03.10.2012

UKCG recognises ALLMI training

The United Kingdom Contractors Group (UKCG) has agreed to recognise the ALLMI loader crane operator card and to incorporate ALLMI training into its list of Accepted Record Schemes.
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The UKCG is the largest contractors group in the UK and its members account for £33 billion worth of total construction revenues - a third of UK construction total output.

When a previous temporary or transitional agreement recognising the ALLMI card expired earlier this year, the group tried to push the scheme into its favoured CPCS scheme or to stop accepting the card on its sites. ALLMI members rejected the proposal preferring to continue without UKCG acceptance. The contractor's group has clearly had a change of mind and decided to fully recognise the card after all.

David Lambert, health & safety advisor for the UKCG, said: “The UKCG is pleased to include the ALLMI Lorry Loader Training Scheme as a ‘recognised scheme’ under its ‘Accepted Record Schemes’. The UKCG recognises that the ALLMI scheme is used across the UK by a wide range of suppliers and contractors, providing a defined level of training for those using lorry loaders on UKCG sites.”

ALLMI chief executive Tom Wakefield, added: “we are extremely pleased with the UKCG’s decision to recognise the ALLMI card, which we believe reflects the quality of ALLMI training and its credibility within the industry. The uptake of the ALLMI scheme has increased significantly over recent years and the news that our training will now reach even further into the construction sector was gratefully received by our members, as they all share a passion to see standards continually raised in relation to the safe use of lorry loaders. This is a significant step in the relationship between ALLMI and UKCG, and we look forward to further strengthening our ties in the months and years to come.”

Vertikal Comment

This a triumph for common sense and fair play, the UKCG appear to have tried to force ALLMI into the CPCS scheme -which would have had negative connotations for the ALLMI card and the association - or loose recognition. ALLMI members were absolutely right to have stood up to this and will, I am sure, be very pleasantly surprised that the outcome has been so positive so quickly.

At the end of the day the ALLMI programme is as good as it gets for loader crane training which covers a much wider field than construction. There was nothing to be gained from changing it by incorporating it with the CPCS programme and there would have been immediate practical issues for UKCG sites with most delivery drivers with cranes being ALLMI trained card carriers.