Following extensive discussions with CPCS, ALLMI has formed an agreement that will provide ALLMI trained operators with a route to the CPCS card.

This agreement allows anyone holding a current ALLMI card for either the Lorry Loader or Slinger / Signaller category (or both) to apply for a blue, CPCS ‘Competence Card’, providing they have passed the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Touch Screen Test within the last two years. Therefore:

ALLMI Card + ConstructionSkills Health & Safety Touch Screen Test = Blue CPCS Competence Card

The categories stated on the card issued by CPCS will match those stated on the ALLMI card (i.e. Lorry Loader and / or Slinger / Signaller), with the expiry date for the CPCS card being five years from the date of issue. ALLMI cardholders wanting to apply for CPCS cards must complete the appropriate application form, which can be obtained from either their ALLMI Training Provider or directly from the ALLMI office. All applications must be sent to ALLMI in order to be approved and sent on to CPCS. Each application will incur a charge from ConstructionSkills of £20 and further details of this are provided on the application form.

For those not familiar with the CPCS card system, the standard CPCS process works in two stages. The first stage requires the operator to achieve a red, ‘Trained Operator Card’. Once the red card has been issued, the operator must then progress to a blue, Competence Card (this is the card that ALLMI operators are entitled to). The red card cannot be renewed and so all operators must go on to achieve the blue card. In order to obtain a CPCS Trained Operator Card via the standard CPCS process, operators are required to undergo their initial operator training and also complete the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Touch Screen Test. Achieving the blue card involves completing the appropriate NVQ and logging 300 hours of machine operation. As stated above, ALLMI operators will be entitled to go straight to the blue card, providing they have completed the Health and Safety Touch Screen Test.

Please note that this process does not affect ALLMI Instructors and it does not change the delivery of the ALLMI Training scheme in any way whatsoever.

After the 9th October 2008, this process will change significantly, with a red card being issued rather than a blue card following the operator’s initial training. The details of this change are still being finalised, but ALLMI Members and Training Providers will be notified as soon as everything has been confirmed.

If you have any queries regarding this issue then please contact the ALLMI Office.