Home
About Us
NVQ Trades
Carpentry NVQ Bricklaying NVQ Plastering NVQ Painting NVQ Tiling NVQ Dry Lining NVQ Supervision NVQ Technical Support NVQ Building & Civil Engineering NVQ
CSCS Cards
Carpenter CSCS Card Bricklayer CSCS Card Plasterer CSCS Card Tiler CSCS Card Joiner CSCS Card Roofer CSCS Card Dryliner CSCS Card Apply for a CSCS Card
Prices
NVQ Price List Financing Options
Contact Us
Construction NVQ Training Courses London: Apply Online and Save

Your Guide to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations – Site Carpentry

Level 2 Carpentry NVQIntroduction to Site Carpentry NVQ

Carpentry is one of the most practical vocations finding application in a diverse range of industries – construction included. It can also be an immensely satisfying job as one sees the work of their hands move from concept to completion. Carpentry is a practical craft where competence is primarily judged on how well one does their work. But hands-on skill alone does not suffice in today’s competitive job market.

Independent verification of your Site Carpentry skill will make you competitive in the work place. In the UK, the Site Carpentry NVQ is probably the most important credential for a site carpenter. The Site Carpentry NVQ Level 2 attests to your having the skills, knowledge and competence that is necessary to execute the carpentry role in the complex environment that is today’s construction site.

Getting a site carpenter NVQ also qualifies you to apply for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. It is today difficult to get access to and work at any major construction site without producing a CSCS card.

Technical assessment for the Site Carpentry NVQ

Before you can attain the Site Carpentry NVQ Level 2 you will be assessed on several areas both on Site Carpentry and on general best practice standards that must be adhered to at a modern construction site. On the Site Carpentry aspect, the assessor will evaluate whether you understand the components of structural carcassing and can erect the carcassing on site.

You will also be required to demonstrate hands on expertise with first and second fixing components. On this, evaluation will be on interpreting instructions around first and second fixing components and installation in accordance with appropriate legislation.

The Site Carpentry NVQ assessor will also check how efficiently you work vis a vis the time it takes you to complete a task and your use of available resources.  You must show evidence of  competence in the maintenance and management of non-structural carpentry and show that you can setup and use circular saws without a problem.

Non-technical assessment for the Site Carpentry NVQ

On the non-carpentry aspect, the Site Carpentry NVQ assessment will be centered on conformance to best practices on general safety at the construction site. Competence on general safety will cover your capability to identify and report hazards on site, adherence to workplace safety legislation and compliance with internal safety & emergency procedures. The entire assessment for the site carpenter NVQ Level 2 can be concluded in a day.

Leave a comment

At Your Peak – Level 4+ NVQ Diploma in Senior Crafts – Plastering

Level 4 Plastering NVQIntroduction to Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ By the time you consider going for the Level 4 or higher Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ, you are likely to be approaching the peak of your career in plastering. You should already be knowledgeable with all key aspects of modern day plastering including extensive knowledge of both solid and fibrous plastering.

The holder of a Senior Crafts Level 4 or higher Plastering NVQ is by default a leader on site as far as plastering matters go and that is something a plaster NVQ assessor will be keen to establish before they recommend you for this credential.

What areas are assessed for the Senior Craft Plastering NVQ?

To determine whether you are eligible for the Level 4 or higher Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ, the assessor will be keen to see how your knowledge and experience makes the plastering process on site more efficient. Do the people around you come to you for advice on what is the best material or techniques for plastering a particular surface? Is your input sought during design proposal selection and/or modification?

Your managerial expertise will also be tested on how well you can schedule and track work to completion while adhering to overall project timelines. Cost management and monitoring of resource use are also fundamental skills for a senior craftsperson.

A Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ holder must be adept at efficiently restoring, repairing, maintaining and conserving plastering. This includes expertise in some of the most complex internal and external plaster finishing.

Resolving disputes when they do arise between plasterers as well as conflicts between the plastering and other craftsmen on site such as bricklayers, carpenters and lathers will also be assessed. As a Level 4 or higher Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ candidate, your ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions will be in focus.

This is on the premise that even with the most elaborate planning, there will always be hiccups, shortages and delays occasioned either by members of the plastering team, other workers on site or by third parties beyond the construction contractor’s control.

Your experience when faced with such unplanned for occurrences should show in how you identify workarounds or reassign work that ensures there is minimal idle time and that substantial progress is still made.

Inevitably, the Senior Crafts Plastering NVQ assessor will want to see your knowledge of health and safety. This is key given that it dovetails with you pursuit of a CSCS card – a must-have in the UK’s construction industry today.

