YTA Training

Liz Spider

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Prepare for a new life as a carpenter with the help of our specialised courses

Carpentry primarily involves building materials being cut, shaped and installed during a construction project. However, you might understandably be uncertain what differentiates carpentry from joinery.

Carpentry and joinery are similar and associated fields, to the extent that here at YTA, we allow you to learn skills associated with both trades as part of a single course. We also give you the opportunity to refine your skills by taking on successive, increasingly advanced courses.

The key differences between carpentry and joinery

Joinery is its own practice, whereby wood is used to create a range of fixtures, fittings and other elements for eventual use in a home or office. Carpenters, meanwhile, take joiner-created wooden objects and install them on a construction site where a whole new building is taking shape.

One can therefore regard joinery and carpentry as strongly complementary areas of work. A joiner typically produces wooden ornamental pieces like doors and bookcases, while a carpenter will commonly work on expanses like floors and roofs.

How can you work towards becoming a carpenter?

If a carpentry career interests you, it isn’t just the basic entry requirements that you should carefully consider, but also whether this area of work is truly suited to you. If, for instance, you have already worked successfully on-site as a joiner’s ‘mate’ or labourer, you could be well-placed to move into professional carpentry.

Your chances of securing work in carpentry may strongly depend on your base of relevant knowledge and practical skills. Taking a course in carpentry could therefore enable you to prepare for such a line of work while also maximising the attractiveness and relevance of your CV.

Indeed, to work on a building site, you will require a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card – and to obtain that, you could take your pick from our current carpentry & joinery NVQ Level 2 courses. We offer a fast track assessment route that could allow you to get qualified quickly.

Nonetheless, whichever of our courses interest you, we urge you to carefully read the relevant information on our site before proceeding. It’s vital to ensure you are looking at the right course – and by calling our Bradford office on 01274 682199, you can receive further guidance as to which route could be most advantageous for you.

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What is the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment?

As a seasoned tradesperson, you may have heard of the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA), also sometimes referred to as the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment Route (EWPAR), and wondered what it is, and how it could help to enhance your career.

The first thing to make clear about the EWPA is that it is not a training course. What it is instead, is a fast-track assessment route for workers in any of a number of trades wishing to achieve an NVQ Level 2 qualification, as they can do here at the YTA premises in West Yorkshire in just a day or two.

The EWPA plays a vital role in raising worker standards

The Experienced Worker Practical Assessment route was set up by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to give those who have been working in a certain trade for at least five years a quick, simple and convenient means of verifying that their skills and capabilities are of NVQ Level 2 standard. This is determined on the basis of their past experience.

As you might expect, the CITB wishes to ensure that everyone working in the construction sector is capable of meeting certain standards in the work they do. This was precisely why the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) was introduced in the first place.

However, there are still tens of thousands of tradespersons working in the UK who are frequently carrying out great work, but who haven’t had their skills formally assessed. This is where the simple, fuss-free assessment route that is the EWPA proves invaluable.

For which trades do we offer EWPA routes?

If, from reading the above, you suspect you could benefit from undergoing the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment process to acquire your NVQ Level 2 qualifications, you may be pleased to learn that we offer this route for the four trades of wall and floor tiling, bricklaying, site carpentry and plastering.

With an NVQ Level 2 certificate or diploma acquired through the EWPA route also enabling you to attain the blue skilled worker CSCS card that will help you to gain construction site work, the one or two days for which you join us at our assessment centre could prove extremely well-spent for your career going forward.

Simply give the YTA team a call today, on 01274 682199, to have all of your questions answered about the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment, so that you can ascertain its applicability and suitability for you – as well as, of course, make your booking.

 

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Plastering isn’t necessarily the profession that you think it is

When most of us picture what life must be like as a plasterer, we are immediately put in mind of the actual process of mixing and skimming plaster onto the interior surfaces of buildings. We don’t necessarily think of certain other aspects of how the UK’s approximately 40,000 plasterers work, but which are vital to appreciate if you are considering entering this career yourself.

