Success Stories

Many, many people who complete a course at Construction Skills College leave our centre and use the skills learned to earn money.   The skills and knowledge gained by attending our courses plus the ongoing support available via your tutors after you have completing a course gives people the confidence to start generating an income.

We also have a number of people attending our courses as they wish to complete work on their own priorities and after completing our course they do just that.

We have included examples of feedback that we have received from our learners.

The instructor was extremely professional and helpful and over the course and showed me all there is to know about kitchen fitting from the design stage and setting out, to the finished installation. The course was very hands on, learning how to assemble flat-pack units and install them, fixing wall units plumb and level, cutting plinths , pelmets and cornice, cutting worktops and in setting the sink, and of course the all-important mason mitre  joint using the jig and router.

I found one of the key benefits of the course was the approachable nature of the instructor who was only too happy to help and advise on any areas that I was struggling on, and I was able to practice over and over until I was certain I could get it right.

Since completing the course I have become a self-employed kitchen fitter undertaking numerous kitchen installations both privately and sub- contracting to companies such as Enterprise and JT Tomlinson. Both companies have been involved on a massive project fitting kitchens for the MoD all over the South West, and up to date I have over 80 kitchen installations under my belt.

Overall, if anyone is thinking about becoming a kitchen fitter then this is a great course to attend. Suitable for both professionals and the DIY enthusiast set in a very well equipped college. The down to earth and friendly, yet professional staff will certainly help you make the most of this course.   Paul Mills.

Hello Dave and Donna,

I have currently invested in some tools and consumables as covered on the course just enough to get by which have allowed me to carry out some unpaid work for myself and family members to gain experience.  I have fitted new bath and basin taps in my own home, replaced four radiators, replaced a complete bathroom suite for family members and a few other small plumbing tasks.

I am still in paid employment in the RAF and will looking to be totally self employed in the new year.  I completed a four day business start up course and HMRC course to assist me in this route.  Thank you for the excellent course and interest in how I am getting on.  Paul Allison

Hi David sorry I have not replied sooner but I have been busy. I work for a company fitting disabled bath rooms for the council. The job entails removing old bath room suits, fitting new wc, wash basin shower units. We have to move central heating rads, repipe hot and cold water supply, fit wc in bath rooms where a bath does not have one. The training you gave was invaluable. I was one of the oldest trainees on the course. It was a great 2 weeks I learned a lot and have put this into very good use. I still go back to my notes to check for something I am not sure of. I now earn a very good living and have job satisfaction. I would recommend your training to everyone who is willing to learn and listen. Age dose not come in to it as long as you but willing to put a lot of effort in to it. Thanks for the training and the opportunity to improve my life. Barry Roberts

Hi David,  I was lucky enough to be on a plastering course with an excellent tutor and a great bunch of fellow students who made the experience completely enjoyable. The course gave me the confidence to tackle the refurbishment of my flat and each day I am improving my skills and getting stronger.  I would recommend this course to anyone who wishes to understand the mysteries of plastering and get hands on with jobs for themselves.  I have been putting my plastering skills into practise since I completed the course and really enjoy  stepping back and seeing what I am now able to accomplish.  Many Thanks  Sylvene  

Hi, I completed my course last Friday and would like to thank the college and especially the tutor Howard jones for the most enjoyable learning experience I have ever had.  the amount I have learned in 2 weeks is astounding!!  the tutor was a brilliant bloke, who had time for every question I could think of.  i have now completed my first paid job plastering, and have more in the pipeline.  So thank you so much for all your help and guidance, I would advise anyone to attend your courses.  Thanks for everything  Paul Rogers

Hi Dave and Donna,  I have completed both the two week tiling course and the two week plastering course. As previous e-mail from Dave I believe John has sent on some photo’s from a tiling job I’ve done. Things are going ok but slowly, I have now completed three commercial tiling jobs and plastered a bedroom for my Brother the day after finishing the plastering course.

