EWPA

21st April 2021 By Liz Spider

Our EWPA route makes plenty of sense for skilled and experienced bricklayers

When it comes to professions that you can always count on there being a demand for, bricklaying has to be a long way up the list. After all, this trade is of fundamental importance to buildings being built. Furthermore, with especially seasoned bricklayers earning as much as £40,000 a year or more, it can be a hugely rewarding job in more ways than one.

The critical role of bricklaying – in people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as in the broader economy – helps to explain why advanced bricklaying courses are such a big focus of ours here at YTA.

But if you already have an established history as a bricklayer, and wish to make the next big step in your career, you don’t necessarily need to start training again from scratch. Our Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route allows those with a minimum of five years’ bricklaying experience to achieve a relevant NVQ Level 2 in just one day at our Yorkshire training centre.

No less crucially, by acquiring this particular qualification – the Cskills Awards Bricklaying NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813 – you will also be able to gain access to site work. It is therefore an excellent fast-track assessment route for moving your bricklaying career up another level in readiness for life after the coronavirus pandemic.

It couldn’t be a quicker – or simpler – process to upgrade your qualifications

You can find out all of the details about our bricklaying EWPA on our website – but the broad principle behind it is very simple. You will first get in touch with us at YTA, and we’ll explain what’s involved if you take on this fast-track assessment route. With the help of our NVQ bricklaying assessor, we will chat to you and determine whether you have a high chance of passing the EWPA.

If we are confident – and you are confident – that you possess the necessary knowledge, ability and experience to achieve the NVQ, we can then proceed to book a date at our centre with you.

As aforementioned, it will only take you one day with us to complete the bricklaying EWPA – or two, if needed. The day itself will involve you drawing upon your existing bricklaying skills to complete a task at our premises, with this then being assessed.

The NVQ assessor will use the combination of this practical assessment, professional discussion and witness statements, to evaluate your skills against the criteria. If you are successful in achieving the bricklaying NVQ Level 2, you will be told of this on the day.

Then, all that you will need to do is wait for your certificate, so that you can apply for your blue skilled worker CSCS card and begin working on site!

Just get in touch with us now

Call the YTA team today, on 01274682199, for the latest information about the availability of places on this in-demand assessment route. Alternatively, send us an email via our simple online contact form, and we’ll quickly get back to you.

As accredited and trusted providers of advanced bricklaying courses, we’ll help point you in the right direction for your career in this vital, enjoyable and often lucrative trade.

8th September 2020 By Liz Spider

Our bricklaying EWPA is as fast as it is comprehensive

Here at YTA, our association with bricklaying training is a strong and long-established one, and we remain a go-to provider of bricklaying NVQ Level 2 courses today. However, the various training routes that we offer are not restricted to those of relevance to complete novice or newcomer bricklayers. Indeed, you may already possess extensive experience in the trade.

Our Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route, for instance, allows bricklayers with five years’ experience or more to spend just a day at our training centre, where they can earn the Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) QUA813.

Yes, that’s right – this is a fast-track route to a bricklaying Level 2 NVQ, with this qualification being the very one you will require if you are to attain the blue skilled worker CSCS card. It’s all done through a combination of professional discussion, witness statements and the practical assessment, thereby making this EWPA an excellent investment if you wish to quickly get working on site.

A fast-track route for already capable and seasoned bricklayers

Various units make up our bricklaying EWPA that should not intimidate bricklayers who already have some years’ proficiency in the trade. They include a series of mandatory units focused on such key aspects of bricklaying as general workplace safety, efficient workplace practices, the movement and handling of resources, the erection of masonry structures and the setting out of masonry structures.

In addition to these, many optional units are offered for those embarking on the EWPA to choose from. These include in relation to erecting masonry cladding, placing and finishing non-specialist concrete, maintaining slate and tile roofing, and installing drainage, to cite just some of the options available.

Meanwhile, the different parts of the NVQ assessment process encompass witness testimonies, the practical assessment, professional discussion and direct questioning, with these processes together determining whether you pass or fail the EWPA.

When you first get in touch with us, we’ll arrange for our NVQ bricklaying assessor to complete a ‘skills scan’ with you, which will give them a good idea of your likelihood of achieving the NVQ.

Don’t wait any longer to make the next big step in your career

Even before you have actually completed this NVQ, you will be able to get on site shortly after you have booked your place and paid your deposit. After you are confirmed on the course, we will get you registered so that you can apply for and gain a temporary card, giving you a six-month window of time in which to complete the EWPA.

Do you have any questions about our bricklaying NVQ Level 2 courses, including the EWPA route, that you would like to have answered before you commit? If so, our team here at YTA would be pleased to answer them when you call 01274 682199 or 07400922788 or email info@ytatraining.com.

7th August 2020 By Liz Spider

The EWPA route to a Level 2 carpentry qualification couldn’t be quicker or simpler!

