New £1.5m Wales Scaffolding Academy achieves industry accreditation

UWTSD’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre’s (CWIC) newly opened £1.5m Scaffolding Academy in Swansea has been approved by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC)’s Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) as an Accredited Training Centre.
The purpose-built 9-bay facility based in Swansea Bay, with a satellite facility in Cardiff, has been funded by the Construction Industry Training Board Wales (CITB). It is being led by CWIC, in partnership with Alpha Safety Training and will be a one-stop shop for access and rigging training in Wales.
During the assessment process, the general training conditions are assessed for suitability, and criteria for consideration includes requirements for:
- A 10-metre-high open space, adequate for erecting and dismantling a scaffolding structure.
- Training structures should be built within the centre to replicate certain scaffolding environments, such as truss outs and chimney scaffolds.
- Having the correct materials that conform with the applicable standards.
- Ensure areas conform to a certain size, for example 70sqm bays are outlined on the floor for each scaffolding team to work within.
- Classrooms also must meet certain criteria, for example ensuring they are equipped with the correct lighting and ventilation. In addition to this, classrooms must also be COVID-secure, allowing for social distancing and other COVID criterion.
What will this mean for those attending scaffolding training courses at our Swansea centre?
Those training with us in in Swansea can start their apprenticeship and adult training pathways, including CISRS Part One, CISRS COTS, CISRS Scaffold Inspection and Scaffolding Awareness.
The CWIC Scaffolding Academy has already provided a much needed and valuable service to the welsh construction industry, its first group of apprentices from across Wales started their journey to qualification last week.
Gareth Evans, Centre Manager at The Construction Wales Innovation Centre at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) said: “Receiving accreditation means the CWIC Scaffolding Academy can now provide the much needed CISRS accredited provision that welsh industry has been calling for. It was great to see inspired apprentices from across Wales walk through our doors and start their journey to qualification with us.”
“With our building having undergone a £1.5million refurbishment to create a 9 bay Access Hall of nearly 2,000 m2, it was also pleasing to receive exceptional feedback from our CISRS Auditor on the quality of our facilities. These include a future-proofed practical training hall, 4 classrooms, student room and IT facilities. We are now working with experienced delivery staff to expand into delivery the full range of working at height training to new entrants, apprentices, up-skillers, supervisors and inspectors.”
Rhian Gleaves-Chilcott, Centre manager said: “Last week we opened our doors to our first cohort of students, who are now working towards their Apprenticeship in Scaffolding. The work being undertaken by the Academy in collaboration with our partners will ensure the training they receive is relevant, up-to-date and that course content delivers the skills that are really needed by employers in the industry.”
Paul Jones MD of Alpha Safety said: “Having worked closely with CISRS for a number of years we were under no doubt that they would be impressed with the new Scaffolding Academy. The investment made in the new centre demonstrates the commitment that CWIC has made to the construction industry and Alpha is honoured to be a part of it. Alpha’s training and management team can’t wait to begin working with UWTSD to train the next generation of scaffolders.”