CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, has been awarded the issuing authority for English Apprenticeship Frameworks for occupations in construction.
CITB-ConstructionSkills will now be responsible for issuing frameworks across England and will have statutory responsibility for issuing frameworks across Wales later this year.

The organisation was invited to apply for the role of issuing authority by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, due to its functions as both an ITB and SSC.

There is only one issuing authority for the construction sector and the organisation's role is to support framework developers and to ensure that frameworks comply with the requirements. Apprentices train towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in their chosen trade.

The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised English Apprenticeship Framework. Compliance with the SASE is a legal requirement under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act.

From April 2011, CITB-ConstructionSkills will now have the sole authority to issue apprenticeship frameworks in England. This new status will provide the opportunity to engage with industry representatives throughout the validation process. The organisation will also control the quality of frameworks to ensure they meet SASE/W requirements and attract potential financial support from government funding bodies.

Part of this will include publishing English Apprenticeship Frameworks for the construction sector on the Apprenticeship Framework Online (AFO), which allows businesses to use the online frameworks library to search for an apprenticeship or to see if a new apprenticeship framework is being developed.

Mark Farrar, chief executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: 'This is an excellent opportunity for CITB-ConstructionSkills to work closer with developers to ensure that English Apprenticeship Frameworks are delivered to a high standard and are fit for purpose.

'We look forward to the exciting challenge ahead for CITB-ConstructionSkills. By ensuring that the English Apprenticeship Frameworks are developed with industry, CITB-ConstructionSkills will work with the sector to deliver the right skills for economic growth locally and nationally.'

For more information view: www.cskills.org