Why Choose US?
People choose to train with us at Construction Skills College due to the high standard of our courses and our total commitment to ensuring all customers are satisfied with what we offer. Some of the reasons to choose us are:
Accredited Courses and Certificates
We offer accredited courses through a number of awarding bodies including City & Guilds, CAA, NOCN, EDI, EAL, BPEC and attending these courses and successfully passing (which we will strive to ensure that you do) will result in an accredited certificate being issued. If you have opted for a course with an accredited certificate then after completing your course your portfolio will be reviewed by our internal verifier and your accredited certificate will be ordered from and produced by the awarding body and posted to you by recorded delivery. If you have any questions regarding certificates please do not hesitate to contact our centre.
We also offer courses approved by the MOD for resettlement training for service leavers from the armed forces.
Customer Focused
Everyone who works for Construction Skills College is focused on ensuring that you achieve as much as possible from your time with us. Every learner who attends our courses are asked to complete a customer satisfaction survey upon completion and we review all feedback after every course and we act upon any suggestions given to ensure that we constantly exceed customer expectations. Copies of ALL completed questionnaires are available for you to view at the training centre.
As mentioned, it was clear to me that you value learners and partners and work hard to respond to their needs... During the assessment learners consistently spoke of the service they had received in extremely positive terms: ‘They put themselves out for you.’
Extract from Matrix Assessment Report
Our tutors are out of this world and they are really passionate about both their trade and passing on their knowledge to our learners. Nothing is too much trouble for any member of staff at the centre and they will give you as much help and support as you need. Our tutors enjoy seeing people succeed, learn a new skill and grow in confidence, that is why they teach.
You are welcome to visit the centre at any time to speak with any member of staff. You are also free to speak with learners on a one to one basis, so that you can get genuine unpressured feedback.
Just to say thanks to all concerned for putting on this course, especially Howard (the tutor) for being so patient and knowledgeable.
Patrick Flanagan – Learner
Excellent course, all staff top people, always friendly and ready to help. This is a must for people who are interested in improving their skills.
James Leather – Learner.
The premises provide a non-threatening and welcoming environment...
Extract from Matrix Assessment Report
Support Provided, Before, During and After Training
Before Training
We will provide you with as much information, advice and guidance as we possibly can and if we are not able to offer you the course that best suits your needs or give you the information you require we will signpost you to somewhere that is able to. We do not pressure you to book onto any course and if we feel that you would be better suited to a course we do not offer then we will give you the contact information of a college that does.
Hopefully the majority of the information you require is available on this website but if you have any questions at all then please contact us and we will help in any way we can.
We would like to invite you to attend the training centre at any time to view the facilities and discuss the course with both the tutors and current learners. We suggest if possible that you visit our centre towards the end of a course as people in general are always happy at the beginning of training and you want to make sure that they are as happy at the end of the course.
When you visit you will be free to discuss the course with current learners on a 1-to-1 basis, if someone has paid good money to attend a course and they are not happy they will definitely tell you. If you visit towards the end of a course you will also be able to see the standard that everyone on the course has achieved.
One of the most popular comments we receive on questionnaires is that people did not expect to reach the high standard that they do on a course, it is also one of the most popular negative comments that we receive by people who are not aware of what we offer as they will say ‘you won’t be any good after 5 days’, if you yourself are unsure then why not pop down for a pressure free look around.
During Training
During your time with us every member of staff will do their best to help you achieve your aims. You will be provided with supporting literature relating to your trade and have access to further reading to research the trade further in your own time.
If you struggle on any element of the course then we will provide additional training at no extra cost to ensure that you reach the required standard.
If you have any learning difficulties or disabilities or have any physical difficulties or disabilities then we will support you throughout and this additional support will remain between the centre and the individual. The majority of the training courses are practical based but if you do have any concerns then please contact the centre.
We will also provide you with additional IAG relating to progression routes available after completing the course including further training, finding employment and starting to work for yourself. Whilst on a course please contact a member of staff if you require any further in information.
Whilst you are at the centre there may be other courses running so if you have any questions relating to another trade please feel free to speak to the relevant tutor – they are all here to help you
After Training
We will continue supporting you after you have completed a course with us and you can contact us either by email, phone or in person to discuss any aspects that you covered on your course. For example you may wish to contact us to clarify how to complete a job or how to price a job or maybe to ask for information on writing a business plan.
The commitment to putting the needs of learners at the heart of everything the service does was demonstrated in the ways support is provided.
Extract from Matrix Assessment Report
Quality Course Content – Excellent Value For Money
Our courses are designed by experienced and qualified trades people to ensure that you learn what is relevant to both the certificate you will receive and also what is required in the marketplace. A large number of our tutors currently have their own companies which work within the industry so we are able to provide you with up to date information on techniques, tools, materials, current popular customer requests and current costs of materials and pricing of jobs. We also work with a number of local companies and design courses to suit their requirements so we are able to keep up to date with the skills that housing associations, etc require.
We assess all feedback and use this to improve courses and design new courses.
Whilst in the training centre we ensure that all of the time spent with us is spent actually learning something useful, for example, our tutors don’t spend any extra time in a classroom than is needed, we will not spend hours on end discussing anecdotes or spend time in a classroom explaining what we will be doing practically. Instead the tutor will explain a particular task whilst demonstrating it and then you are given the opportunity to perform it under supervision at your own pace with as much one to one help as required. You will be working in purpose built training areas and have access to all tools and materials required throughout the course. If you require any extra help and support just ask, we encourage attendees to ask as many questions about the subject as possible, get as much from the training you receive as you can.
The tutors are all experienced trades people who ensure that the content of the course is relevant to the skills and knowledge you will need when you leave the centre and start to complete work. They will teach you what the book says and also what they actually know works from their real life experiences.
Breaks are kept to a minimum with 30 minutes for lunch and a quick 10 minutes morning and afternoon should time permit. Free tea and coffee is provided throughout the day.
The courses are intensive and you work hard but it is worth it.
The course was well planned out and very interesting. I gained the skills and confidence to plaster.
Mr Coomer – Learner
Fantastic course amazing amount of content in 1 week possibly the best week of learning i have ever done, anyone wanting to begin learning plumbing should do this course it’s great, i didn’t think i could learn so much in 1 week really enjoyable difficult to find any fault with the course.
Mr Powell - Learner
The course content was excellent as it was mostly hands on - not classroom based. The tutor did not mind how many times you asked the same question - he always made sure that you understood. I would recommend this course because it is so hands on - you get to do everything yourself - hardly any classroom training. I would consider other courses with this training company.
Ms. Ferguson – Learner
The excellent relationships with statutory and community organisations ensure that learners receive the best possible service... Partners also consistently spoke in positive terms about the service you provide; ‘Their main priority is to set the course around learners’ needs.’
Extract from Matrix Assessment Report