Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group
- Legal name
- NOCN Group
- Website
- https://nocnjobcards.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Certification Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)
Keywords
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Card Application Fees: Fees charged for processing and issuing CPCS cards including Red Trained Operator Cards and Blue Competent Operator Cards. Fees are currently £28 and will increase to £30 from 1 August 2026.
- Renewal CPD Module Fees: Fees for Continuing Professional Development modules required for card renewals. Currently £28, increasing to £30 from 1 August 2026.
- Health, Safety and Environment Test Fees: Fees for the NOCN Operative Health, Safety and Environment Test, which is a requirement for CPCS and CISRS cards.
- Accredited Centre Fees: Fees for organisations becoming and maintaining CPCS Accredited Centre status to deliver training and testing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CPCS Card Application Fee - £28 per application |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renewal CPD Module Fee - £28 per module |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | NOCN Operative Health, Safety and Environment Test |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CPCS operates the UK's industry-standard competence certification scheme for construction plant operatives, issuing Red Trained Operator Cards, Blue Competent Operator Cards, and Tester Cards through a nationwide network of accredited test centres. It also administers CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) for scaffolding operatives, providing NFC-enabled smart cards that enable instant verification of worker qualifications.
Product overview
CPCS, part of NOCN Group, operates as a unified competency certification framework rather than a modular platform. The core portfolio centres on three main card types: the CPCS Red Trained Operator Card (entry-level certification for trained operators), the CPCS Blue Competent Operator Card (advanced certification for fully competent operators), and the CPCS Tester Card (for qualified testers). The NOCN Operative Health, Safety and Environment Test is a prerequisite requirement for obtaining CPCS cards. Supporting tools include the CPCS Card Checker (online card verification), the CPCS Digital Logbook (electronic portfolio for tracking competencies), and CPCS Renewal CPD (continuing professional development for card renewal). The Assured Card Scheme offers alternative pathways including the Skilled Plant Operative Card. NOCN Group also administers CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme), including NFC-enabled CISRS Smart Cards for scaffolding operatives, and provides test centre search and centre accreditation services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CPCS Red Trained Operator Card
Companies that use Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS)coreNOCN Group has been responsible for providing scheme administration services to the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) since CITB withdrew from this role in 2020. CISRS provides certification for scaffolding operatives, with cards, tests, training centre accreditation, and smart card technology similar to CPCS. The CISRS Smart Card also uses NFC technology.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme): NPORS is the main UK-based competitor to CPCS, providing plant operator registration and competence cards for cranes, excavators, forklifts and similar machinery. Both schemes sell directly comparable card products to the same UK construction operative and employer base.
- CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme): CSCS is the UK construction industry's leading competence card scheme, verifying worker skills and training across construction site occupations. CPCS and CSCS use a similar card-and-verification model aimed at proving competence to UK employers and site operators.
Broad incumbents
- ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board): ECITB is the UK training board for the engineering construction industry, providing competence frameworks, training, and card schemes for industrial construction occupations. It uses a comparable industry-recognised card-based competency model to CPCS but focused on engineering construction.
- NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health): NEBOSH provides widely-recognised health, safety and environment qualifications used across UK construction and industry. Its qualification model parallels the testing and certification framework NOCN/CPCS applies to plant operator competence.
- IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health): IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals, awarding recognised safety qualifications that overlap with CPCS's NOCN Operative HSE Test requirement. It is a comparable UK-based credentialing body serving the construction and industrial workforce.
- City & Guilds: City & Guilds is one of the UK's largest vocational awarding organisations, providing certification across construction, engineering, and skilled trades. It operates a similar credentials-and-certification model to NOCN/CPCS but across a much broader qualification portfolio.
- JIB (Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry): JIB runs a UK competence card scheme for the electrical contracting industry, analogous to CPCS for plant operators. It demonstrates the same industry-card model for verifying worker competence to employers within a specific construction trade.
- CITB (Construction Industry Training Board): CITB is the statutory training board for the UK construction industry, historically running competency schemes including CISRS before withdrawing in 2020. It sets training standards, levy-grants training, and influences competence frameworks that CPCS operates within.
Others
- BESA (Building Engineering Services Association): BESA is the UK trade association for building engineering services contractors, operating training and competence initiatives for its member workforce. It is thematically adjacent to CPCS as a construction industry training and credentialing body, though focused on HVAC and building services rather than plant operations.
- Build UK: Build UK is the leading representative body for the UK construction industry, influencing standards for site access, competence cards, and workforce compliance that CPCS relies on for industry adoption. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct certification competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group social profiles
Digital presenceConstruction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group
What does Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group do?
CPCS operates the UK's industry-standard competence certification scheme for construction plant operatives, issuing Red Trained Operator Cards, Blue Competent Operator Cards, and Tester Cards through a nationwide network of accredited test centres. It also administers CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) for scaffolding operatives, providing NFC-enabled smart cards that enable instant verification of worker qualifications.
Is Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group a public or private company?
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group founded?
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Card Application Fees are the primary driver. The others are renewal CPD Module Fees, health, Safety and Environment Test Fees and accredited Centre Fees.
Who are Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme) and CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme). Broad incumbents are ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board), NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), City & Guilds, JIB (Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry) and CITB (Construction Industry Training Board). Others are BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) and Build UK.
Does Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group.
What industry is Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group in?
Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS), part of NOCN Group's product category is Construction Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAJ, Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training, with a secondary code of EDAAALAH, Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8200.