I am self employed following redundancy and found both courses to be a valuable use of my time and money, both tutors were excellent and I believe I learnt a lot during my four weeks at the Wolverhampton site. I would like to go further, probably with the bricklaying course and then maybe plumbing as well but at the moment I need to concentrate on building my business.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend your college to anyone looking to learn new skills, both courses have given me the skills and confidence to now sell these services myself.  Regards  James Braid

When Warrant Officer Class 2, Steven Sullivan’s time came to leave the army he decided to go into the construction industry as his father was a joiner and over the years he had helped him out with various jobs and found that he got a lot of self satisfaction on seeing a job well done.  With this in mind he decided to complete plastering training with a view to setting up his own business.

A fellow service leaver had recommended Construction Skills College in Stoke-on-Trent and as accommodation was availably locally he decided to attend their 25-day Complete Plastering course, which included training in a domestic property.

Steven completed his training in September and he says ’I found that the course was better than I had expected.  The two weeks spent at the college was the right amount of time before moving to the domestic property where we dealt with live situations you would encounter in any house.  The training facilities are excellent and the tutor, Paul was outstanding.  His teaching ability and knowledge of the trade are first class and anyone wishing to go into the trade would be lucky to have him as their instructor.  In 22 years of military service this is one of the best courses I have attended.’

Since completing the training Steven has attended a business start up course with the MoD and has just moved back home to the North East.  He has purchased a van and tools and is currently working as a self-employed plasterer.  Steven says that he found it easy to start up his own business due to the training MoD and Construction Skills College provided and work is coming in as his work is to a very high standard and his name is being passed on by word of mouth.

Kevin McGarry completed his plastering training using his ELC funding and he has now set-up his own business completing plastering and rendering work in the Kent area.

James Massey used his ELC funding to attend a 20 day plastering course and he is now registered self employed as a plasterer, completing work for private customers and a local building company.  James has completed various plastering jobs including a full house (dry line from brick and skim), various rooms including ceilings and work for a local building company including plastering maintenance work at Leyton hospital and other jobs including refurbs.

Steven Wigley completed a 20 day plastering course  and is now working as a self employed plasterer.  Steve said that for someone who had never plastered before he was surprised how much he learned on the course and the confidence it gave him to complete his own work.
Alan Brame completed a 20 day plastering course and set up as a self employed plasterer.  He since completed approx 20 jobs prior to taking an opportunity to emigrate to Australia with his family.  Having a trade as a plasterer has meant he has been able to secure a place with a renovation company in Australia.  (Please note:  he did not gain entry into Australia using the plastering qualification he gained on the 20 day course as this would not be sufficient).

Following my plastering course with Howard all is going well, having the right training gave me the skill level and confidence to be professional in my ability and approach with plastering. Howard gave a high standard of tuition bringing the best out of each individual no matter what there starting point was. I would like to encourage anyone to do the ten days as after only five you have improved but with the ten you come into your own. Howard has also been helpful with support after the course when I was preparing a quote today and was not fully sure on a product that I required with a plastering job. Great course and being able to purchase the tools at a realistic price set me up ready to go. Thank you all for your professionalism and training.  Keith Cox

Hi Dave,  I have found the skills that I learnt very useful. So far I have tiled a 20m2 kitchen and dining room floor, re-plumbed a radiator and plastered a wall with a lot more to do.  All this in my own property.  However, I have secured some work with Staffs Tiling and am currently working on a 20m2 victorian tiling project.  All this is valuable experience and have registered as self employed with HMRC.  Regards  Marty Davey 

Thank you for enquiring as to my future, the courses I attended were of a top quality level.  I have since completed various jobs for friends and family including boarding and plastering a conservatory, also a complete bathroom remodel, including plumbing and plastering.  I have recently secured employment with a college as a tutor, therefore i will not be using the qualifications full time, i do however wish to continue to gain experience and complete any jobs for friends and family.  Please pass my regards on to the guys, once again a top level course where you do learn a useful trade.   Mr Rooke who attended a course in 2012 after leaving the armed forces.

