Energy & Utility Skills - Standards Consultation Forum

The purpose of the Standards Consultation Forum is to ensure that employers and stakeholders allied to the gas industry are appropriately consulted as an integral part of the process of competence standard setting arising from proposals to amend or introduce new assessment mechanisms and associated aspects for businesses seeking registration on the Gas Safe Register.

Key Accountabilities

To discuss and agree via consensus the subsequent necessary changes to the competence criteria arising from changes to technical standards, gas safety related issues and technological innovation.
To provide a strategic input for emergent skills, resource and competence issues.
To receive and consider recommendations made by the Strategic Management Board via the Standards Development Function on proposed changes to existing assessment mechanisms or the introduction of new mechanisms.
To receive and consider proposals for alternative "Routes to Registration" and/or innovation in the demonstration of competence by registered businesses and competent persons.
To acknowledge and seek to mitigate against conflicts of interest.
To liaise effectively with all interested parties to promote and support the Gas Safe Register operation.
To consider and agree actions resulting from consultations and to commission the work necessary to facilitate amendment or development of competence standards or assessment methods. Agreements will be via consensus.
To liaise with the Standards Development Unit (SDU) and communicate to the forum information affecting assessment specification and/or criteria.
The Standards Consultation Forum will meet at least twice per year, with additional meetings being convened as and when deemed necessary.

> Standards Consultation Forum Terms of Reference