RSTA News
With significant cutbacks predicted in the training budgets of local authorities and private companies, the role of the trade association as a training resource has never been so important. Done properly the trade association as a training resource could be a win- win situation believes Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surfaces Treatments Association (RSTA).
Local authorities and private companies both recognise the importance of a well trained and competent workforce. It is an important element of the National Highways Sector Scheme 13 whereby those companies working under the scheme must be able to prove the competence of their workforce. A competent workforce also increases productivity and quality of work, improves health and safety, worker morale and corporate profitability.
With all these benefits, cutbacks in training budgets may seem self-defeating but such are the financial pressures facing local authorities and companies that many are being forced to examine training expenditure and to determine how best to cost effectively ensure a competent workforce.
Increasingly they are turning to their trade associations. Set up to provide the focus for their industry sector, trade associations are well placed to provide a training resource as they are fully aware of the specific issues facing their industry sector and can so develop a bespoke training resource and programme.
The RSTA has made the provision of industry training a central part of the range of services that it provides members and the road surfacing sector as a whole. The RSTA operates three training centres based in Dundee, Shrewsbury and Exeter for training in surface dressing and plant. In addition it runs a full programme of training events across the UK covering the wide range of surface treatments often with industry partners. Training can be carried out at these centres or on the premises of RSTA members. Alternatively, local authorities and companies can ‘club’ together for a joint in-house training event. All of the RSTA training courses are CPD approved and include an examination test paper so delegates have the opportunity of receiving an RSTA Silver certificate to demonstrate to employers their level of knowledge. Sector Scheme 13 also requires supervisors to attend RSTA training courses on surface dressing and slurry-micro surfacing every 5 years to maintain their CSCS cards.
The RSTA also has a fully registered NVQ centre that is supported by some 20 assessors and four internal verifiers employed by RSTA member companies at affiliated centres throughout the UK. The RSTA assessment centre allows operatives and supervisors to achieve NVQ Level 1, 2 and 3. The RSTA NVQ’s cover all of the main surface treatments processes and are continually updated to meet the latest industry and EU directive requirements. The flexibility and cost economies provided by the RSTA assessment approach is underlined by the ability of companies to have a member of staff trained as an assessor. This may prove more cost effective for a company that has a number of staff requiring NVQ’s. Furthermore, RSTA is recognised by the national Highway Sector Scheme as being the only route through which the operatives and supervisors of member companies can obtain RSTA endorsed CSCS cards as demanded by Sector Schemes 13.
Developing itself as a training and NVQ assessment resource also has benefits for the trade association itself. It helps to fulfil the objectives of encouraging its industry sector to have a competent workforce, improves the sector’s health and safety performance and makes the sector an attractive career choice. In addition whilst providing cost savings to member companies it provides a revenue stream for the association. Now that is what is called a ‘win – win’ situation.
