Construction

Build and design your own future – if you’re a hands-on, practical learner aspiring for a career in bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, plastering, painting and decorating or surveying, planning and design; our construction courses are made for you!

To be a successful craftsperson, you’ll be able to plan effectively, have creative skills and use basic maths like volumes, measurements and costings. You’ll learn how to use IT in business and communications and gain the skills to contribute to an organisation in meeting its customers’ needs.

Traditionally a craftsperson qualifies to Level 3 or beyond and completes an Apprenticeship working in their chosen trade, gaining experience on the tools whilst studying at College. Competition for Apprenticeship placements has always been hard and for many people the available option for entering the industry has been to study full time at College and progress into work. The opportunity at College can be in a single trade or in a range of related trades.

Learners join bricklaying courses for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s to obtain qualifications to work in industry or to learn enough skills to maintain and enhance their own properties.

Bricklayers can learn the skills to produce interesting and decorative features. The job itself can be physically demanding and the need for speed and accuracy is necessary when you are experienced. The skills learned can be used in a variety of settings including new build, refurbishment or saving yourself money on home improvements. Many bricklayers have the skills to wall and floor tile, lay paving bricks/slabs, render walls and screed floors.

The use of timber has declined in recent years with the increased popularity of plastic however, its importance as a construction material hasn’t. Bench joinery includes the making of stairs and windows but can also include furniture items. Site carpenters mainly work on building sites installing wood items including roof joists and doors. The ability to use hand and power tools is essential and the opportunities are huge.

A career in painting and decorating allows you to finish the job that’s been constructed and ensure the final building is pleasing to the eye. This demands good attention to detail and a desire to please the customer. Jobs are varied in the field, working with housing associations, maintenance companies, private painting and decorating companies or you could even start your own business! These qualifications give you a variety of opportunities to illustrate your flair and talent

Plastering skills complement all other trades and include the mixing and use of plastering materials using plastering tools and techniques. A plasterer is an essential part of a construction team with a thorough knowledge of basic health and safety and efficient working practices when moving and handling resources, preparing background surfaces, applying finishing plaster, producing internal solid plastering and external render, installing dry linings, screeds and plasterboard. A job can’t be finished without a good plasterer!

Plumbing skills aren’t just essential in everyday life, but can provide a fantastic career. Good plumbing is vital for public health as plumbers deal with clean drinking water, sanitation and heating systems. Our introductory courses will introduce you to the plumbing industry and will allow you to develop basic skills and prepare you for further training which can lead to gas servicing and installation. You don’t need any plumbing experience for the Certificate in Basic Plumbing – it is for anyone who is interested in entering the plumbing trade.

The role of an electrician is highly varied and ranges from installing systems in new buildings to the maintenance of existing ones. Full time courses provide the first step toward qualified electrician status and combine studies toward the City & Guilds Technical Certificates with a foundation grounding in electrical principles and safe working practices.

As an electrician you would need to be fit, have good colour vision, have a head for heights and be prepared to travel. It is a job for people with a discerning mind, where the safety of yourself and others demands attention to detail.

Following a career in surveying, planning or design requires a clear understanding of the industry. If you are a conscientious worker who is interested in how and why buildings are designed and built then a technical course is for you. Following technical courses will give you the skills needed for these careers. Whilst following these courses you will also undertake some trade skills options.

Thinking about a career in construction but unsure of which trade? Try your hand at a variety of different construction and building tasks with the basic construction skills qualification. Construction skills qualifications are suitable for individuals of any age wanting an introduction to the construction industry, or for learners interested in learning more about construction jobs like plumbing, painting and decorating, carpentry and plastering. You don’t need any experience – you just need to be serious about having a go and seeing if construction is the right career for you.

Successful completion of any course will include qualification of the essential skills of literacy, numeracy and IT and can lead to an Apprenticeship (if suitable employment can be found), further full time study or higher education.