The rise of fake construction skills cards

For almost 30 years, construction skills cards have offered assurance of a tradesperson’s experience and ability to perform their job, giving them access to construction sites for work. However, a recent increase in fake skills cards is putting people’s safety at risk.

What is a construction skills card?

A construction skills card is a way to recognise and verify the competency of tradespeople working in the UK. They’re used to prove an individual’s qualifications, allowing them to gain entry onto construction sites as part of a contracted team. Skills cards are distributed by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and cover a variety of trades and qualification levels within the construction industry. They’re valid for 5 years before they need to be renewed.

For electricians, the most common skills card is the ECS card. This card is proof of verification by the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme, and is awarded by the Joint Industry Board (JIB). It includes photo ID to prove ownership of the card, and details an individual’s on-site occupation and qualified status.

The number of fake skills card is rising

In the past, Industry Accreditation (IA) skills cards could be obtained through an employer referral. However, recent changes by the CSCS require individuals to hold a formal qualification to apply for a skills card. This means that IA cards issued from 1st January 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024 and cannot be replaced using IA. The CSCS has put together a list of FAQs about the IA withdrawal, including links to CITB short qualification grants.

Despite this, reaction to the change has left some new and seasoned tradespeople feeling reluctant about the time and cost involved in achieving the required qualification to apply for a CSCS card. This has led to an increase in the sales of fake skills cards, both online and by illicit groups infiltrating training centres to sell cards to people who aren’t given the necessary training.

Why are people now using fake skills cards?

With the rising cost of education, changes in labour laws due to Brexit, and wider economic and political issues, the UK is seeing a severe skills shortage in the trades. However, there’s no shortage of work, which has led to increased demand and great earning opportunities for anyone able to fill these gaps.

While getting a genuine CSCS card costs just £36, it requires proof of the individual having achieved the relevant trade qualifications and taken a health and safety course at a registered centre. Some individuals who haven’t been able to take or complete these certifications are instead choosing to obtain fake skills cards in order to find work.

How to spot a fake skills card

Genuine construction scheme cards have a number of security features that you can use to verify their authenticity. Look for the following:

– A CSCS hologram in the top left-hand corner

– A photo with a good likeness of the individual

– A silver or gold ‘HS&E Tested’ logo next to the photo

– Sharp, clear printing that extends all the way to the edge of the card

– The cardholder’s registration number on the front and back of the card

– Accurate spelling

If one or more of these is missing, this could be a sign that the card is fake.

What to do if you suspect a skills card is fake

Use the card checker tool on the ECS website to verify whether or not a card is valid. If you can’t verify an individual’s skills card, you must refuse them entry to the site. If possible, retain the card, make copies of the front and back, and record the cardholder’s name and address.

You can report a suspected fraudulent card to the CSCS or the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). CSCS and CITB both recommend contacting the police, although this is at your discretion.

It’s good practice to double-check all construction skills cards before letting contractors work on your site, even if everything seems legit. A qualified tradesperson will always be happy to wait while you verify their credentials.