Scottish government recognises PAL Card

IPAF has received confirmation from the Scottish Government’s Procurement and Commercial Directorate that the PAL Card is recognised as fulfilling training requirements for companies engaged in public sector construction contracts.

In a letter to IPAF dated 9 January, Colin Judge, Principal Adviser — Construction Procurement, wrote: “Given its worldwide standing we assume that public works contractors will, where appropriate, continue to accept membership of the International Powered Access Federation as proof of the relevant skills, training and safety awareness necessary for on-site staff.”

Mr Judge also quoted paragraph 7, Annex B of Policy Note 9/2012, which states: “Scottish Government does not prescribe CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) as the absolute or exclusive means for contractors to demonstrate compliance with the policy. Contractors performing a public contract can do so by reference to other means that they consider are equivalent to CSCS for assessing skills, training and safety in relation to the particular nature of the contract.”

For further reference, see Scottish Procurement Policy Note SPPN 9/2012: Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
Outreach Outlook: Springing into Action – The Season of Growth
March 2026

There is a distinct shift in the air when March arrives. You can feel it on the job sites, and you can certainly feel it in the classrooms. As the winter chill begins to lift and the days are a little longer, the construction industry naturally wakes up f

Chairman's Message: Laying the First Brick - A Fresh Start
March 2026

As we head into a new year, I’m excited and, honestly, grateful to step into the role of Chairman of the Mason Contractors Association of America. This industry has been good to my family, and I see this role as a chance to give back and help move things

GEN NXT: 2026 Skills Challenge Winners
March 2026

After another successful year of the Skills Challenge, the MCAA had the opportunity to speak with the three 1st Place winners of each skill level. Get to know their journeys, motivations, and the mindsets they have in order to compete in a national compet

2026 World of Concrete Recap
March 2026

The 2026 World of Concrete Convention marked another successful year for masonry. From the world-renowned Skills Challenge and Fastest Trowel on the Block competitions to the new innovative GEORGE AI class, we gained a lot of ground in pushing this indust