Leave a comment

Level 2 Carpentry NVQ – Structural Post and Beam Carpentry

Carpentry NVQIntroduction to SP&B carpentry NVQStructural post and beam (SP&B) carpentry includes a construction technique usually referred to as Oak Framing though it also covers any similar construction method but that uses other forms of timber. In this type of construction carpentry, the timber planks are joined via mortise and tenon joints and any other appropriate structural joints. The joints are secured via wooden pegs. The structural post and beam carpentry NVQ will test for your competence in all major framing and jointing techniques.

Areas of assessment for SP&B carpentry NVQ

The SP&B Carpentry NVQ assessor will check your mastery of pegging. Wooden pegs are a widely used technique in framing which makes expertise in pegging a fundamental skill for this level 2 NVQ. The aspects of pegging you will be tested for include peg holing, peg hole positioning, knowing the different tools used in pegging as well as the different types of pegs i.e. tapered, small vs. large, straight vs. defective grain and round, square, hex cross section pegs.

How well do you understand framing technology? The >Carpenter NVQ assessor will test you on your ability to distinguish technical framing terms and how well you use the terms to clearly communicate with other personnel on site. For instance, can you distinguish between sill, cill, floor, sole, base and bottom plates? If you do not know the precise names of the items and tools at the construction site, you stand the risk of confusing the people around you.

Since SP&B is simply a subset of general carpentry, you will be evaluated for how well you can use the basic hand tools required for general carpentry. The basic tools include rulers, tape measures, dividers, roofing squares, scratch awls, mortise gauge, handsaws, power drills, mallets, chisels and bevels. Core carpentry skills such as tool sharpening, laying out timber, marking joints and accurately cutting along a line must also be demonstrated.

Health and safety in SP&B carpentry NVQ

A professional carpenter is a safety-aware carpenter. In order to attain the level 2  Carpentry NVQ, your ability to perform structural and beam carpentry with distinction must be counter balanced with a demonstrable appreciation of onsite health and safety best practices.

The SP&B Carpentry NVQ assessor will not only observe how you carry yourself and how that impacts on your own safety and that of colleagues, a good grasp of health and safety theory is also key. You may be required to answer some questions that test your knowledge of PUWER 1998 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) as well as general Workplace Health and Safety Laws.

Leave a comment

An Introduction Electrical NVQs

Electrical NVQ

Construction sites remain one of the most hazardous environments for workers in the UK today. Electrical works go hand in hand with any construction. This means that the risks that electrical workers have to contend with are twice as many as those of ordinary construction workers. As an electrician, you not only have to grapple with the risks of falling objects on site but you must also be fully alert to the dangers of electrocution for both you and the persons around you.

An Electrical NVQ is a statement that you can not only carry out electrical installation with distinction, but just as important, that you perform the job responsibly. An Electrical installation NVQ also qualifies you for a CSCS card – an absolute necessity if you intend to work in construction sites in the UK.

Areas of assessment for electrical NVQs

You will be assessed on both your understanding of electrical work as well as your knowledge on safety related subjects. The technical units you will be evaluated on include diagnosis and correction of electrical faults, your knowledge of construction site technical terms, preparation for wiring installation, actual wiring installation, testing and inspection of electrical connections and your understanding of approved methods for connecting wiring systems. You must also demonstrate expertise in preparing and circulating functional and technical reports to all key stakeholders.

On the non-technical front, the assessor will be checking to see how your work style ensures safer working conditions for yourself and those around you. Do you adhere to occupational health and safety laws and best practice? All assessment will be conducted at your place of work.

Methods of assessment for electrical NVQs

Like other Construction NVQ, the method of assessment for the Electrical NVQ is relatively unstructured save for the need for assessment to be done on site.

Most important, the assessor will observe you in your normal work environment to ensure that you have a practical understanding on not only electrical work but health and safety issues too. That being said, you will bolster your chances of getting an electrical installation NVQ if you can produce verifiable evidence of your capability.

Everything from risk assessments and job sheets, to test results and photographic images can help bolster the portfolio you avail to the Electrician NVQ assessor.

Leave a comment

General information on construction NVQs and why you need them to get CSCS cards

Construction NVQWhat are construction NVQs?Construction NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) are certifications in the UK that demonstrate competence and capability to perform a specific technical job as per a set of pre-defined standards. Construction industry NVQs are awarded in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has an equivalent system referred to as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).

