YTA Training

Bricklaying NVQ

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One day is all that it takes for existing bricklayers to significantly upgrade their qualifications – and employability

When you are comparing construction training providers like YTA, and considering which training options could most help take you to the place you wish your career to be, you might initially have in mind the notion of committing at least a few days to a course. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case.

Consider, for example, our Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) routes. As the term suggests, the EWPA pathway is about assessment, rather than training. EWPA options are available for multiple trades, including wall and floor tiling, site carpentry, plastering, and… bricklaying. 

Introducing the one-day bricklaying EWPA 

The bricklaying EWPA is the one we’re addressing in this particular blog post, but the broad principle of EWPAs remain the same across the trades. These NVQ assessment routes are for people who already have at least five years’ experience in the given trade, and they involve the person in question spending one full day at our training centre in West Yorkshire, so that their skills and knowledge can be suitably assessed. 

In the event that you are successful in passing the requirements of this assessment, you would be awarded an NVQ Level 2 qualification – in the case of the bricklaying EWPA, the Cskills Awards Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813. 

That qualification, in turn, will enable you to attain the blue skilled-worker CSCS card as an on-site bricklayer. 

What, exactly, can you expect to be assessed in when you take on this EWPA? 

The bricklaying EWPA comprises a series of mandatory units, encompassing such crucial aspects of on-site bricklaying as general workplace safety, efficient work practices, the movement and handling of resources, and the erection and setting-out of masonry structures. 

If you take on this EWPA, though, you can also support your bid for the NVQ Level 2 qualification by choosing to be assessed in a further, optional unit. You will see the complete list on our relevant page for this EWPA, but your options here cover such subjects as the erection of masonry cladding, the placing and finishing of non-specialist concrete, the maintenance of slate and tile roofing, and many more. 

With the assessment process for this EWPA including the use of witness testimonies, practical assessment, professional discussion, and direct questioning, you can be sure of receiving the suitably comprehensive assessment that will ascertain your skills and knowledge are up to NVQ Level 2 standard. Passing this assessment will then give you an excellent foundation on which to build the rest of your career as a bricklayer. 

To find out more about this popular assessment pathway or about any of our programmes of training we can provide as trusted and accredited construction training providers in West Yorkshire, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the YTA team today. 

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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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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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Desire a bricklaying NVQ Level 2? You might not need to take on a full course if you already have extensive experience

There’s no question that an NVQ Level 2 diploma can quite literally ‘open doors’ for bricklayers, due to this being the qualification they require if they are to attain the blue skilled worker CSCS card for on-site work.

 

But if you are an ambitious tradesperson in this field and you wish to upgrade to this qualification, will you need to enrol on a lengthy course that you might struggle to even find the time to complete? 

 

The answer is no, not necessarily. In fact, if you have at least five years’ bricklaying experience, you have the option of embarking on the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route, which could result in you being better qualified in the space of just a day. 

 

A fast-track route that will boost your employability 

 

As the UK looks to gradually emerge from the coronavirus crisis, it’s fair to say that the economy is raring to go – and that bricklayers will continue to be in big demand for major construction projects. It should be no great surprise, then, that bricklaying plays a big part in our own extensive range of quality construction training programmes. 

 

However, you won’t want to have to spend time being trained in aspects of this trade that you are already knowledgeable and skilled in, if it simply doesn’t feel necessary. That’s where our EWPA route comes in. 

 

It’s based on a combination of professional discussion, witness statements and practical assessment, designed to ascertain whether you’re already a bricklayer of Level 2 NVQ standard. For you, it will simply be a case of demonstrating the skills and knowledge in bricklaying that you possess already, spending a day or two at our West Yorkshire training centre. 

 

You will be told at the end of the assessment day whether you have passed – and if you have, you will be sent your certificate within 14 days. That’s it – you will then be able to apply for your blue skilled worker CSCS card in order to get on site. In fact, if you need to get on site even before completing the NVQ, we can arrange to get you registered and allow you to apply for a temporary six-month card, shortly after you have paid your deposit. 

 

You’ll be put to the test – but the reward is a great qualification 

 

We would urge you to click through to the page of our website dedicated to the bricklaying EWPA to learn more about what this popular assessment route involves. There are five mandatory units that make up the bricklaying NVQ, and you can pick one further optional unit to support your bid for the qualification. 


One thing’s for sure – you’ll be in a great position to thrive in your bricklaying career for months and years to come when you obtain your NVQ Level 2 diploma with YTA. Get in touch with us now if you have any further questions about the EWPA or any of our wide range of other quality construction training programmes.