Everything is going well at the moment, i got a 3 year extension on my contract in the Royal Marines just after i finished my plastering/tiling course with you.  I am still carrying out work and have completed a couple of bathrooms and various plastering jobs, I have work lined up from tomorrow till friday this week, mostly for friends and family. This is all done on leave or weekends!!  The course was a fantastic opportunity for me to get skills in trades i am interested in, i will be coming back when i leave the services (again) in 3 yrs, probably to do the plumbing side. I have recommended the CSC to colleagues of mine who are due to leave the services and i know of one who is doing tiling/ plumbing in wolverhampton later this year.  The course was the quickest 4 weeks i have ever done, so i must of enjoyed it!! Many thanks to yourself and Howard for passing on his knowledge.  The only negative feedback was UHT milk in the kitchen.  Mr Taggart 

As a service leaver it is sometimes hard to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. The constructions skills college helped me not only to better myself and gain qualifications but it also gave me the knowledge to set up my own business if I wished to.  The centre offered great facilities to learn at your own pace.  The tutors had a wealth of knowledge that they were keen to pass on to you.  I have come away with the skills I need to leave the Army and the confidence to stand on my own two feet.  After completing the Plumbing course I completely replaced my full bathroom suite with the confidence and pride given to me from theConstruction Skills College. Mr Woodcock who completed a course but has yet to leave the forces.

Hello since completing the plumbing and plastering courses I have become self employed I currently work as a subcontractor for dudley council as a plumber and I have a lot of private jobs for my own clients too both plumbing and plastering I don’t think I would of got the subcontractors work with out the certificates from these courses.  Owain Cooper 

Hi there,  Just a quick message to say a BIG thanks to Howard regarding the tiling course that i was on 1 month ago.  I have just completed my first payed job to an exceptional standard (full bathroom).This course has been the turning point for me as i have walked away with knowledge and confidence to earn a very honest £650 in one week!!!!  My letter of thanks from the customer reads “Im so very pleased with the new bathroom that has been retiled by Aaron the workmanship is utterly superb,i could recommend his work to anyone ,regards j.e.hughes,willington.” ….. not bad heh.thanks howard will pop to stoke and see you soon mate.  Regards, Aaron.

Hi David, Donna I found all the courses really beneficial as leaving the Army and having not many transferable trades I am now counting on the courses in which I have completed to obtain employment. I have already started to use the skills and they have come in very handy on the property’s that I have just purchased plus I am working one day a week for Babcock Dyncorps as work experience and hope to get employment with them. Thank you construction skills. Mr Colin Richardson

I would be glad to give you some feedback about the tiling and plastering course I attended.  First I would like to say that Howard and Rob where fantastic tutors during the course and with where there with support if needed  afterwards. I have called both of them a few times and they have been very helpful and pleased to help.  The skills I needed where fulfilled on both courses and have made my life a lot easier. I now know how to set a room out for tiling and my plastering technique is much better. I have been working for myself for a year now and things are going very well. I combine the Tiling , Plastering and painting which customer seem to like as I can do the jobs from start to finish. I also sub-contract for a firm who fit conservatories laying all  their tile floors which has helped a lot.  When I have a little more time I will dig some picture out of work I have carried out.  Many thanks  Jason Ffoulkes

David I have my own plastering company and I have quite often been asked if I can tile so I chose the tiling course to provide that service too . Once completed the course I had work already lined up for tiling and I have so far completed 3 full bathrooms floor and walls, and have more work booked in. I found the course very helpful and after completing the course I gained confidence to tile for my customers.  Hope this helps,  Regards, Mark 