The system of standards that form the foundation of Construction NVQ qualifications is known as NOS (National Occupational Standards). Because construction industry NVQs primarily assess on-the-job competence, majority of candidates for a Construction NVQ will pursue a qualification that is along their existing line of work.

How is assessment for construction NVQs done?

Even though they are based on the NOS, construction NVQs do not follow any pre-defined curriculum – obtaining the construction NVQ is entirely outcome-based. You are either competent or incompetent in the assessed vocation.

That being said, you will notice that many construction industry NVQ assessors roughly follow some four basic steps. They will first assess what you can do and if does, there should not be much ado in you obtaining the Construction NVQ. If you do not measure up, the assessor usually lets you know what the expectations of the standard you are aiming for are.

The assessor will proceed to outline what you need to learn and what specific activities will move you in that direction before you are assessed again for the construction NVQ. These activities may involve you attending a course or in some cases, doing slightly different work from what you currently do just so as to gain the requisite evidence of competence in your chosen construction industry NVQ.

Construction NVQs as prerequisite for CSCS cards

It is safe to say that the ‘practical’ and hands-on element of Construction worker NVQs that made them the perfect fit for a prerequisite for CSCS cards. Remember, CSCS cards are a statement of the cardholder’s competence and awareness of health and safety best practice at a construction site.

Competence in the trade is naturally the first step to a safer work environment. Employees that are not trained in what they do pose a safety risk not just to themselves but also to those around them.

Leave a comment

Why You Need a Tiling NVQ

tiling NVQIf you are already working as a tiler, you must consider going for a Tiling NVQ. If you already have a certificate in tiling from a recognized institution, you can proceed to apply for level 2 NVQ in wall and floor tiling. Since a Tiling NVQ demonstrates competence, you will have a leg up in job applications while laying the foundation for you to proceed even further in your career.

The tiling NVQ units

There are 5 areas that the level 2 Tiler NVQ will cover:
• general workplace safety
• efficient work practices
• moving and handling resources
• preparation of backgrounds for tiling and tiling floor/wall surfaces. The tiling NVQ assessor will observe as well as ask you pertinent questions before establishing your competence in each unit. It is only if and when you demonstrate knowledge and practical understanding of the different units will the assessor award you the tiling NVQ.

The tiling NVQ assessment process

When you are ready to be assessed for the Tiler NVQ all you need to do is contact Construction Support Line on 0203 598 1037 and one of our advisers will make arrangements for you to meet with an assessor at a construction site or other similar place of work. This form of assessment is usually referred to as an OSAT (On Site Assessment Test). Your OSAT may be preceded by an interview away from your place of work as well as the submission of documentary evidence.

Like virtually all Construction NVQs, the Tiling NVQ must be done in a work place environment as opposed to a training centre. Training centers are unlikely to have the hazards, disruptions and other realities of an ordinary work environment. It is only at the work place that the tiling NVQ assessor can observe how you handle different sets of circumstances with minimal to no effect on the quality of your work.

In the event that the outcome of the assessment shows you fall short of the NVQ’s requirements, the assessor will discuss with you the specific areas that you do not measure up. They will also provide input on what you need to do to shore up your competence before a fresh assessment of the same NVQ is arranged in future.

Leave a comment

Up skilling: Add Plumbing to Your Construction Portfolio!

Plumbing NVQ

If you are serious about your career in artisanship and construction in particular, it is important that you have a recognized qualification along with a portfolio which will show potential clients the experience that you’ve gained. This will also help employers to decide if you are ready to begin working on their behalf. You may have been working in the industry for a number of years already but a qualification will help cement new opportunities for you and help you develop yourself and hopefully profit from taking the leap. With a Plumbing NVQ level 2, your skills are recognized and you become more valuable as an employee and an expert within the field of construction and plumbing.

Do I qualify for a Plumbing NVQ?
The great thing about the NVQ in plumbing, is that you don’t have to be qualified to go for it. If you are new to the plumbing industry, you are guided through the tasks that you need to complete in order to ultimately reach level 2. This would normally involve a base city and guilds course which can be done on both a full-time and part time basis. This way you have greater control over how much time you can give to getting your qualification.

If you have already worked in the industry and have taken an interest in plumbing before you should have your level one certification. It is important however, that you have employment in the artisan industry doing at least some plumbing. You will be assessed and then entered into the program if you are seen to be competent to start it. A lot of institutions will be able to help you find internships and external guidance.What am I assessed on for a plumbing NVQ and how much will it cost?
At this level you will be judged on your skills in workplace safety and installing, decommissioning and maintaining non-complex plumbing systems. Your assessors will need to see that you are able to create and maintain safe and effective working relationships with other artisans in the industry and of course that you contribute properly to the environment with a sense of work ethic and a moderately advanced set of skills.

