Connected Competence – Your Questions Answered

Connected Competence is becoming a popular topic of conversation in the engineering and construction industry – not least because some of the biggest players will be making it a mandatory for workers in site-based craft and technician trades. 

Our website is full of useful information, but we thought we’d do a round-up of the most commonly asked questions – a quick and easy bite-sized tour of Connected Competence, together with links to where you can find out more. 

So let’s dive in…

 

What is Connected Competence?

Connected Competence is an industry-led certification that helps you to demonstrate and future-proof your skills and technical competence. Whether you’re new to the industry or have decades of experience, you need to remain current and up to date with your technical skills. Connected Competence not only allows you to do this against an accepted standard, but it also gives you ownership of your skills and makes it so much easier to prove them to potential employers – meaning you can mobilise quicker. 

Find out more on our home page.

 

Do I have to get it?  

Well, you do if you want to demonstrate your commitment to working safely to employers and colleagues. Connected Competence will be mandatory for certain workers who want to mobilise with some of the industry’s big players, including Aker Solutions, Bilfinger, Boskalis, nexos, Petrofac, Ponticelli, Semco Maritime, Stork, Wood, and Worley.

Read our blog for more reasons why Connected Competence will put you ahead of the game: Why Do I Need Connected Competence?

 

But I’ve been in the trade for over 20 years – why is this now a requirement?

You’ll know more than anyone that working in the engineering construction industry can involve hazardous environments – and that, if the job isn’t done properly, you and your colleagues could be at risk. Connected Competence assures base technical competence relevant to today’s current industry practice, and not against a qualification that was achieved many years ago, and which has since had many different iterations. 

But the fact is, gaining Connected Competence puts you in a much stronger position if you are looking to move jobs. Not only can you prove your skills quicker and more easily, they will be more transferable across industries, providing you with even more opportunities in a changing landscape. 

Read more about this in our blog, Offering Opportunities To The Transient Workforce.

 

What’s a digital badge? 

Digital badges are rewarded for each test you take. You have complete ownership of them and you and your employers will be able to access them directly via our partner platform, Credly. No more searching for paperwork or requesting certification from employers – you’ll be able to prove your skills in just a few clicks.   

You’ll get a one-off digital badge for every separate technical test activity you take. Once you’ve completed them all, you can request a trade award badge, which instantly shows employers that you are demonstrating full currency of competence across your trade. 

Find out more on our digital badges page. 

 

Where can I sit my tests? 

Technical tests can be accessed through one of our test centres, which are located throughout the UK.

 

How often will I need to renew Connected Competence? 

Every 3–4 years, depending on your discipline. But the test will not increase in difficulty. Remember, Connected Competence proves your base technical knowledge and skills. 

You can find your discipline role profile, which tells you what tests you’ll need to take, on our disciplines page.

 

Do I have to pay for it myself? 

Connected Competence is enabled by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and industry funding has been made available through Connected Competence employers. 

Find out more about gaining Connected Competence with funding here.

 

If you have any more questions, click through to our full FAQs page on our website.