By far the biggest regret that is voiced to us from long serving site managers and site supervisors is how they regretted missing the opportunity of gaining a CSCS managerial competency card via the ‘Grand father rights’ approach.
Like many others in the same position, you may now find yourself;
- Not being able to gain employment, or
- Loosing or jeopardising current employment because you do not hold an appropriate CSCS card for the job you are doing, or
- Not being able to change companies, as all new positions now require the CSCS card as a given for employment, and
- Missing out on better prospects in a buoyant market.
Sometimes, as busy site managers or supervisors we feel frustrated or trapped, unable to motivate ourselves to change, or to even keep up with change. We eventually come to regret the long term affects of not getting around to making that all important change.
However, for those now working in the construction field, this need not be the case.
Why? Because it is now being widely and reputably reported that the housing market is entering into a second resurgent wave of sustainable activity, the complete opposite to a double dip recession. Likewise, the same activity is reported for the civils, refurbishment and commercial build sectors.
And yet, the trend we have noticed in our field of expertise is that site managers only apply for their CSCS cards when they absolutely have to, which is understandable as most site managers are very busy individuals; as was I when I was a site manager. We all know the a familiar quote ‘Fail to plan-plan to fail’. Here’s another one; ‘Too busy to apply, too busy to work and too busy to prosper! Working without regrets is possible but it does necessitate action! Holding a valid CSCS card today offers practicing professionals greater opportunities to prosper and benefit and is not looked upon within the industry as ‘just a necessary evil’
Finally, I’ll leave you with this!
I recently went to a family funeral where I bumped into an older Irish gentleman ground worker, who had assisted and helped me when I was 16 in a long hand dig operation. I never forgot his kindness and encouragement. We talked and reminisced. Sadly to say, it became obvious that he regretted the missed opportunities of not setting up his own company when he had the opportunity, but instead chose to work within his natural ability and aspirations, and now in retirement, was living with the regret of this lost opportunity, unable to change his past, present or future.
