Chairman of card scheme used by 1.6 million workers forced out, to be replaced by former MP Michael Clapham
The chairman of the industry’s skills card scheme Trevor Walker has resigned following a concerted campaign by industry employers to depose him.
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), a skills accrediation scheme used by over 1.6 million workers, will now by chaired by former Labour MP Michael Clapham.
The news came after a crisis meeting this afternoon between the four employers and three unions that run the CSCS scheme.
Walker had previously survived a no-confidence motion put forward by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Industry Council, Federation of Master Builders, NSCC and UKCG, after using his board vote to tie the ballot and save himself.
But sources close to the situation said the unions had now joined the employer federations in opposing the chairman and had proposed Clapham as the new chairman of the scheme.
One source said: “I think we are content that we have agreed with the unions a plan to go forward. [The federations have always preferred] to reform the scheme from within rather that set up their own scheme.”
A spokesperson for the CSCS said: “Trevor Walker has resigned with immediate effect. The CSCS card scheme continues to run effectively – in November a record 31,000 workers signed up to the scheme. We are delighted that employers and unions are behind the scheme and it has broad support going forward.”
Walker was unavailable for comment.
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