolding Labourer (green) Card holders are required to take the COTS course to renew their card every five years.

Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, said; “This industry faces a significant and growing skills and labour shortage and I welcome any initiative like this that aims to attract school and college leavers into a sector that can offer a diverse range of well-paid rewarding jobs and careers”.

For more information visit: https://cisrs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Subsidised-COTS-Courses-2022.pdf

-ENDS-

Notes for editors

The Scaffolding Association is the UK’s largest dedicated trade association representing the Scaffolding and Access industry.

The construction sector employs 2.7millon people, contributes over £100bn to the UK economy which is 7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).