Specialised Plant and Machinery Operations NVQ (SMPO)

Converting your Red 'Trained Operator' Card to a Blue or Green 'Competent Operator' Card.

If your machine category has an NVQ/SVQ available for it, your final card will be blue. If your category does not have a specific NVQ/SVQ, then your final card will be green. In order to convert your red (trained plant operator) card into a blue/green (competent plant operator) card you must have:

• Completed the Specialised Plant and Machinery Operations (SPMO) N/SVQ (or the relevant units in the case that there is no full NVQ/SVQ available in that category of plant).
• Logged a minimum of 300 operating hours for each category that you wish to transfer to the blue/green (competent plant operator) card. These hours must be signed-off and your competency confirmed by your employer. If you are not able to record the 300 hours you will be able to take a site-assessment in its place.
• Held the categories on the red (trained plant operator) card for a minimum of six months (and your red card must be within its expiry date).
• Passed the CITB-ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test within the last two years.

How Can Gladwell Training Help?

As you are no doubt aware, your red 'Trained Operator' Card will expire after 3 years of it being issued unless you have logged a minimum of 300 hours in your log book and achieved a full Specialist Plant & Machinery Operations (SPMO) NVQ or where a full NVQ is not available the relevant NVQ units.

Gladwell Training can provide the necessary assessment and verification service to assist candidates in achieving the full NVQ. This service is aimed at new plant operators who hold the red trained operator card as well as experienced operators looking to gain formal recognition for their plant operating skills. The service includes:

• NVQ Induction
• Profiling (if appropriate)
• Portfolio building
• Assessment planning
• Up to 3 site based assessment visits
• NVQ/Unit certification

NVQ candidates will be expected to achieve the award in the timescale shown in the assessment plan as agreed with the assessor. This will include the recording of hours and the collection of evidence. Failure to meet with the assessment plan may result in additional assessment visits.