YTA Training

Liz Spider

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Seasoned carpenters can gain access to site work with the help of our one-day EWPA

A lot of us associate New Years with entirely new beginnings – in other words, ditching whole aspects of how we live in favour of trying to start new and ‘healthier’ habits from scratch. But in some ways, it can often be a better idea to seek to build on our existing life and career strengths if we wish to succeed in a New Year – which brings us neatly onto the subject of our carpentry EWPA. 

 

As one of the most trusted construction training centres in the UK here at YTA, we offer no shortage of courses for those wishing to learn a trade for the first time.

 

But the EWPA pathway – otherwise known as the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) – is something different. It is not a ‘training course’, but instead an assessment route, whereby those who already have a certain level of experience and knowhow in a particular trade can upgrade their qualifications to NVQ Level 2 in the space of a day. 

 

Satisfying the requirements of the EWPA process enables those who undertake it to obtain the blue skilled worker CSCS card allowing them to gain access to site work. 

 

So, what does the carpentry EWPA specifically cover? 

 

As you’ll see when you browse the YTA website, it is possible to undertake an EWPA for wall and floor tiling, bricklaying, plastering or site carpentry, depending on the trade in which you have previous experience and expertise. 

 

The carpentry EWPA – or the Cskills Awards NVQ Level 2 Carpentry Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) QUA900, to provide its fuller name – is open to those with a minimum of five years’ joinery experience. If you take it on, it will involve you visiting our training centre in person, and your skills being evaluated by an NVQ assessor through a combination of professional discussion, witness testimonies, and a practical assessment. 

 

The main units constituting the carpentry EWPA relate to compliance with workplace safety and efficient work practice requirements, and the movement and handling of resources. Your bid for the NVQ Level 2 qualification can be further supported by three optional units of your choice, the options covering such subjects as the installation of first fixing and second fixing components, and the maintenance of non-structural carpentry work. 

 

If you fulfil all the essential requirements for the EWPA during your day or two at our premises, the assessor will inform you of this at the end of the day. In the event that you are successful, you can expect to receive your certificate within two weeks, so that you can then apply for your blue skilled worker CSCS card and get on-site. 

 

Contact us now to learn more about any of our training courses or assessment routes 

 

For some of you reading this, the New Year may be about committing to one of our fuller courses in a trade such as tiling, plumbing or plastering… or an EWPA might be a better match to your previous background and current needs and aspirations. 

 

Regardless, we are available at YTA to advise and guide you to ensure you make the optimal choice for what you wish to get out of 2022. Please do not hesitate to call or email us today for further information from one of the UK’s leading construction training centres. 

 

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Could 2022 be the year you start an exciting new plastering career?

Here at YTA, we can’t quite comprehend that it’s very nearly a New Year – 2021 just seems to have absolutely rushed by. However, we also realise that this has been far from the case for everyone. Indeed, the events of the past year may have even convinced you to take a whole new career direction, which – for many of our students – means becoming a qualified plasterer. 

 

You only need to look at our broader selection of plastering courses to get a sense of the training options that you could take advantage of from us. For this particular blog post, however, we would like to focus specifically on the Cskills 10-day accredited plastering course that could earn you a ‘Skills for Plastering’ unit accreditation certificate. 

 

Why might you be interested in this plastering course? 

 

Part of your reason for enquiring about this course is likely to be the sheer reputability of NOCN Cskills (Construction Skills), this being the awarding body for construction NVQs. 

 

Much more important, however, is what achieving this unit certificate would then enable you to do professionally. We receive queries about this course from a wide range of people, including those who have never previously learned a trade, as well as active tradespeople who seek to use the course as a means of expanding their skillset. You might even simply be a DIY enthusiast, in which case, yes, this course can be for you, too! 

 

If you do satisfy the requirements for the certificate as a result of undertaking this intensive hands-on course, you will be able to quickly proceed to a plastering career, and perhaps eventually upgrade to a Level 2 NVQ plastering diploma. 

 

10 days of wide-ranging training in plastering 

 

Over the 10 days of this accredited plastering course – and if you struggle to commit to this much time at once, it is worth bearing in mind that we also offer a five-day course that is effectively the same as the first week of this one – you will cover considerable ground in relation to this trade. 

 

Some of the things you will learn about – such as full measuring and in-depth quoting, insurance, tax and starting up in business – are the same as those covered on every YTA course. But alongside this, you will also be trained in such tasks as skimming to plasterboard, plastering to ceilings, repairing ceilings, bonding, and so much more. 

 

You will be given plastering tools to use during the course, as well as your own full-size training bay to work in, with no need to share a bay with anyone else. Indeed, we also maintain a low student-to-trainer ratio, to help ensure you get the expert attention you need throughout the course. 

 

It’s all designed this way to make sure that once you have successfully completed the 10 days of training, you will be in a position to take on the majority of plastering and rendering jobs you could be conceivably required to do in your subsequent career. 