Hi David ,  I have been working in partnership with a friend since leaving construction skills in Feb this year, he has been trading for many years but needed to have someone else to help out, we fit bathrooms and kitchens and do general property maintenance. We are very busy and have are fortunate to have plenty of work all through recommendation.  I am using my plumbing skills almost  everyday and cannot believe how much I learnt in such a short space of time. I completed a two week course tutored by Stephen Higgins, what a top guy he was and a fantastic tutor. I am not sure I could have learned quite so much had it not been for his teaching methods, lots of little stories and words of wisdom based on his experiences as a time spent plumber.  I researched many training facilities before choosing yours and even though it was a four hour drive and two weeks away from my wife and three children I felt construction skills college was the best one.  Thank you all very much :)  Mr Harling

Hi David,  Yes, I have used the plastering skills I acquired on your training course.  This was a home renovation project requiring stripping off existing wall finishes back to bare brick and then insulating, dry-lining and skimming.  I was very pleased with the resulting standard of my work.  Regards  Mr Price

Dear david,  Thank you for enquiring as to whether I was able to utilise what I learned whilst on the course.  My position was that I had completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter but some years later I joined the police service.  As i approached the last 7 years of my term of service,I completed a two year night school course in brickwork,a course in plumbing and one in electrical work.  I was doing jobs for friends and family which from time to time required plastering work to be carried out.I found that some of the people I used were not very good,or more often,very messy,so I enrolled for your course.  I had an absolutely great time during the course ,the instructor  was first class,of the highest standard,and since completion.  I have plastered bathrooms,kitchens,rooms in my own house,and this week I am plastering a hallway for a relative.   I  would recommend your courses anytime, your courses are great,all the best in the future.  Mr Allan 

The course I have recently attended has turned out to be an excellent skill to assist with my trade, I run my own Electrical installation firm and now no longer rely on Plasters for my patching work, I have more confidence and knowledge and have progressed to plastering 2 walls to which I have charged the client.   The confidence and knowledge I now have is definitely down to Pauls approach to teaching, very approachable with a wealth of knowledge and excellent demonstration , I’ll definitely be thinking of a return in the future to obtain a qualification. I’ve also added plastering to my skills on my website.  Kind Regards, Ryan Walker

Hi David, I attended the two week tiling course with Howard Jones in August 2011 and just wanted to drop you a line to say It was a fantastic two weeks and well worth the money I have now started my own tiling business and made double my course money in my first job. you can find my company at http://www.qualitytiling.co.uk  Excellent /course and Fantastic Teacher (thanks Howard)  Regards Tim Lee

Thought i would give you an update at where I’m at and what I’m up to since doing courses with you.  I’m doing really well since going self employed in september, have tiled two floors one was a kitchen and the other a large front room which i laid electric underfloor heating before tiling, plumbed in a bath and did a slate tile splash back around it. I have got two more jobs off the back of my last one, a wet room which I’m doing next week, and a hard wood tongue and groove floor that I’m starting after the wet room. I have also put in a quote for a tiling job for after christmas.   Really didn’t expect it to get going so quickly hopefully it will continue next year. Im going to get a website up sometime over the next couple of months so ill email you a link when its online then you can see pictures.  Thanks again for your great courses.   Russell Gobby

Thanks for your e-mail, the skills I learned on the tiling course have been put to good use,on a few jobs so far,i am about to tackle an  odd shaped hall/downstairs cloaks,with the skills hints and tips passed on by Howard i am confident that it will turn out to be a top quality job.Thanks again, to all at construction skills college and especially to Howard,good course and skill to have.  Jed Kenny

Hi, I would say I was stuck in a dead end job and wanted a challenge, electrics had always interested me and thought I could make a living from it. I searched on the internet and enquired at a few places but construction skills college seemed to offer the best package and explained everything beforehand.  I visited the college on Tues 23rd Oct, signed up Fri 26th Oct and started the 20 day course on Mon 29th Oct. the course was intense but worth the effort for a month.  I finished Fri 23rd Nov and by dinner time 27th Nov I was offered a job at an electrical contractors. Thank you Dave and Donna.   Daniel Bettany attended 20 day electrical course 

