All About SMART Awards

The SMART Awards are operated as an Awarding and Assessment organisation across the UK, specifically for the construction, engineering, utility, digital and telecom sectors. There are different assessment services for employers and apprenticeships in all these areas, engineered to aid employers in hiring an apprentice and helping apprentices to shape their future in their chosen career.

SMART Awards have also been a leader in developing new qualifications in the telecoms industry; as a result, all engineers now working on the Openreach network are required to hold a Smart Awards Network Operative Passport Scheme card (NOPS).

Network Operative Passport Scheme (NOPS)

The NOPS Scheme is purely for the telecoms industry and is governed by Smart Awards as well as an Operations Board with members who have vested interests in the industry. It was initially introduced to ensure that all operatives comply with safety regulations. It now also includes the NOPS card which provides individuals with a personal critical safety competence record and a list of their certifications and training.

NOPS Cards

A NOPS card is administered by SMART Awards and lists all an engineer’s qualifications in one place – this information is also available in an electronic form. Each NOPS card awarded has a unique QR code which can then be scanned and links to the Smart Passport website, showing the card identity and accreditations per user.

NOPS Cards are not free; there is an initial price plus VAT and then a cost for any replacement cards required.

It also costs to renew a NOPS card and to upload individual accreditations.

SMART Award courses

SMART Award courses vary from sector to sector but the most popular courses are:

SA001 - Overhead Safety
SA001A - Overhead Safety Awareness
SA001R - Overhead Safety Refresher
SA002 - Underground Safety
SA004 - Safe Use of Abrasive Wheels
SA005 - Safe Moving and Handling
SA006 - Safe Working in Civils
SA007 - Asbestos Awareness
SA016 - Core Drilling
SA020 - Working Safely in Single and Multi-Occupancy Dwellings Including Buildings
SA021 - Pole Vehicle Safety
SA023 - Ground Support Person for Elevating Platform and Mobile Elevating Work Platform
SA051c - TETRA Leaning Ladder & Flat Roof Candidate