Some elements of the job are more predictable than others

First of all, let’s confront the obvious: if plastering looks like the kind of job that requires considerable dexterity and speed, that’s because it is. However, the role doesn’t just involve the coating of internal walls and ceilings with different types of plaster in readiness for decoration, as plasterers may also be called upon to coat external surfaces with materials such as sand or cement.

The handiwork aspect of plastering should certainly not be underestimated. Indeed, the physical nature of the job is one reason why there are still many more male plasterers than female plasterers, although efforts have been made to encourage more women into the industry.

However, mathematical skill is also required to work out how much plaster needs to be mixed up for a given assignment, as well as the quantity that must be ordered to maintain the correct levels of work in a specific project. After all, it’s crucial for no aspect of a project to be held up.

You might be a little more surprised to hear that plasterers often need to be creative, too, when it comes to all manner of fibrous plastering and decorative work.

As for the working hours, about 39 hours a week from Monday to Friday is typical, although weekend and evening work may be necessary when projects are to be completed to tight deadlines.

A more interesting and rewarding role than you might have ever imagined  

With those starting out in plastering able to command salaries of between £14,000 and £18,000, rising to between £18,000 and £25,000 once they have acquired more experience – up to as much as £30,000 at the highest experience levels – a plastering career can be satisfying in more ways than just the work itself.

So, why not enquire today about our intensive plastering courses in the UK here at YTA, running for five or 10 days and covering all of the hands-on essentials for both beginner and more experienced tradespersons – including health and safety, skimming to plasterboard, the setting of finishing beads, the repair of plastering and so much more?

Call 01274 682 199 or 07400 922 788 to book any of our intensive plastering courses in the UK, or to receive more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We can set you well on your way to becoming a successful kitchen fitter

While the job of a kitchen fitter may seem self-evident – to install kitchens – there are many complexities around this. If you are thinking of entering the profession, it is therefore important to consider whether you are a suitable person for this kind of role, as well as what is involved in training to become a kitchen fitter and the rewards that you can expect.

What can you expect to do in a kitchen fitting career?  

Kitchen fitters do their work mainly in private homes, but also in any other location where a kitchen may be needed, such as an office or other workplace.

The process of installing a kitchen tends to include the dismantling and removal of the old kitchen, followed by the installation of the new units, worktops and sink. On any one day, your duties as a kitchen fitter are likely to include the use of a range of hand and power tools, as well as measuring out work areas, marking the location of pipes and cables and – of course – the actual fitting of units and appliances.

Is it a lucrative profession?

A salary of between £13,500 and £16,000 is typical for someone just starting out as a professional kitchen fitter. This can rise to between £17,000 and £24,000 for those of an intermediate level of experience, while the most seasoned fitters can typically command as high as £35,000 a year.

You need certain characteristics to excel as a kitchen fitter

While this profession isn’t associated with any set route to employment, with many people simply taking on small jobs first and gradually expanding their skills from there, it is nonetheless crucial to think carefully about whether this is the right line of work for you.

There is no denying, for example, the highly physical nature of the work, so being strong and able to cope with it all is vital. It’s also essential to have a good problem-solving head and a calm temperament, as it’s not very often that a kitchen is fitted with no issues at all. For instance, it might be the case that a given design doesn’t fit into the space where it needs to fit, with situations like this requiring you to come up with solutions ‘on the hoof’.

Enrol on our kitchen fitting courses today

With our present kitchen fitting courses here at YTA including a five-day introductory course and two-day and three-day workshop fitting courses, our training could provide invaluable assistance in your pursuit of a rewarding career as a kitchen fitter.

We are the company to have faith in when you are seeking high-quality kitchen fitting courses – so why not browse our current range of such courses online now, or call 01274 682199 or 07400 922788 for further guidance on the next best step for you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Is tiling the right choice of career for you?

Even among the trades, tiling is a career option that can be frequently overlooked, given that it entails providing the finishing touches to rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, albeit also in shops and as part of other major construction projects.

Nonetheless, this ‘overlooked’ nature of the role can also mean that many fail to realise the variety one can encounter in their projects as a tiler, including when a need exists for more specialised work such as the tiling of swimming pools, outdoor tiling in gardens or the restoration of mosaics.