Once you have made the decision to do your level 2 NVQ in plumbing< you can start to consider your options in terms of training. If you are currently working your best option by far is to take an On Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) Plumbing NVQ. These NVQs do not require you to take time off work or to miss any pay as all assessment is done on the job. One of Construction Support Line’s team of assessors will come out to you and observe you while you work. Check our price list by filling out the form on the right hand side of the page or call one of our expert advisers on 0203 598 1037 for an exact quote. There is no doubt that with your level 2 plumbing NVQ, you will create better opportunities for yourself and be considered before other artisans – something that is becoming incredibly important in today’s construction industry.

Leave a comment

The Importance of Your Reputation in Construction – What a Construction NVQ Can Do For You

Roofing NVQ

When you are a proud member of the construction industry, the last thing you want is to appear incompetent.  Even the simplest of mistakes can become tragic in a matter of minutes—and these are not soon forgotten.  Every day there are stories about accidents on construction sites that could have been prevented but instead made a worker or even an entire firm look completely incompetent.

Accidents being caused by Workers without a Construction NVQA case is just now being brought to a close over an incident that took place in December of 2009.  Johnson Scaffold Services of Surrey has been fined by the HSE for negligence and a breach of health and safety laws.

The firm had erected scaffolding around a building to allow repairs to be made to the roof.  On the 17th of December, part of the scaffolding was taken down but for some reason, the firm left part of it up.  Obviously it was not properly secured without all the pieces being there, and on the night of December 18th a section that was 40 feet high was blown around and thrown to the ground.

Luckily, there was no one around at the time, and no injuries or damage occurred.  The fact of the matter, however, is that someone very easily could have been hurt and serious damage could have been done.  Aside from the fact that the firm left unsecured scaffolding, HSE investigations also showed that it was never installed according to the drawings and was not properly secured at all.

Even though no physical damage was done, Johnson Scaffold Services has been scarred by this incident and their reputation is no longer a positive one.
Protecting Your Own Reputation in the Construction Industry with a Level 3 Roofing NVQWhile mistakes are bound to be made, proper training and certification can significantly reduce them.  Getting your level 3 NVQ in roofing means that a trained assessor is as confident in your skill and capabilities as you are.  Most of us have a tendency to think that we are the best—often to the point that we overlook our shortcomings.  A level 3 roofing NVQ assures everyone that you truly are as skilled as you claim to be—no questions asked.

Construction is not a field of work that just anybody can do.  It takes a certain natural skill along with all the hard work and many people just don’t cut it.  You may even have noticed that some of your co-workers are not where they should be when it comes to skill and training.  Clearly this is unfair to you if you have taken the time to take pride in what you do and acquire your specific construction NVQ.

As a roof construction worker, you know what it takes to excel in your line of work and how hard you had to work to get to where you are.  You know very well the amount of time and energy that you have dedicated to educating yourself and putting in the hours to become the best.  Your level 3 NVQ in roofing is something to be proud of—and something that you are adequately rewarded for.

Leave a comment

Good News for Tile Workers with an NVQ Tiling Qualification

Tiling NVQAccording to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), housing prices are expected to take another 14% tumble by the end of the year. Homeowners looking to sell are being encouraged to update the interiors of their homes in order to generate buyer interest and make a better profit. This advice means great news if you are a tile worker, because homeowners are being told to begin their remodels with new floors.
A Continued Decline makes a Construction NVQ ValuableThe reports and statistics floating around about housing prices and the market as a whole are no less than absolutely depressing. Now the CEBR has pushed homeowners into an even further depression by confirming the fact that things really are as bad as they seem. What makes the situation even worse is that the drop is deterring renters from wanting to take their place on the housing ladder. Previously, those who were renting were always aspiring to be homeowners but it seems that that is no longer the case.
Why Your Level 3 Tiling NVQ Will Pay OffTrio Plus, a company that specializes in temporary flooring protection, is reaching out to homeowners to help them understand that renovating may be their best hope of a value increase or sale. Homeowners are finding themselves simply wanting to get out while they are still ahead; but even though renovating will require extra funds, it is likely it will pay off.

