Graham Binns

We had three NVQ’s achieved today at YTA!

Two successful NVQ practical assessments in site carpentry NVQ level 2 and one in trowel occupations NVQ level 2 (bricklaying).

To gain the NVQ level 2 in just one day is only available to an experienced tradesperson with a minimum of 5 years experience through an assessment process called EWPA (Experienced Worker Practical Assessment). On the day of the EWPA you will be required to complete a practical assessment with your own tools within an allocated time to the awarding body specification (NOCN Cskills – Construction Skills). You will also be assessed through witness testimonies, professional discussion and direct questioning in order to cover all of the assessment criteria in the NVQ level 2.

Once you hold the NVQ level 2 along with your health and safety CSCS card test you can gain your blue skilled worker ‘skilled worker’ CSCS card. Once you have the NVQ level 2 your CSCS card will be upgraded to a blue card (skilled worker) and this means you can now work on any site completing your trade. We offer the following NVQ’s, Tiling NVQ Level 2, Plastering NVQ Level 2, Bricklaying NVQ Level 2, Carpentry & Joinery NVQ Level 2.

How the process works…

1) You contact us and enquire about EWPA for your trade. We will explain the process and ask you how many years experience you have in your trade area. You must have a minimum of 5 years experience and have experience & knowledge in all the NVQ units (as above) needed to gain the NVQ.

2) We will pass your details on to our NVQ assessor who will give you a call and complete what we call a ‘skills scan’. This is a chat amongst the two of you where he will want to know what type of work or projects you have been completing and for how long, he will want to know if you have experience and knowledge of the above NVQ units. He will explain that to achieve the NVQ you need to achieve all NVQ parts.

The NVQ parts…

NVQ Part 1) Witness testimonies. These are pre-printed in the NVQ EWPA pack and are sent out to you 2 weeks before your assessment date at our NVQ Centre in Bradford. You must get them signed by a trade related co-worker who has seen you complete this work in the last 3 years.

NVQ Part 2) Practical assessment. This is where you come to YTA and complete a practical assessment pre-set by the CITB – Now NOCN Cskills. The drawing plan with all specifications and measurements is sent out to you 2 weeks before this practical assessment. You must complete the assessment to spec and within the allocated time. You must bring you own tools for the assessment. Awaiting for you will be the materials to complete the task.

NVQ Part 3) Professional discussion. This is also completed at YTA on the same day as your practical assessment. The best way to describe this is like a structured discussion around the NVQ units. It is not a questions and answers session but more of a talking through jobs or projects you have completed and the assessor may ask you to elaborate on certain parts so you are effectively talking your way through the NVQ units as talking evidence. Thus turning your experience into the NVQ.

NVQ Part 4) Direct Questioning. Some assessment criteria within the nvq will ask you to ‘state’ or ‘describe’. These will be covered during the professional discussion or by direct questioning. The assessment criteria can be found on the specific trade NVQ pages listed above.

Time to book it and get on with it…

If you are happy to proceed and you feel confident and our NVQ assessor also feels confident in your ability and experience to achieve the NVQ we can go ahead with booking the NVQ. We require a deposit of £450. We then send you the documentation as detailed above and we will set your NVQ assessment date.

When you arrive for the NVQ assessment you will bring with you your signed witness testimonies and your tools. This is when you will pay the remaining balance of £450. You will then be inducted into the NVQ. During this day you will complete the practical assessment and professional discussion. Total price £900.

At the end of the day you will be told by the assessor if you have achieved or not achieved. If you have achieved you will be sent your certificate within 14 days (sometimes can be 7 days). You can now apply for your blue skilled worker CSCS card and get on site!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information.

If you are out of work because you can’t get on site, we aim to complete this assessment within 2 weeks from your initial contact. You could be back on site earning a wage ASAP!

YTA is the UK’s premier training centre for construction training and assessment backed up by outstanding independent customer reviews on www.reveiws.co.uk (5 out of 5!)

YTA reviews can be found at www.reviews.co.uk

If you would like some more information or would like to discuss any of our training courses available at YTA then please contact the team on 01274682199 or you can visit the training centre with no appointment necessary Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm.

YTA Training And Assessment Ltd

Unit 12a Factory Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford

West Yorkshire, BD4 9NW

Tel: 01274682199