THE Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is allowing redundant workers to apply for and renew SKILLcards free of charge.
The organisation said anyone who suffered redundancy as a result of the Covid-19 crisis since March 1 will have their fees waived if they apply between August 1 and October 31.
As a BESA group company, SKILLcard is the card and registration scheme for the mechanical sector of the building engineering services industry in the UK and is used by heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration specialists to provide proof of competence and qualifications. Applicants must still hold the relevant qualifications and certificates, but if they can provide evidence of redundancy they will not be charged the £40 fee when completing their renewal or application process.
Rachel Davidson, BESA director of certification said, “We are acutely aware that many people in our sector are going through a torrid time. Waiving SKILLcard fees may seem a relatively small gesture, but it represents a significant financial investment by BESA in the future of our people and our industry.
“It is also shows that we are serious about retaining skilled people in our sector and is just one of a number of ways in which the association is trying to support workers faced with uncertain futures.”
