Planning Lifts – CADUK Skills Academy LTD

How the assessment works

This Appointed Person NVQ is completely evidence-based. Instead of sitting another test, you demonstrate your day-to-day role by uploading items such as:

Signed lift plans and risk assessments you have produced
Drawings and duty charts you have selected and annotated
Photos or screen grabs showing CAD layouts, exclusion-zone marking and crane positioning
Toolbox-talk or briefing sheets where you have explained the plan to the lifting team
Minutes or emails confirming interface checks with other trades or plant
A brief witness statement from a project or lifting manager confirming they have observed you plan and authorise safe, compliant lifts

Your assessor reviews each upload, gives feedback and lets you know if anything else is required. Once all evidence is accepted, you book a one-to-one video call. During this professional discussion the assessor asks you to talk through your uploads and explain how you apply regulations, standards and company procedures. It feels like a structured chat rather than an exam and is usually wrapped up in a single session.

After the call the assessor signs off the NVQ and submits it for certification. Roughly a week later we email your electronic certificate so you can upgrade your CPCS or NPORS card.

No classroom time, no site visits and no written tests—just clear proof of the work you already do.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Below are a few examples of the kinds of questions an assessor may ask during the professional-discussion for the Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Controlling Lifting Operations – Planning Lifts (Appointed Person):

Assessor: When you select a mobile crane for a complex lift, what factors do you check to confirm the configuration is suitable?

Learner: I start with the load weight, radius and height in the lift plan, then check the manufacturer’s duty charts to confirm boom length, counter-weight and outrigger spread. I also review ground-bearing capacity, wind limits, pick-and-carry requirements, travel routes and any obstructions shown on the CAD layout. If any figure is close to a chart limit, I consult the crane supplier’s technical team for written confirmation.

Assessor: What critical information must you brief to the crane supervisor and slinger team before the first lift of the day?

Learner: I cover the approved lift plan and RAMS, safe-working load of each accessory, communication method (radio channel and backup hand signals), exclusion zones, emergency procedures, wind-speed limits, and the sequence and landing points for each load. I log the briefing on a toolbox-talk sheet and make sure every team member signs.

Assessor: How does sticking to the daily lifting schedule improve productivity across the wider site?

Learner: It keeps haul routes and lay-down areas clear at the right times, prevents plant clashes, allows trades to book deliveries with confidence, and lets the crane work continuously without re-rigging. When everyone follows the schedule, lifts happen first time, other activities stay on programme and we avoid costly stand-downs.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Think of evidence as anything that shows you planning and authorising lifts safely and in line with company procedures.

Visual proof

Clear photos or short screen-captures of you:

marking out crane pads or exclusion zones on site
annotating duty charts or CAD drawings for a lift plan
briefing the lifting team before the first lift
checking wind speed or ground conditions during a lift

Site paperwork

This will include documents that carry your name or signature and prove you follow company systems—completed lift plans, RAMS, crane supplier data sheets, ground-bearing calculations, daily lifting schedules, toolbox-talk registers and near-miss or hazard cards you have raised.

Witness statement

A brief note from a project manager, lifting manager or Appointed Person confirming they have seen you prepare and authorise safe lift plans on a live site.

General safety and productivity

Anything that shows you help keep the lifting operation safe and on programme counts: coordination-meeting minutes you led, emails or radio logs where you re-sequenced lifts to avoid clashes, or records of briefings you delivered to the crane team.

How long does it take?

The timing is largely up to you. Your assessor can only start reviewing your portfolio once you’ve uploaded your evidence, so the sooner everything is in the e-Portfolio, the sooner the process moves forward.

Some learners upload all their photos, videos and paperwork in a couple of days, schedule their discussion straight away and finish in less than one week. Others spread it out over several weeks because of shifts or site access.

In short, the pace is in your hands—submit your evidence promptly, respond to feedback quickly, and you can complete the NVQ just as fast.

Can I get the Crane Supervisor endorsement?

Yes. Appointed Persons who have completed the Level 5 Planning Lifts NVQ only need to complete one additional unit from the Level 4 Crane Supervisor qualification to gain the Crane Supervisor endorsement — as long as they have also passed the A62 Crane Supervisor technical test.

The required unit is:

Allocating and Monitoring the Use of Plant, Equipment or Machinery

If you're completing the Level 5 Planning Lifts NVQ with us, we can deliver this additional unit alongside your main portfolio for an additional £545 + VAT.

By completing both at the same time, you’ll be able to upgrade to the Blue CPCS or NPORS card for both Appointed Person and Crane Supervisor in a single submission.

What happens when I apply?

Click the “Book your NVQ” button and you’ll be taken to our short online profiling form. The form collects the details we need to register you and asks you to attach a clear photo of the front and back of your CPCS or NPORS card.

When the form arrives, one of our assessors phones you for a brief chat. The call confirms that the NVQ is a good fit—that you have the right skills, site access, machine availability and can gather the required evidence.

If the assessor is happy, we email an invoice. The profiling call is free and there is no obligation: if you decide not to go ahead, simply ignore the invoice. If you do want to proceed, pay the invoice and we will enrol you and pass your details to the assessor the same day, so you can start collecting evidence straight away.

Can I claim the CITB grant for this NVQ?

Yes, if you are a CITB-registered employer. This NVQ is eligible for the short-qualification grant of £600 (claimable on completion by the employer).

Only the company (not the individual learner) can make the claim, and the application must be submitted to CITB within 52 weeks of the achievement date.

If you are a sole trader or limited company already on the CITB register, you can still claim; private individuals who are not levy-registered cannot.

To confirm eligibility, call the CITB Levy & Grants team on 0344 994 4455 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00) or email levy.grant@citb.co.uk to confirm your registration and grant status.