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Upgrading your prospects as a bricklayer doesn’t have to take longer than a day

There can be no doubt about the importance of bricklaying to our national life and economy – the construction sector will always depend hugely on skilled and seasoned bricklayers. 

 

It might not be so surprising, then, that if you have existing bricklaying experience, you may be looking right now into how to build on your current qualifications and credentials. After all, now is the time to ensure your career prospects are as strong as possible as you and your household emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

 

This brings us neatly onto the subject of the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route that we offer for those looking to gain the qualification needed to attain the blue skilled worker CSCS card. 

 

This is a fast-track assessment route that – if you meet the requirements – could save you from having to consider any longer bricklaying NVQ Level 2 courses. In fact, you could complete this assessment process in just one or two days at our West Yorkshire training centre. 

 

A great way for bricklayers to gain their NVQ Level 2 

 

Visit the page of our website dedicated to the bricklaying EWPA, and you’ll find all of the details you’ll require on this assessment route, which – when completed successfully – leads to the Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813. 

 

All of our EWPA assessment routes – others being available for wall and floor tiling, site carpentry and plastering – are aimed at those who already have at least five years’ experience in their given trade. A combination of witness testimonies, practical assessment, professional discussion and direct questioning is used to ascertain a candidate’s suitability for the award. 

 

The bricklaying NVQ Level 2 comprises 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. Your attempt to gain the award can be further supported with one of a range of optional units. 

 

If you’ve got the skills and experience, don’t wait to book your place 

 

For an initial discussion about the bricklaying EWPA, including whether this route is right for you, simply call YTA on 01274 682199. We’ll explain more about what’s involved, and complete a ‘skills scan’ to help determine whether you are likely to be able to earn the NVQ. 

 

Don’t forget that if you’re worried about being able to get quickly on-site, as soon as you pay your deposit for the EWPA and we get you registered, you will be able to apply for a six-month temporary card. This will give you the time to complete the EWPA. 

 

2021 looks set to be a year in which many of us throw off our pandemic-related worries and get on with those major, longed-for changes in our lives – and for you, that change may be upgrading your prospects as a bricklayer. If so, don’t wait any longer to contact the YTA team. 

 

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Experienced bricklayers can quickly upgrade their qualifications with our EWPA course

We’re proud here at YTA to offer a range of options for those who are looking to get into bricklaying for the first time or to build on their existing skills in this rewarding trade. However, we are also conscious of the needs of those who already have years of experience as bricklayers, but not necessarily the qualifications to match.

This is precisely why we make available what is known as the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route, for those who have been bricklayers for five years or more who would like to attain an NVQ Level 2 qualification, drawing upon their existing skills and experience.

But what exactly does the EWPA route involve, and what else could you gain when you undergo this one-day practical assessment?

Use your existing skills to make the next step in your career

The idea behind our EWPA bricklaying NVQ Level 2 courses is that you come to our centre for what usually only needs to be one day, and use the skills and knowledge that you have gained over the years to demonstrate that you are already at the level of competence necessary to earn the Level 2 qualification.

Through a combination of witness testimonies, practical assessment, professional discussion and direct questioning, the EWPA route will enable you to achieve the Cskills NVQ Level 2 diploma that you will require in order to obtain a blue skilled CSCS card as an on-site bricklayer.

What bricklaying knowhow do you need to have?

The bricklaying NVQ Level 2 comprises five mandatory units, related to general workplace safety, efficient work practices, the movement and handling of resources, the erection of masonry structures, and the setting out of masonry structures.

In addition to these units, those undertaking the EWPA can choose one supporting optional unit. There is a long list of these, covering such subjects as the erection of masonry cladding, the placement and finishing of non-specialist concrete, and the installation of drainage.

You can learn more details in the relevant section of our website for EWPA courses. But don’t forget that when you contact us, we’ll take our own steps to check that you have a suitable level of experience. We’ll ask you how many years’ experience you have in bricklaying already, before arranging for our NVQ bricklaying assessor to give you a call. They will then complete a ‘skills scan’ that considers the work or projects you have previously completed.

If, as a consequence of this process, the NVQ assessor is confident that you possess the ability and experience required to pass the EWPA, they will then be able to book your place on the assessment.

Get in touch now to learn more about bricklaying NVQ Level 2 courses available through YTA, and to take the first steps towards your own next qualification in the trade. As an accredited training provider, we’re committed to helping current and prospective tradespeople to progress their careers in 2020 and beyond!