When you’re an already-experienced tradesperson who is ambitious to move onto the next rung of the career ladder and gain qualifications that will help you to better market your services and expertise to potential employers and clients, you might well find yourself comparing quite a lot of construction training centres. No less important than the training centre that you choose, however, is the actual route you take to acquire a relevant qualification.

You may not have been aware, for example, that if you already possess at least five years’ experience in joinery, you don’t need to embark on a complete course in order to attain the qualification that will give you a blue skilled worker CSCS card.

Instead, you can simply take advantage of our fast-track assessment route here at YTA, known as the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment, or EWPA.

So, what’s involved if you ‘go EWPA’?

It’s all very straightforward; if you’re prepared to arrive at our construction training centre in Bradford for 7:30am on the date you book with us, we’ll only need one day of your time in order to complete the EWPA assessment for you. Provided that you pass, you will be awarded the Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) – Site Carpentry QUA900.

The idea is that you will be able to obtain this qualification by demonstrating to us the skills and knowledge you have already. You simply need to get in touch with YTA and we will explain the process to you, before passing your details to our NVQ carpentry assessor, so that they can then call you and complete a ‘skills scan’. This will help them to determine whether you have a strong chance of achieving the NVQ through the EWPA process.

Then, as long as you are happy to proceed and the NVQ assessor is confident that your ability and experience levels will enable you to complete the assessment successfully, the EWPA itself can be booked.

Through a combination of witness testimonies, practical assessment, professional discussion and direct questioning, you could soon be well on the way to completing the various units that make up the carpentry NVQ. These units cover such key aspects as general workplace safety, efficient work practices and the movement and handling of resources, while three optional units can also be chosen to support your efforts to obtain the NVQ.

We did tell you it wasn’t too complicated…

All of the above really isn’t too much to work through if you wish to move up to the next level in your carpentry career, especially when you don’t even need to devote all that much time to the completion of an EWPA!

To learn more about this particular route to an NVQ Level 2 qualification or any of our other services as one of the UK’s most trusted accredited construction training centres, simply email the YTA team today, or give us a call on 01274 682199 or 07400922788.

8th July 2020 By Liz Spider

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!

13th June 2020 By Graham Binns

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 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!)

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

16th May 2020 By Graham Binns

Three successful Carpentry NVQ’s today

We had three experienced carpenters successfully complete their Site Carpentry NVQ‘s today at YTA and we are happy to say that they all passed the 6 hour practical assessment. The Site Carpentry NVQ level 2 Diploma is gained through the EWPA (Experienced Worker Practical Assessment) if you have a minimum of 5 years experience working as Site Carpenter. We are so glad to say that we are off to a flying start following the lockdown period and all three achieved the 1 day NVQ level 2 practical assessment.

We have some new working practices in place which can be found on our COVID-19 PAGE and all went to plan, face-masks provided, social distancing and hand sanitiser stations around the centre all making the assessment process safe.

One of the three experienced carpenter completing his NVQ level 2 in site carpentry through EWPA today

Are you an experienced Carpenter / Joiner of 5 or more years? then you can spend 1 day at our NOCN Cskills approved NVQ Centre in Yorkshire completing the wood occupations site carpentry NVQ level 2 EWPA (Experienced Worker Practical Assessment). We run this assessment on Saturday’s 7:30am until approx 4pm depending on your time. We run the assessment at our training centre in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The 1 day NVQ level 2 through EWPA costs £900 including vat, (£750 excl vat).

Successful Carpentry NVQ — Two out of the three experienced carpenters completing their NVQ level 2 in site carpentry through EWPA today

How do we assess during COVID-19 and keep social distancing

We have a very large assessment centre (6500 sq foot) and the EWPA requires the candidate to work on their own in a dedicated assessment area for an allocated amount of time to complete the practical assessment (between 6 and 9 hours depending on which trade). We can easily distance a maximum of 3 assessment areas within the centre 6m apart from each other. The assessor will assess at distance and when required at the end of the assessment, ask you to stand to one side so he can measure and mark your practical assessment. So the carpentry NVQ level 2 is still running but with no more than 3 candidates per time in the building.

We really can get you your NVQ quickly

What if you need to be earning a wage again even before you’ve completed our carpentry EWPA route? Well, that’s not too much of a drama, either – you simply need to first secure your place and pay your deposit, so that we can get you registered. This will enable you to apply for and gain a temporary card lasting for a maximum of six months until you have completed the EWPA.

Don’t wait any longer to email the YTA team at info@ytatraining.com during COVID-19 lockdown and on 01274 682199, to book your place or to discuss how we can best serve your construction training / assessment requirements. YTA have been delivering successful Carpentry NVQ’s to experienced carpenters for 14 years now.

Well done to all three successful Carpentry NVQ’s candidates from the YTA team!

YTA Training And Assessment Ltd

Unit 12a Factory Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Tel: 01274682199

Email: info@ytatraining.com

YTA and our courses can be found at www.reviews.co.uk