ECS Check welcomes 1,500th registration

The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) has announced Salford City Council as the 1,500th organisation to register for ECS Check.

Launched in early 2020, ECS Check provides a free-to-access digital solution that enables the industry to verify all electrotechnical personnel on-site throughout the supply chain. This has provided a simple solution, using the recognised ECS card network, to give real- time access to help companies demonstrate the competence of their workforce and supply chain, in line with Construction Design and Management Regulations, recommendations of the Construction Leadership Council and Common Assessment Standard. The system is also an example of how workforce competence can be assessed which has been recognised within Working Group 2: Installers and BSI Flex 8670 for core criteria for building safety.

With access to more than 150,000 valid card holders in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, ECS Check is providing essential visibility on the competence of the workforce. The digital platform is also a Licence to Practise system for public contracts in Northern Ireland, helping clients and employers raise the bar on standards for installation electricians.

Jack Youd, Councillor for the Walkden North ward of Salford City Council, says: “ECS Check is a powerful tool for Salford Council to support people in Salford achieving the high-quality apprenticeships through the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme. We have worked closely with Unite the Union and the Joint industry Board to join the scheme and through this working partnership Salford Council is able to improve the skills and qualifications situation on the ground much more effectively.”

ECS Check does away with the need to send and store images of ECS cards as the most up-to-date information is all at hand through one online system for both employers’ own staff and their subcontractors. The system is available both through an online portal on a browser and as an app for auditing personnel on the gate or for spot checks. This smart system has now seen 1,500 companies register to use since launch, including a number of clients and main contractors such as Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Birmingham Airport, Mace, MOD, Morgan Sindall, National Grid, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, a number of councils and local health trusts. Combined, these represent companies with more than 500,000 employees and a turnover of over £40bn worldwide.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford and Eccles, comments: “ECS Check provides a structured framework of competency and enables greater visibility for clients to show building project work is being carried out by qualified electrotechnical personnel in all levels of the supply chain. This information has often been missing from projects which are systematically subcontracted.

“The ECS Check system identifies how projects are supporting people from the local area with employment, whether these projects provide the necessary opportunity for training apprentices and builds a picture of how we are achieving greater diversity and equality.”

Andy Reakes, Head of Growth at the JIB, adds: “This is another major milestone for ECS Check as it continues to establish the highest levels of on-site competency in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”