As the sector moves towards a world beyond waste the highly regarded qualifications have been comprehensively revised to reflect current industry needs and better equip operators for the future.
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has announced a set of thorough revisions to its Operator Competence Scheme.
With the whole Scheme subject to a continuous revision process, the 2023 updates will see the most significant changes for six years.
The adjustments, many of which are based on feedback from the sector, will make sure the programmes continue to be fit-for-purpose and equip learners with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to work safely on site. They will also prioritise environmental protection and compliance with their environmental permits.
For the primary competence qualifications, indicative content has been added to help learners and qualification centre staff better interpret the learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
“It is essential that as the sector evolves, our training, qualifications and assessments develop to reflect this, and I am delighted that these changes will come into effect this year.
For continuing competence, work has been undertaken with sector specialists to update the syllabi and develop an accessible question bank that challenges learners and gives them the opportunity to demonstrate they’ve kept their knowledge and competence up to date.
Commenting on the changes, Katie Cockburn, Professional Services Director at CIWM said: “It is essential that as the sector evolves, our training, qualifications and assessments develop to reflect this, and I am delighted that these changes will come into effect this year.
“In line with our strategic objective to pioneer professional standards in the sector, the investment made into updating these programmes clearly illustrates CIWM’s commitment to ensuring that operators have the required levels of competence and knowledge to safely and effectively manage their sites.”
More information on the updates to primary and continuing competence – as well as the updated revision guides – will be available in the coming weeks.