Major changes to the construction industry will soon see Industry Accreditation cards — informally known as Grandfather Rights cards — become invalid, with more than 60,000 workers expected to be affected.
From 2025, Grandfather Rights will no longer be recognised as a valid qualification for gaining or renewing a CSCS card, meaning a significant portion of the workforce will need to obtain an alternative, formal training qualification to continue working on construction sites.
The decision has been made following the Construction Leadership Council’s recommendation that all construction industry card schemes must operate with nationally recognised qualifications for all occupations.
What are IA Cards / Grandfather Rights cards?
IA Cards offered experienced workers a route to obtaining a CSCS card based on the strength of an employer recommendation rather than the achievement of a formal, industry-recognised qualification.
What’s changing, and when?
From the 31st December, Grandfather Rights cards will cease to be an eligible form of qualification for anyone applying for, or renewing their CSCS card.
The below forms of CSCS cards will be directly affected by the changes:
- IA Manager cards (black)
- IA Supervisory cards (gold)
- IA Advanced Craft cards (gold)
- Skilled Worker card (blue)
Anyone who holds any of the above CSCS cards which have been obtained via an IA Card, will need to complete a formal qualification such as an NVQ or HNC with an accredited training provider.
What next for those affected?
The qualifications and assessments you need to complete will depend on the level of CSCS card you need to hold. So, firstly, it’s important to understand what qualifications you require to carry out your responsibilities on site — for example, gold and black cards will typically require a higher level qualification than a skilled worker card.
Next, find an accredited training provider with which you can complete the necessary assessments. Given that holders of IA Cards are experienced workers, managed learning programmes are available which take into account existing skills and knowledge to reduce the length of training. In many cases, an individual may simply be required to complete a competency assessment to prove their skills.
To help manage the cost of completing a formal qualification, the CITB does offer a short qualification grant. The CSCS has released a helpful guide for anyone who holds any of its affected cards, which you can find here.