AN army of CSCS card holders is being created in Falkirk thanks to the commitment and effort of two charity workers who have overseen more than 200 individuals achieve the crucial accreditation this year alone.
Kerry Smart and Gavin Smith, both of The Salvation Army, have been credited with changing lives as a result of the construction course being run at the New Future Training Centre at the charity’s community church at Woodside Court in Falkirk.
The facility boasts a number of study rooms with resources such as laptops, apps, and CDs, as well as screens for lessons. The test room has four computers with software that can translate questions in a range of different vocal and written languages.
Attracting a range of individuals from current pupils and school leavers, right through to the long-term unemployed, those with criminal convictions, and businesses looking to have staff site-ready, Kerry and Gavin work four days a week to deliver the training – which includes from 9am until 9/10pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making it the only training provider in the UK to offer a CSCS touchscreen test in the evenings.
The evening offering has been a hit with businesses, with around 20 different firms – including some as far afield as Aberdeen and the Borders – currently sending their workforce to the centre at night.
Visiting the centre on a Monday morning, Project Scotland was greeted by a class of current school pupils who will soon be turning 16 and are eyeing an apprenticeship in construction.
Although a bit boisterous and even willing to direct their banter Project Scotland’s way, it was obvious there was not only a genuine drive amongst the youngsters, but a real respect and appreciation for Kerry and Gavin, as well as a level of comfort being found in the training room.
One joked with Gavin that his gran would be sending out a search party if he wasn’t allowed to leave in the next five minutes! Rather than shutting down the quip, Gavin engaged with the humour and took note of the desire for urgency – resulting in a clear level of engagement in the task at hand.
All being well, the kids will be qualified to go out on site the day they turn 16, thanks to the centre. Due to their age and still being in school, they are not legally able to work even part-time, so the cost of £6.99 for the CSCS card training app can often be out of their reach – making the free training resources a godsend.
“We work late, but the reward you get is when you see people getting their cards,” Gavin explained.
“They’ll say they can’t do the test, but yes they can,” Kerry added. “That’s the best bit, when they’re finally sitting there, realising they’ve passed and can go out and work – that’s why we do it.”
Both Kerry and Gavin are employed by The Salvation Army and initially started out in the employability wing of the organisation aiding people in a range of sectors. However, in the past year, the operation has been solely focused on construction due to a decision by Falkirk Council to direct more school leavers into the industry, with the local authority sending youngsters to the centre across six-week periods.
Kerry and Gavin both have CSCS cards and have been delivering construction training for the past three years, with developments this year allowing for them to host tests at the centre.
“In terms of construction (site) experience, we’ve not got any,” Gavin explained. “However, it’s good for the likes of the kids to know that, as the test is theory-based, and you don’t need to have been out on site to know the answers.”
It is commonplace for businesses that have won contracts in Falkirk to send staff to the centre after hearing from local firms about the night-time offering. The first batch of five trainees arrived from a local company Kerry’s two sons worked at, and everything spiralled from there.
With more than 200 cards achieved in less than a year, Gavin and Kerry understandably have earnt a level of trust amongst businesses, with the pair frequently being asked to put forward names for positions at companies.
Perhaps the greatest success story is one individual who is now working on major projects across Scotland after coming to the centre following a period of long-term unemployment after a serious injury.
He cited the patience and kindness of Kerry and Gavin as one of the main drivers in his remarkable turnaround, which Kerry said is now seeing him thrive both socially and in the workplace.
“The ones that have passed through and are in work will sometimes phone Kerry as if she’s a mix of their mother and employer,” Gavin joked, adding that she will often be the first port of call if someone thinks their payslip is wrong or they’re struggling with tax returns.
The attentiveness, high number of passes, and environment created by Kerry and Gavin has not gone unnoticed, with the centre set to announce some exciting partnerships in the coming months, which will likely further ramp up the numbers passing through. There are also plans to add more construction qualifications to their offering, with the duo keen to help address the skills shortage and continue creating new opportunities for people.
• If you’d like to earn a CSCS card, or know someone who does, contact The Salvation Army’s Woodside Court community church on 01324 627425 or or email Kerry.Smart@Salvationarmy.org.uk and/or Gavin.Smith@Salvationarmy.org.uk.
