There are a limited number of places left on the two day Ska assessor training, which is taking place on 12/13 March.

NISTG, which is administered by AIS has secured CITB-ConstructionSkills funding for the Ska Assessor training, which is being offered to CITB levy paying contractors free of charge (normally costing £954).

Places will be offered to non-levy payers at a 50% discount subject to availability.

What are the benefits of becoming an assessor?
Run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) the Ska rating system evaluates the environmental impact of a commercial fit out. Projects can be assessed using an online tool, which is free and open to anyone, certification is then provided by an accredited Ska Assessor.

How it works
The Ska rating scheme focuses on seven areas:

• Energy
• Materials
• Pollution
• Transport
• Waste
• Well-being
• Water use

It identifies 104 environmental good practice measures relevant to interiors, such as installing energy efficient light fittings or reusingcarpet tiles, where they might have been replaced. As not all will be relevant to every project, at the start of a project a scoping exercise highlights the measures relevant to that project. The final score is based on the percentage of good practice elements met for that project.

• Gold: 75% of good practice measures have been met

• Silver: 50% of good practice measures have been met

• Bronze: 25% of good practice measures have been met

To stop firms simply taking the easy options, the good practice measures are weightedin importance, and used to create a pool from which a percentage must be achieved, this gives room to make informed choices in the process.

The assessment is carried out in three phases:

• Design Stage: the architect or specifier scope a project, put forward ideas for good practice and brief the construction team

• Handover stage: accreditors assess whether the construction team has delivered

• Occupancy stage assessment: the office space is assessed 12 months later to see whether standards are being kept in areas such as carbon emissions or waste.

Ska assessor training
Date: 12/13 March
Cost: CITB-levy payers - FOC (normally £954)
Non-levy payers - 50% discount
Venue: Central London
Apply to: jeremy-clayton@ais-interiors.org.uk