Press Release

SECOND JMCG SITE AUDIT SHOWS FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN LEVELS OF WORKFORCE REGISTRATION

11th January 2006

The second site audit conducted by the members of the ECA/HVCA Joint Major Contractors’ Group (JMCG) has revealed an even higher level of membership of the building services engineering sector’s two principal personnel registration schemes.  The first audit was carried out in April 2005.  These schemes accredit the skills of the cardholder and their awareness of health and safety issues.

The second audit – which was carried out on 6 October 2005 and involved over 13,000 site-based individuals  – revealed that 86% (compared to 84% in April) were able to produce cards issued under the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) or by the mechanical sector’s Engineering Services SKILLcard.

This figure was even higher, at 90% (89% in April), among directly employed operatives, with agency labour recording 85% (82% in April), staff personnel 86% (79% in April) and sub-contractors 80% (77% in April).

After receiving a report of the results at a JMCG meeting held on 30 November, the members of the group agreed to undertake future audits on an annual basis, so the next audit will take place in October 2006.

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of the JMCG, said “The results of the second audit and the members’ decision to commit to annual audits in future underlines the importance of workforce competence and health and safety awareness to JMCG members.”

ECA Director David Pollock commented, “Our industry’s ECS scheme has for many years provided accreditation of individual competence and health and safety awareness.  The latest audit results are a credit to JMCG member companies and I am delighted that they have committed to audit compliance on an annual basis.”

Commenting on the outcome of the audit, HVCA director Robert Higgs said “The introduction of Engineering Services SKILLcard in 2001 has led to the issue of cards to nearly 50,000 individuals.  We attach great importance to the achievement of high standards of competence and health and safety awareness and these results confirm that our scheme is contributing significantly to the overall success of JMCG member companies.”