EPIC and the proposed formation of PMSSC

"ON behalf of its members, EPIC is supporting the Processing and Manufacturing Sector Skills Council (PMSSC) bid for full Sector Skills Council (SSC) status as an equal founding member. EPIC’s aim is ensure that employers in the extractive and mineral-processing industries maintain a prominent profile with the Government and its agencies in all training and qualification matters."

"Training and qualifications are increasingly impacting on employers, such as the need arising from the HSE, customers and clients for employers to be able to demonstrate the competence of staff via their achievement of nationally recognized competence-based qualifications (N/SVQs)."

The new Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) has agreed that a development contract for the formative PMSSC will be agreed in September 2002. This will fund the preparation of a full bid to obtain a five-year SSC licence from the SSDA.

"EPIC, with the support of its members, continues to function as a company limited by guarantee as well as the training side of the business, being recognized by all the Government agencies, including the HSE, as the training standard-setting body for the extractive and mineral-processing industries."

"Another side of the business, EPIC Awarding Body, continues to offer N/SVQs to all employers in these industries and, with the close partnership of the Institute of Quarrying, is now able to offer NVQs in Health, Safety and Environmental Management at Levels 3, 4 and 5."