Chief executive and board members voted to save Walker

The head of the industry’s skills card scheme has backed his chairman after the latter narrowly avoided being ousted by a vote of no confidence from trade federations.

Brian Adams, chief executive of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme used by 1.6 million workers, said chairman Trevor Walker “has my support” despite opposition from five of the industry’s largest trade federations.

A motion against Walker failed to pass at a board meeting on Tuesday after the chairman used his board vote to tie the ballot and save himself.

But sources described his position as “untenable” after the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Industry Council, Federation of Master Builders, NSCC and UKCG all voted against him. The skills card scheme’s other board members voted with Walker.