Hi Dave,  I completed Foundation Electrics, Part P, 17th Edition & 2 week plumbing back in 2011.  I started my own little business Wire & Water Ltd just after that, using the skills of all the courses.  I quickly realised that I needed a bit more on the electrical testing and so completed a CG 2392 elsewhere (you were not offering this course at the time).  It was very reassuring to know that tutor backup was available post-course and I have availed myself of this via Chris, Dave & Steve from time to time.  Sometimes its questions about a prospective job and sometimes about problems on-site.  I have always had excellent guidance from the tutors during these phone calls. Very reassuring and valuable!  I am now registered with Elecsa and certify my own electrical work.  A number of my customers have used me for both electric and plumbing trades.  Sometimes you go to deal with one trade and they ask about the other whilst I am there. Surprising how many people have a little plumbing problem like taps or tank float valves, whilst you are sorting their electrics!  I found Construction Skills College accessible and friendly, the tutors knowledgeable but also able to make the courses enjoyable and the post-course support is not just a hollow offer to get you signed up.  Thanks  Nige Gunn, Director, Wire & Water Ltd

Hi David,  Nice to hear from you again, and sorry for the late reply, I understand feedback is very important to companies like yours, to ensure they are delivering the right results. In my case i can safely say it as been a complete success with nearly a year since i sat the Domestic Installer course at your facilities in Stoke on Trent, i have gone on to work with several big company’s, including the likes of Keir, Bovis Lend Lease and currently Balfour Beatty… Many thanks for all your help and please express a big thank you to Chris your Lecturer for me, he was a massive inspiration and a credit to your company whilst i was studying at your college.  Kindest Regards, Adrian Wilkes

Hi guys,  Thanks for the email. Since completing the 4 work course i used the money i had aside for university to purchase my tools. I invested in the best i could afford to save spending twice!  I spent a couple of months working as an alarm engineer. My qualifications gained me a better wage than expected. Whilst working for them, i designed my logo, stationary and registered self employed, trading as ‘Lundie Electrical’.  I left the company 2 months ago. I secured a contract with a letting company, completing all of their domestic electrical installation condition reports. Its repeat work which is great, plus i get a lot of additional repair work through completing the tests also.  My next steps involve targeting independent property developers and securing contracts for new builds and renovations.  I cant thank you enough for the training i was offered. Its changed my life for the better and best of all, compared to my friends that went down the university route, I HAVE NO DEBT!!!  Kindest regards,  Nick

Mr Bruce emailed the centre and said ‘Hi, I did a 4 week course with you in Sept – Oct last year. I thought I would drop you a quick note to say many thanks as I have just passed my Elecsa assessment.  Please pass on to Chris my thanks for an excellent course and its delivery.’

Mr Marriott completed a 20 day electrical course.  Since completing his training he has used the skills and knowledge the course gave him to help secure a full time position for a company installing Solar PV.

Mr Jones has completed a number of electrical courses at our centre.  Since completing the training Dave successfully passed the assessment required to and he is now a registered Part P Domestic Installer.

Mr Allen completed a Part P and 17th edition.  He is now employed as a mechanical engineer full time and said the 17th edition course helped him with his current employment.

Mr Bossons attended a Part P and 17th edition course as part of his redundancy package.  The courses have helped and he is now working part time with an electrician to gain some experience.

Mr McKenzie completed a foundation electrical course and a part p course.  He was unemployed when he completed the courses.  he is working now, not in electrics but he says the courses gave him confidence in himself to go out and work.  he has completed non-notifiable work in his own property.

Mr Nicklin completed a foundation electrical course and a part p course.  Since completing the course he became self-employed for a short while.  He is now working for Balfour Beatty and feels this is due to the qualifications he picked up at the college.

Mr Hughes completed a 20 day electrical course.  He left the forces and as now secured a job as a generator engineer.  He did have some other qualifications but says that without the electrical qualifications he wouldn’t have got the job.