Connected Competence assures an ongoing base level of technical competence through industry-recognised, standardised testing to create a safer, technically competent and transferable workforce.

Temporary workers who are working (or seeking work) with Connected Competence employers can access technical test vouchers that enable them to complete the tests free of charge.

Chris Mann, director of learning and assurance at the ECITB, said: “In 2024, the ECITB invested £270K to support temporary workers complete the technical tests required.  This will be extended in 2025 to achieve the critical mass we need to forge a safe, skilled and agile workforce. 

“As Connected Competence expands and is recognised across more sectors, it will ensure workers across common trades are agile and their technical competencies are accepted. This will prevent duplication of training and assessment, and the time and costs associated with this.”

Connected Competence employers will require verification of workers’ competence for the upcoming site maintenance shutdowns planned from April/May 2025 and advise them to get their verification in advance of this busy period.  

John Boland, regional officer at Unite the Union, said: “Unite the Union supports this initiative for the temporary (ad hoc) offshore workforce. It will ensure these workers are able to demonstrate their ongoing competence to work safely offshore, through Connected Competence, at no cost to themselves. 

“It should make it easier for the workforce to move between connected competence employers, without the need to repeat this competence verification every time.”

The scheme has grown significantly in the last 12 months with 20 clients and ten major contractors signing up to the programme. Ten training organisations across the country now provide the technical tests with seven participating in the voucher scheme for temporary workers.  

It also has the backing of Unite the Union, GMB Union and the RMT as well as industry stakeholders including HSE, the Scottish Government, Step Change in Safety, OEUK and NSTA.  

Employers signed up to Connected Competence who require workers to verify their competence through the technical tests include Aker Solutions, Bilfinger UK, Boskalis, Global E&C, Petrofac, Ponticelli, Semco, Stork, Wood and Worley.

The trade disciplines required to verify competence through technical tests before mobilisation include: pipefitters, platers, electrical maintenance technicians, electrical installation technicians, mechanical maintenance technicians, instrument & control technicians, industrial coatings technicians, riggers, appointed persons for rigging and thermal insulators.

The technical tests needed are outlined within the role profile for each discipline on the Connected Competence website at connectedcompetence.co.uk/disciplines. 
Recruitment teams from Connected Competence employers also outline these to workers as a pre-requisite before being deployed.  

Workers can either access a voucher code from the employers signed up to Connected Competence or via the approved providers listed below who can provide the vouchers and book in the tests.

On successful completion of the technical tests, workers are awarded a test certificate and a digital badge. The digital badge is owned by the worker and moves with them ensuring their technical competence is recognised by other employers as they move across sites.