With a growing number of people being made redundant, taking the opportunity to learn a trade is becoming more attractive.
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Able Skills are delighted to publish some positive feedback from one of students who completed multiskills learning which encompasses aspects of tiling, bricklaying, plastering, decorating, carpentry and plumbing courses.
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Able Skills are now providing work placement opportunities for any students undertaking the 7 week Painting & Decorating NVQ course.
Students of Able Skills, Past, Present and Future…….
Able Skills Students who are multi skilled could have the opportunity of work as Able Skills has been approached by Sunridge Building Contractors, based in Dartford, who specialise in repairs and maintenance of buildings.
What’s more, the construction industry’s looking good too – as recent figures show the construction sector’s grown over the last three months. And things look set to get better and better as experts predict building boom after building boom.
Skilled tradesmen and smaller firms could soon benefit from a simpler and easier procurement and planning process, as the government has said it’ll simplify planning and some organisations have lobbied local and national government to remove contract bundling from the procurement process.
What’s more, new figures show the construction industry’s grown - despite the recession – so things look on the up for skilled bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, decorators, tilers and plumbers, as well as gas and electrical engineers.
Photography: Martin V. Morris
Skilled tradesmen could soon be in high demand as the government and the private sector have pledged to invest billions in construction, in a move that will create new jobs for bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, decorators, tilers and plumbers, as well as gas and electrical engineers.
And London-based contractors are especially set to benefit, as experts predict the capital will enjoy a decade-long boom in both residential and student builds.
I would just like to thank Able Skills for providing me with an excellent City & Guilds course back in January. I found it highly enjoyable and it was well worth undertaking the 4 week course.
I would like to thank, in particular, Mark Berkes who I thought was an excellent instructor. Not only was he very good and knowledgeable teacher, he was also very helpful in talking to the students about the realities of being a self-employed paint and decorator.
Prior to the course I had already been in the painting and decorating business for 3 years, and i had also spent 5 years in the Army. With this experience I can honestly say that I thought Mr Berkes was first class in both his teaching and general manner.
I would also just like to say, that if you receive any more students from the Hampshire area please feel free to give them my contact details. I occasionally require extra manpower on large jobs, and anyone newly qualified from the Hampshire area would be most welcome to me.
I enclose my business card, which I would be grateful if Mark could pin up on the board in the painting and decorating training area.
Keep up the good work!
Many thanks Robert Godwin
The economic downturn has claimed another victim of the construction training industry leaving numerous students out of pocket.
Diamond Training Group, providers of tiling courses and plastering courses, went into liquidation on Friday meaning many students are unable to complete qualifications despite already having handed over their money.
One NVQ student revealed on a tiling forum that they arrived at the Diamond’s training centre in Ford to find the facility locked with all the fixtures and fittings removed and no staff onsite.
Unfortunately this is not uncommon in the construction training industry as many centres have been hit by the recession and been forced to go out of business.
Able Skills advises anyone who is looking to train for a career in construction to visit a centre to view the facilities available before spending any money on qualification courses.
Any credible centre should allow potential students access to view their training bays and the opportunity to chat to instructors and existing students.
Able Skills also recommend that if you are looking to complete an accredited qualification that you confirm a training centre has qualified instructors, assessors and internal verifiers.
We are proud to say Able Skills have been firmly established in the construction training industry since 2003 and continue to provide accredited plumbing courses, electrical courses and decorating courses to the highest level.
Our commitment to producing competent tradesmen is such that we have recently opened a new training centre which offers the latest teaching in how to install and design environmental technologies through renewable energy courses.
Able Skills welcome anyone looking to learn a trade or improve on their existing skillset to visit our Dartford premises and talk to our staff and trainees. We are confident that you will not be disappointed.
About this time, every year, the advice is given out to all property owners to conduct a timely house health check up as the first signs of autumn appear. Sadly, all too often the sensible words of advice are not always heeded and inevitably, another hard winter sees the depressing list of statistics of people overcome by burst water pipes, blocked radiators, overflowing gutters, falling slates and detached aerials.
Better safe than sorry – and soaring house insurance premium renewals! Now really is the time to prevent a disaster waiting to happen!
The ideal inspection of your property should be twice year, once in the Autumn for accident prevention, and once in the Spring, to repair any accident damage – with an increased list of items to check each time. Just by taking a small amount of time to carrying out a little regular maintenance, you will avoid unnecessary problems and save potentially untold amounts of money.
If you’re not sure about carrying these checks out, then AbleSkills offers short Handyman courses ,City & Guilds Multiskills courses and even DIY courses, which can give you practical advice on electrics, plumbing, heating and decorating issues.
Why not make a note to do that check NOW, so you can put anything right which will prevent suffering untold aggravation and misery during the winter.
The following checklist will help to ensure you do not miss out on examining the most important items.
Exterior Checks – mostly a ground level check is sufficient to detect some sign of a problem.
• Windows and doors – lightly oil hinges and locks.
• Gates – are they closing and latching securely with signs of stiff or sticking hinges?
• Airbricks – are they clear ?
• Building ground level – has it built up anywhere bridging the damp proof course or blocking an air brick ?
• TV aerials and masts – do they still look secured and well attached ?
• Cables from any TV aerials and masts – are they all secured fast to the wall ?
• Paths and patios etc for any build up of moss or weeds – if they need cleaning, use a pressure washer.
• Water dripping from overflows.
• Woodwork around the garden (gates, fences, sheds etc) – is anything loose (fence panels etc) or showing signs of rot.
(especially check each fence post and the rails), does anything need a coat or paint or preservative?
• Gutters –check and clear leaves, twigs, silt, along pipes , junctions, down pipe openings and grills.
• Drainpipe grills – clear any and all obstruction in the form of leaves, silt, gravel, twigs ..etc
Interior checks – you must call a professional qualified plumber or a GasSafe card carrying gas fitter to carry out the checks below:
• Radiators –fully operational and responsive – need air bleeding or blockage clearing ?
• Boiler – correctly programmed and working.
• Thermostats – correctly programmed and working.
• Water Tank & Pipework – fully and securely insulated throughout – check for loose lagging.
• Dripping taps in and outside of the house – it is easy to become used to these but they do need to be rectified.