Freshening up the floors in a home is where Trio Plus says is a great place to start. Tiling specialists will be needed to help homeowners decide on a budget and accomplish the goals they have in mind. Wall tiling is also a great way to update a look, which means even more work for tile workers—especially those with a Level 3 Tiling NVQ.

As a tile worker, your opinion and knowledge are extremely valuable to the customers you serve. They need to know they can trust you and the only real way to back up your claims about your skills is with a Level 3 Tiling NVQ. Only the most experienced tile workers will be awarded jobs such as these– with struggling homeowners on a budget there is no room for error. A Level 3 Tiling NVQ will put each customer at ease and ensure them that they are being served by the absolute best.

Invest in yourself and take the time to get your Tiling NVQ—it ensures that you are completely prepared for any jobs that arise as well as providing concrete evidence that you are great at what you do.

Leave a comment

Falling Painters in the Construction Industry – the Importance of a Painting NVQ

Roofer

Painters in the construction field have the rare skill of being artistically and technically skilled at the same time.  Unfortunately, the fact that their job takes them up ladders and scaffolds on a regular basis also means that they are injured and killed far too often.

Too Many Stories of Construction Accidents – Why a Construction NVQ can HelpMany will recall the warning the HSE gave to painters in 2005; “Get it right when working at height.”  At that time, reports were released that showed that over a 5 year period, from 2000 to 2005, over 800 painters were seriously injured while working.  Sadly, the numbers have not dropped much since then, even after the HSE became involved.  Painters are still being injured from falls off of scaffolding or ladders—even at heights as low as 2 meters.

All over the Internet you will find terrible stories of accidents or deaths that could easily have been prevented through proper safety procedures.  A certain amount of blame goes to the companies as a whole, but each individual worker must also be held accountable.  Each worker should make sure that they have the proper training and certifications to ensure the safety of themselves and everyone they are working with.
Why a Painting NVQ Makes a DifferenceWhile many painters roll their eyes at the mention of a Painting NVQ, it truly does make a difference.  If you are making little errors here and there that could potentially lead to big ones later, the assessor for your level 2 NVQ in Painting will catch it.  The whole point of the Painting NVQ assessment is to make sure that you are doing everything properly on the job; this includes safety techniques as well as skills and abilities.

You deserve to know that your jobsite is safe and secure—if you didn’t personally set up the scaffolding, can you rest assured that the person who did is properly trained?  This is why it is so important for companies to push every employee to obtain a construction NVQ.  If every worker is carrying an NVQ in construction, you are all on the same page, you all have the same expectations, and you can all trust that you are safe in each others’ hands.

While a Painting NVQ cannot stop an inevitable accident from occurring, it can significantly reduce the risk by ensuring that every worker is properly trained and will not make ignorant mistakes.  Your life as well as the lives of your co-workers are what is at stake—the time it takes to obtain your NVQ in Painting is definitely more than worth it.

Leave a comment
  • CSCS Card
  • NVQ Level
  • FREE
  • NVQ Level 2
    Construction
  • CSCS
    TEST
    CARD
  • NVQ Level 3
    Construction
    (Supervisory)
  • CSCS
    TEST
    CARD
  • NVQ Level 4+
    Construction
    (Managerial)
  • CSCS
    TEST
    CARD
Full Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Occupation



Get All NVQ Prices
Thank you for your interest

Construction Site Skills will get back to you soon.

If you would like to find out more, or apply for an NVQ please call 0203 051 1004.
No NVQ?
No CSCS Card?
No Job!

3 Easy steps to a new job

1 Train for your NVQ

After signing up with us choose which qualification you want and after several months you will be awarded your NVQ.

2 Get a CSCS card

Once you have got your NVQ, you can apply for a new CSCS card. We can begin as soon as you are qualified.

3 Find a new job

After recieving your CSCS card you are now able to work in most construction sites at a much higher level.

Stay Up To Date With the Construction NVQ Twitter Feed

We will call you back

Name:
Phone:
Call Me Back
Thank you.
A member of the support staff will be calling you shortly.
Want to get in touch?

Unfortunately we are currently closed. Our working hours are 8am-8pm Monday to Friday.

Book online quickly and easily

Our online booking system is quick, simple and easy to understand.

CSCS Test & Card Booking
Group Booking (3 or more people)
Apply for a Construction NVQ


Contact our customer support team

You can contact us by creating a support ticket - one of our customer service team will get back to you as soon as possible. If you do not have an account, or cannot remember your details, please click here to contact us.

Login to our client area

If you are an existing customer, you can also login to our client area to check your account details and existing support tickets.