YTA Training

Bricklaying NVQ

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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!

 

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Three NVQ’s achieved today!

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.

Site Carpentry 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA
Site Carpentry 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA at YTA
Site Carpentry 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA
Site Carpentry 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA at YTA
Bricklaying 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA at YTA
Bricklaying 1 day NVQ level 2 EWPA at YTA

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!)

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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

 

 

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