It can also lead many prospective tilers to assume that the job poses less of a challenge than it really does – which, as you might imagine, is something we would like to avoid with those who sign up for our tiling NVQ Level 2 courses here at YTA!

Tiling isn’t easy, or for everyone

You shouldn’t be fooled by the lack of any set requirements to pursue a tiling career – in truth, this is a profession that calls for a wide range of skills, including good practical skills, the ability to follow design plans, and impeccable accuracy and attention to detail.

Creative flair and a good eye for design are also needed to ensure the right aesthetic result, as are maths skills so that the costs and quantities of materials can be calculated.

You will also need to possess good customer service skills, while self-employed tilers must be able to keep paperwork and accounts up to date.

With a tiler’s typical day-to-day duties including everything from marking out areas – known as ‘setting out’ – and cutting tiles into the required shape and size to levelling off surfaces with plaster, sand or cement and working with a range of building materials, the various demands placed on a tiler should not be underestimated.

Tilers typically work between 37 and 45 hours a week, Monday to Friday, and can expect to start on a salary of between £17,000 and £20,000, which can rise to between £30,000 and £38,000 at the highest levels of experience.

Enquire now about our tiling NVQ Level 2 courses – and more

If you feel that a tiling career could be the right route for you, our team here at YTA would be happy to talk to you about your requirements from a tiling course. We offer a broad assortment of such courses, from one-day ‘taster’ experiences and NVQ Level 2 courses to intensive, floor and bathroom tiling courses to equip you with the skills you may need in various areas of specialism.

Find out more today by emailing info@ytatraining.com or calling 01274 682199 or 07400922788.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Should You Seriously Become a Plumber? If You’re Curious, Sign Up for Our Taster Course

It seems that almost anyone who has ever been disgruntled with their career situation has asked themselves at some point whether they “should’ve just become a plumber”, and there are sound reasons for that. After all, there’s hardly anyone who won’t need a plumber’s services at some point during their lifetime, whether it’s for unblocking a drain, connecting pipes or fixing a leak.

This helps to make plumbing one of the most secure professions that anyone could enter. Indeed, it appears that the UK’s longstanding and well-publicised shortage of plumbers is set to become an even more pronounced problem in the years to come, Ranstad having said that the country faces a shortfall of 3.1 million workers by 2050 due to a lack of the skills that employers need.

All of this makes now an especially good time to try your hand at such a potentially rewarding vocation for yourself, by registering for one of our plumbing taster courses here at YTA.

What else do you need to know about getting into plumbing?

Plumbing doesn’t just offer you job security and the opportunity to be a hero for people around your local area who find themselves in emergencies where water gushes all over their kitchen floor.

That’s because no two days are the same as a plumber, as you are likely to find yourself working with all manner of co-workers and clients. Nor is the salary to be sniffed at, starting at about £15,000 a year and continuing up to £40,000 or more once you gain a high level of experience. Don’t forget that if you are a self-employed plumber, you will also be able to set your own rates, or even work longer hours if you wish.

But of course, you will also need to have certain characteristics and personality traits if you are to ‘make it’ as a plumber. Those who are colour blind are unable to enter this profession, and you must also be friendly, approachable, calm and patient, so that you can deal diplomatically with a wide range of situations involving many different people. The right practical skills will also obviously be needed, together with an ability to follow safe working practices.

If you think you have what it takes… join us!

While we offer an assortment of intensive and advanced courses for prospective plumbers here at YTA, if you have only just begun to consider entering this profession, we would advise you to first look into our one-day plumbing taster courses. This part of our course provision enables you to learn basic pipefitting skills and plumb in a small project such as a kitchen sink or radiator.

We can tailor our plumbing taster courses to the specific requirements of those enquiring to us – as you can do by calling us on 01274682199 or emailing info@ytatraining.com.

We hold our courses right through the week, from Monday to Friday, so we’re confident that we will be able to put together the taster course experience that will perfectly match your needs, at a time convenient for you. Who knows – it could be the start of what turns out to be a very lucrative lifelong vocation!

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