CSCS hires former MP as chairman

The industry’s skills card scheme has a new chairman, former MP Michael Clapham, after the resignation this week of Trevor Walker.

Walker, who had been subject to a concerted campaign by industry employers to depose him, resigned on Tuesday after a crisis meeting between the four employers and three unions that run the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), a skills accreditation scheme used by over 1.7 million workers.

Walker had previously survived a no-confidence motion put forward by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Industry Council, Federation of Master Builders, NSCC and UKCG, after using his board vote to tie the ballot and save himself.

Sources close to the situation said the unions had this week joined the employer federations in opposing Walker and had proposed Clapham as chairman.
The employers felt Walker lacked the skills to modernise and run the scheme effectively.

CSCS chief executive Brian Adams said: “The CSCS scheme has gone from strength to strength during Trevor Walker’s five-year tenure as chairman and the board pays tribute to Trevor for his leadership. The CSCS card scheme continues to run effectively - in November a record 31,000 workers signed
up … it has broad support going forward.”

CSCS chief executive Brian Adams pledged last month to postpone his retirement from this month in order to manage the skills card scheme through
its leadership crisis.

A CSCS spokesperson said Adams will stay on for a further three months and that a new chief executive will be recruited “as soon as possible” in the
new year.

Walker declined to comment.