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Drylining sector unveils draft carding journey and supporting case study to support a safer, skilled and competent workforce.
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and CSCS Cards have today published a draft carding journey and case study, designed to help businesses and individuals within the drylining sector better understand potential future requirements for achieving industry-defined competence.
The Building Safety Act 2022 places a legal duty on individuals to be competent for their roles, defined as the appropriate Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB), with each sector responsible for defining competence for their occupations.
The Drylining case study is intended as a working example for industry of how a sector can move from defining competence to designing a carding journey.
It also shows the direction of travel for skilled card renewals more widely, to potentially include additional elements such as Fire Safety training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Working with Build UK and wider industry, FIS has mapped the SKEB needed to carry out drylining safely and competently and translated it into a Drylining Competency Framework, which includes a draft carding journey delivered through CSCS Cards, as the appropriate card scheme within the CSCS Alliance.
The latest draft of the journey sets out:
• Details of the three recognised skilled entry routes: Apprentice, Trainee and Experienced Worker.
• The qualifications, CITB Health, safety and environment test, Fire Safety in Buildings training and CPD expected on application and/or renewal.
• Additional checklist on how other sectors can follow Drylining’s example for their respective journeys
Final requirements remain in development between FIS, the relevant Standard Setting Bodies and Sector Representative Organisations ahead of the proposed implementation timeframe of December 2026.
Where any future changes affect individuals already holding skilled drylining cards, CSCS Cards will communicate those changes directly and with appropriate notice.
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive at FIS, said: “Drylining is one of the largest occupations in finishes and interiors, and the safety performance of the buildings we all live and work in depends on it being done well, by qualified and trained operatives. Defining competence alongside industry experts and working alongside CSCS Cards to reflect those standards within the carding journey provides a strong example for other sectors to adopt as needed.”
Garry Mortimer, Executive Director of Operations at CSCS Cards, said: “A CSCS card and the My CSCS app currently enable individuals to demonstrate they have the appropriate skills and training for their role, usually a qualification and a health and safety test.
“While these proposed changes are yet to be finalised – and cardholders don’t yet need to do anything different to their normal renewal practices – our cards and the app will soon adapt to reflect sector frameworks as necessary, and include a culture of the ongoing development of skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours.”
Alongside the case study, FIS and CSCS have published an eight-point Carding Journey Checklist for other Sector Representative Organisations preparing their own Routes to Competence.
The checklist covers defining SKEB, engaging early with the relevant card scheme, designing entry routes that support progression, setting meaningful renewal requirements, phased implementation and fair transitional arrangements.