 

Get in touch now for all the advice and information you need 

 

With so many plastering courses and other options for construction training and assessment available at YTA, we can understand if you require a bit more guidance to help you be confident that you have found the right route for you. 

 

So, please do not hesitate to enquire to us today for further details or to book your place on a course, whether by phone or email. 

 

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Our bricklaying EWPA gives you a quick and direct route to an NVQ Level 2 Diploma

Many people who choose to learn a trade in the UK opt to become bricklayers, and here at YTA, we can’t say we are greatly surprised by this. There will, after all, almost certainly always be considerable demand for bricklayers. We expect that to be very much the case in the years following COVID-19, as the UK economy revs up again. 

 

Experienced bricklayers can rise to positions like construction site supervisor, and even start their own business, with the possibility of earning as much as £42,000 a year. 

 

Introducing the sought-after EWPA 

 

This brings us neatly onto something about our own expertise here at YTA. We do not solely cater to those who are only just getting started in bricklaying, but can also help those with existing bricklaying experience to upgrade their qualifications and gain access to site work. 

 

This much is made possible by the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route. As the name suggests, this isn’t a training course, but instead takes the form of an assessment of the skills and knowledge you already have. 

 

The bricklaying EWPA is a fast-track NVQ assessment route for those who already have five years’ bricklaying experience, so is unsuitable for those who are only looking to learn a trade in the UK for the first time. If the latter describes you, we urge you to take a look at our one-day, five-day and 10-day bricklaying courses. 

 

You can complete the EWPA in just a day at our Yorkshire construction training centre, and if you satisfy the requirements, you will be awarded the Cskills Awards Bricklaying NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813. 

 

This would naturally be an excellent qualification to obtain to bolster your employability. But it is also the qualification needed in order to secure the blue skilled CSCS card required for on-site bricklaying work – so the EWPA makes sense on a number of levels. 

 

If you know your stuff when it comes to bricklaying, demonstrate that to us! 

 

The bricklaying NVQ Level 2 comprises five mandatory units covering such aspects of this trade as efficient work practices and general workplace safety, as well as a series of optional units, with the person being assessed able to choose one of these. 

 

It is important to make sure you have the necessary knowledge and experience in these units before you commit to taking on the EWPA. That’s why the first stage of the process will be contacting us first, so that we can set out what is involved and arrange a ‘skills scan’. This will allow you and our NVQ assessor to determine whether it is worth your while to book the EWPA. 

 

And if we do decide together that booking the EWPA is the best route forward, well… it’s time to get prepared. Take a look at our page dedicated to the bricklaying EWPA today for more information about this in-demand assessment pathway, before potentially getting in touch with us directly to discuss your circumstances, needs and aspirations as a bricklayer, and how we can help. 

 

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Establish strong foundations for your carpentry career by completing our Level 1 five-day course

All of the construction trades in which we provide training here at YTA are crucial to today’s economy, and carpentry is no different. The creation and installation of wooden structures, fittings and furniture is a skill that helps make life much more convenient for those who depend on such items in their day-to-day lives – in other words, practically everyone.

But not everyone can become a carpenter themselves, of course, this profession calling for individuals who possess remarkable attention to detail, the ability to work well with others, and skill in using their hands.

If, nonetheless, a carpentry career is something you have considered, one of our highly rated intensive carpentry courses might be of interest to you. In fact, even those who only have five days spare to join us at our West Yorkshire training centre, and who might not have any experience in carpentry at all, have the opportunity to potentially earn a unit certificate in this trade.

Specifically, we are referring to our Cskills Level 1 Unit Carpentry Course. This accredited five-day programme of training will see you trained and assessed in a single unit – the NOCN Cskills Level 1 Unit in Hanging A Door. If you then achieve this, you will be able to show it to possible future employers or customers as evidence of your competence in this vital trade. The course can also provide a strong platform for future carpentry training at NVQ Level 2.

What will you actually do over those five days’ carpentry training?

In the space of just five days, you will cover considerable ground in carpentry training. You will begin with learning about the correct use of the basic hand tools involved in carpentry and joinery, ranging from saws to chisels. You will then be tasked with creating a series of progressively difficult woodwork joints, to help you become more capable in marking, cutting and chiselling.

You will have the chance to put those skills to good use later in the course, when you will get to build a door frame with a half lap joint. This will be followed by the construction of a stud partition with doorway from scratch, and then the architrave and skirting phase, when you will learn how to mite a skirting board on internal and external angles.

In summary, then, this is an excellent course if you are looking to be trained in various aspects of carpentry and joinery over just five days. Please note, however, that we also offer a 10-day accredited Level 1 carpentry and joinery course covering the aforementioned and two more NOCN Cskills Level 1 Units, which will enable you to get to grips with more advanced carpentry and joinery techniques.

Enquire to us now to find out more about this popular route

Whatever the nature of your motivations may be for getting involved in carpentry and joinery, here at YTA, we would be pleased to answer any questions you might have about our intensive carpentry courses, not least so that we can direct you to the most appropriate training option.

