The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a new competitive grant award process – Adult Education: Good Work for All.

It is open to all skills providers located in London and the ‘London Fringe’ to apply to deliver adult education and training services to Londoners. This new provision will support the London Recovery Programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will be used to deliver training, education, and employability support that helps Londoners to gain relevant skills, retrain, and move into good work in sectors key to London’s recovery:

• The minimum amount award will be £100,000 per academic year, and the maximum amount will be £1.25m
• Bidders apply to deliver across two academic years – 2021/22 and 2022/23
• The AEB supports four legal entitlements to full funding for eligible adult learners:
• English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged 19 and above, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher, and/or
• A first full qualification at level 2 for individuals aged 19 to 23, and/or
• A first full qualification at level 3 for individuals aged 19+, and/or
• Information technology (‘digital’) skills, up to and including level 1, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have digital skills assessed at below level 1

The purpose of the Good Work for All Fund is to put in place additional AEB provision and activities to provide Londoners most affected by the pandemic with skills that will help them to access good work – as well as to meet other mission objectives, such as supporting the green recovery or tackling digital exclusion. Applicants need to demonstrate how their project will fund provision that:

• aligns to London’s Recovery Programme and supports the priority groups particularly impacted by the pandemic;
• adds value to existing AEB provision;
• is supported by clear evidence of local, sub-regional and/or London-wide demand for sectoral skills and job creation potential;
• is shaped or supported by sector employers, business and other representatives; and
• includes partnerships with employers/business, civil society organisations and public bodies (e.g. Job Centre Plus, London boroughs)

The sectors outlined in the missions – Digital, Health and Social Care, Green Economy and Creative Industries – have current and long-term economic growth and job creation potential or, in the case of health and social care, play a critical role in supporting London’s recovery. Providers can make a case to deliver provision aligned with other sectors where they can demonstrate why that sector should be considered a priority in the context of London’s Recovery.

Whatever the activity, it should aim to:

• address the skills needs of priority groups identified in the Recovery Evidence Base as being hardest hit by the pandemic;
• develop relevant sector/cross-sector-specific provision in partnership with employers, business and representative bodies, civil society organisations and public bodies;
• provide a range of learning and training opportunities to support the recruitment and retention of priority groups;
• support learner progression; from entry level to level 3 and into work (demonstrate a strategic commitment to developing expertise and high-quality provision in the chosen sector(s) beyond the funding window);
• be aligned with progression into good work – i.e. occupations paid at or above the London Living Wage; and no exploitative use of zero hours contracts; and
• recognise that the impact of COVID-19 means that priority groups will include a diversity of Londoners, including those with higher levels of skills and work experience and the need for provision to accommodate/recognise these.

The deadline for applications in 17:00 on 19 March 2021, and you can view the full press release here.

You can also view the full Good Work for All prospectus here.

External briefing on technical competence during the pandemic

We understand that many operators will be concerned about how they can satisfy attendance requirements whilst sites are running on reduced staffing levels and staff may well be ill or self-isolating. We will be pragmatic in our approach.

• There is still a requirement to have a technically competent person as a requirement of the permit.
• The TCM attendance hours are within the guidance on GOV.UK and they are an indication that site activities are in being overseen by a technically competent manager.
• Operators are required to make provision for alternative TCM cover to cover all forms of absence but that may not always be possible during the current pandemic.
• Where the TCM is self-isolating or sick and cannot attend the site, the operator should be able and capable of operating the plant or site safely through both their EMS and operational training.
• Operators should:
  • Review their training and capability structure to ensure roles, responsibilities and accident plans are in place to ensure that they are fit for purpose
  • Ensure that remote systems are operational and any alarms systems where required, are fully operational
  • Have a responsive duty roster to respond to incidents
  • Notify us if the site cannot be safely monitored
  • Record if their nominated TCM(s) are self-isolating in the site diary
• All other obligations, permits, permit conditions and registrations remain applicable as appropriate. You must keep records that evidence the impacts of Coronavirus (Covid-19), such as impact on staffing, systems, contractors and supply chain failure, specific to your company/site/issues.

Complying with technical competence schemes during Coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions

Operators of permitted waste facilities relying on the CIWM/WAMITAB scheme to demonstrate Technical Competence are required to gain qualifications and pass assessments according to a timeframe set out in the scheme. Classroom based training and test centres required for some of these have limited availability due to the implementation of social distancing measures.

