Over the last few decades, many graduates of geological sciences have sought employment in the brownfield regeneration and land assessment sector. The Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) registration scheme is aimed at experienced practitioners across a range of disciplines working in this sector, including chartered geologists. The scheme has the support of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and a number of key professional institutions, one of which is the Geological Society.
While the scheme’s was initially designed as a qualification for the sign off of the Land Condition Record (LCR), it has developed progressively, establishing an important role in improving quality and standards across the industry. SiLC is now regarded as a qualification which demonstrates competency, for example; the use of SiLCs is cited in planning guidance, it is a mandatory requirement for specific areas of project work for some government agencies, and significantly is now being suggested by some commercial organisations and funding institutions for pre-qualification.
Therefore, in continuing to address the needs of the industry and to promote SiLC as the status practitioners in the sector would seek to achieve, the SiLC Technical and Professional Panel is currently producing a Skills Development Framework (SDF). A shortage of diverse skills in the brownfield sector has already been recognised in the National Brownfield Strategy, and as a result there is a need to develop and improve knowledge and experience for all those practising in the field of land condition. The SDF is a capability based system which will complement existing institutional frameworks in supporting an individual’s career development; from graduate through to chartered and senior level membership status of a professional organisation, and eventually to SiLC registration. The SDF could then be applied for the consideration of developing a tiered entry procedure to SiLC status for professionals who are at earlier stages in their careers.
By implementing a structured framework to assist career progression and assess experience, the longer term vision is to gain wider recognition for the SiLC accreditation as an auditable ‘sign off’ process for a range of potential applications. For example, the use of a ‘Soil Status Report’ referred to in the proposed European Soil Framework Directive has been suggested for land transactions where polluting activities have taken place. Importantly the directive also raises the point of who is capable of providing such reports. Whilst no doubt there will be further changes to the directive before it is implemented in the UK; there is clearly synergy with the existing LCR and SiLC scheme.
Government advisory panels and trade organisations serving the sector have long identified a need for competent professionals dealing with a wide range of technical issues. As such, there is a role for Chartered Geologists involved in land condition to ensure we attain higher standards across the industry and by actively supporting the SiLC scheme which has the potential to deliver these aims.
The SDF will be issued to a range of advisory agencies and businesses for consultation this autumn, and published by the end of the year. To find out more about the SiLC training days, the SiLC scheme and down load the new shorter version of the LRC which has recently been produced, visit
www.silc.org.uk.
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