Call 01274 682199 or 07400 922788 now, or email us for further information on how we could help you take the next big step forward in your career in carpentry or any of the other trades for which we offer accredited courses.

 

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Why not spend just one day at our training centre to earn your bricklaying NVQ Level 2?

When prospective or current tradespeople from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances have wished to put in place the strongest possible foundations for their future career in construction, they have long turned to YTA in West Yorkshire. The reasons for that are many, although the main one is undoubtedly our training courses themselves. 

Depending on your own situation, however, you might not necessarily want to take on an entire construction training course. Consider, for example, our Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) routes. 

We offer these routes for wall and floor tiling, site carpentry, plastering, and bricklaying. As the above term suggests, the EWPAs are aimed at those who already have a certain level of experience and expertise in the field in question. 

By completing an EWPA – which you can do at our centre in one day – you can earn an NVQ Level 2 qualification, thereby greatly upgrading your CV, and enabling you to attain the blue skilled worker CSCS card allowing you to gain work on a construction site. 

So, what is the bricklaying EWPA about? 

For this blog post, we are focusing in particular on the bricklaying EWPA option for those who already have at least five years’ bricklaying experience. We’re well-known for our both beginner and advanced bricklaying courses at YTA, but this practical assessment route is a very different proposition. 

Taking on the EWPA is not about adding to your existing skills and knowledge – it’s about demonstrating to an assessor the skills and knowledge you already possess, through a process involving witness testimonies, practical assessment, professional discussion, and direct questioning.

During your day at our centre, you will be assessed in five mandatory units, covering general workplace safety, efficient work practices, the movement and handling of resources, the erection of masonry structures, and the setting out of masonry structures. There is also a series of optional units, with one of these able to be chosen to support your bid for the qualification. 

The result, as long as you satisfy the requirements of this assessment, can be the award of the Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813. You will be told at the end of the day whether you have achieved the qualification, and if you have indeed been successful in this aim, you can expect to receive your certificate within 14 days. 

What if you can’t wait that long to get on-site? Well, you do have the option – as soon as we have you registered – to apply for and gain a temporary card that will provide you with a six-month window in which to complete the EWPA. 

Talk to us about our services in bricklaying training and assessment 

Whether you are considering contacting the YTA team to discuss with us the novice, intermediate and advanced bricklaying courses we have to offer, or instead with the EWPA in mind, we are well-placed to help you advance as a bricklayer. 

Amid hopes that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is finally receding, and with many of us eager to make changes to our lives for the better, now could be the perfect time to invest in acquiring a new bricklaying qualification. For further information about the bricklaying EWPA and to book your place on a convenient date for you, simply call 01274 682199 today. 

 

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Take the first steps to becoming a plumber in just five days

When first setting out into a new profession, it’s crucial to have a solid foundation on which to build a satisfying career. 

 

This is why, when it comes to our Preparation for Plumbing Operations level 1 course, we at YTA want you to emerge with the ability to take on a variety of plumbing jobs. 

 

Our five-day plumbing level 1 course is just one of our many popular and renowned plumbing courses. It is suitable for total beginners or tradespersons who want to expand their skillset. These days, the tradesperson who can do a wide range of plumbing tasks is likely to win more jobs than the person who can only do one or two.

 

What does this course entail? 

 

Our five-day level 1 plumbing course will provide you with invaluable insight and understanding into the plumbing trade. 

 

The course is very hands on and practical, but you will also be trained and assessed in two units: Introduction to construction work and Carrying out plumbing operations. Completing both of these units successfully will enable you to achieve the full Level 1 Award in Preparation for Plumbing Operations. 

 

On day one, you’ll work with 15mm and 22mm copper pipe and fixings, fitting isolation valves and pipe bending. You’ll also get to grips with various fitting tools for the production of pipework. 

 

Day two will see you planning and fitting a bathroom. The bathroom will be tested against mains working pressure – any leaks will have to be fixed. 

 

The third day of the course will teach you the anatomy of a toilet and the process of repairing different faults. You will also learn about common call out jobs, work out how to price them, and give thought to hourly and day rates.

 

Day four will be all about radiators. You will install a small two-radiator system, or even three radiators if your skills and the timeframe enable this, using copper pipe and fittings. Then, you will fill to pressure and bleed the radiator, checking for leaks, before removing the radiator with water inside, and learn about the hanging and refitting of radiators. 

 

Your final day will teach you about the kitchen and the various plumbing jobs commonly associated with this all-important part of the home. Eventually, it will be time for you to fit a garden tap to the kitchen pipework. This will be followed by us explaining how to install a shower. 

 

Does this sound like the course for you? Get in touch!

 

Many of the students of our plumbing courses go on to have highly rewarding careers as plumbers. However, this course is also designed to give you the confidence to fix plumbing issues around the house – no matter how big or small.  

 

Enquire to us today if you have any further questions about this or any of our other highly rated plumbing courses, as well as to book your place.

 

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