We expect candidates to try to book the relevant training and assessments in advance of when they are due but recognise that in some cases that may not be possible. We will not regard the failure to complete and pass either:

• an Environmental Permit Operators Certificate (EPOC) within 4 weeks of permitted activities commencing, or
• a continuing competence assessment

as being a failure to comply with the Wamtab/CIWM competence scheme until 1 April 2021 provided that:

• the EPOC or continuing competence assessment is not overdue by more than 6 months
• the candidate has made a booking for the earliest available date
• the operator has notified their local regulatory officer
• in the case of a continuing competence assessment, the operator has notified WAMITAB as well so that they can keep a database of affected candidates.

Where these circumstances arise in connection with an application for a permit, the applicant must still provide evidence of registration/booking for the appropriate qualification and/or training within their application as usual.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Regulatory Decision

Technical competence - CIWM/WAMITAB Operator Competence Scheme

NRW recognise that many elements of maintaining technical competence will have been impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic.

NRW have adapted their regulatory approach to acknowledge the issues in the areas of:

• site attendance
• gaining Environmental Permitting Operators Certificate (EPOC)
• continued technical competence

Site Attendance

NRW understand that many operators will be concerned about how they can satisfy attendance requirements whilst sites are running on reduced staffing levels and staff may well be ill or self-isolating. NRW state they will be pragmatic in their approach.

Continued Technical Competence

Social distancing requirements have impacted on the availability of tests at Pearson-VUE test centres and NRW have advised that they will not regard the failure to complete a continuing competence assessment that became due after 16 March 2020 as being a failure to comply with the CIWM/WAMITAB Operator Competence scheme.

There will be a requirement to demonstrate you have registered with WAMITAB to undertake this test. If this applies to you or your TCM, please contact both NRW and WAMITAB as soon as possible to let us know. WAMITAB are keeping a log of those who have contacted them. NRW will be checking this list.

Environmental Permitting Operators Certificate (EPOC)

Where an operator is relying on the EPOC for permit application or for lower tier risk sites (per WAMITAB tiers). The inability to provide the EPOC for qualification for new permit application or low tier risk sites will not prevent permit application processing.

NRW will continue to process permit applications without the EPOCs providing the applicant is registered with an intent to complete the EPOC.

There will a requirement to demonstrate that you have registered with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and that you provide this proof on a permit application. NRW will check validity with CIWM.

The Operator will have to endeavour to resolve this as soon as possible following availability of EPOC Courses.

This Regulatory Decision will be valid until valid until 31st March 2021.

Full details about the Regulatory  Decision available from the NRW website

WAMITAB are looking for an End-Point Assessor to work with us on an Associate basis for the Level 3 SHE Technician Apprenticeship.

Applicants will need:

• At least a Level 3 SHE qualification
• Occupational competence with evidence of CPD
• A relevant assessment qualification

Work is available with a near immediate start following a successful application and induction period with regular work projected to be available until the end of 2020 at least.

For more information email: epa@ciwmquals.co.uk

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is announcing today (22 July 2020) the integration of WAMITAB, the awarding body for qualifications in the resources and waste sector, cleaning, facilities management and parking, more closely into CIWM.

WAMITAB was established (as the Waste Management Industry Training & Advisory Board) in 1989 by CIWM and other waste sector trade bodies. Solely owned by CIWM since 2017, it is a not-for-profit body with charitable status and its own Board of Trustees. WAMITAB develops and awards qualifications for site and facility operators across the UK to demonstrate competence in line with the sector’s regulatory and permitting regime. It also develops and awards qualifications for those working in cleaning and street cleansing, facilities management and parking.

As the professional body for the resources and waste sector, CIWM is focused on providing a high-quality professional membership experience, from thought leadership on legislation and policy issues, through to knowledge-sharing, networking and mentoring opportunities for members to enhance individual development. In these challenging times, CIWM’s strategy has been to strengthen its focus on developing new and enhanced member services, as well as taking steps to ensure ongoing commercial sustainability and resilience of the whole organisation. The closer integration of WAMITAB into CIWM is part of this strategy and the CIWM Trustee Board has approved a plan to ensure this is delivered in a timely and cost-effective way.

In the initial stage of the integration, WAMITAB will continue to operate as now across all its client sectors, with its own governance structure but with some streamlining and sharing of resources. As work develops to more closely align the operation and future strategies of both organisations, CIWM will be consulting and communicating fully with staff, members, learners and training providers, and other stakeholders.