Welcome to Ableskills Tiling Qualification Routes

Able Skills provides quality training and guidance to everyone who is interested in working within the Tiling Industry.

A requirement for 2010 is that Site based Tilers hold NVQ level 2.

If you are new to the Tiling industry and want to learn to tile and then to move on to employment or self employment as a Tiler, and then to NVQ, Able Skills is possibly the only private training facility in the UK able to provide this entire service.

We would like to warn potential tillers of the training centres throughout the UK who mislead individuals about the correct procedure and timings of gaining an NVQ. Promises of NVQs within a fortnight are readily available on the internet but be aware, this is not possible.

NVQs confirm competency within a working environment and a training centre is not a working environment, it is simulated.

If you are keen to learn to tile and then to have a career as a tiler and then to gain NVQ competency qualifications, be sure you only train or register with a Construction Awards Alliance approved training establishment.

Able Skills centre number is 5759.

We follow the correct guidelines and adhere to all of the procedures which ensures your Tiling NVQ will run smoothly, correctly and without delay.

The construction industry relies heavily on skilled people and Able Skills is a leading, quality training provider within this industry. We are committed to playing an active part in training inexperienced people to enter the industry, build on their experience and become skilled workers.

Able Skills has moved forward and as we have grown, we have become more and more aware of the need to have skilled construction workers in the UK and we now consider that we can cater for the needs of everyone working within the industry. So whether you are a time served tradesman, recently qualified or have no qualifications at all, we offer a route for you to follow.

1 - Tiling Qualification Route

If you do not have any underpinning Tiling qualifications, we recommend the following:-

Intermediate Construction Award (ICA) Wall and Floor Tiling

This course is suitable for people who are not at this moment working in the tiling industry and who would like to obtain the required qualification to work towards becoming a professional Tiler.

All ICA units are related to their equivalent NVQ unit, and we will advise you what extra assessments are required to gain the related NVQ unit once you are working within the Tiling industry.

To obtain the ICA in full, you must also pass an independent Health and Safety test which will take place at your nearest D.S.A. theory test centre.

Able Skills has a dedicated Health and Safety Advisor on site who will provide you with all the training necessary to assist you with this test.

Additionally, you will also sit a separate job knowledge test; this test is set and marked by City and Guilds.

The Units you must complete to achieve this Tiling award are:

ICA 100 Store materials & equipment
ICA 101 Erect & dismantle basic working platforms
ICA 102 Work efficiently
ICA 146 Set out for Tiling.
ICA 147 Prepare backgrounds for Tiling
ICA 148 Position and fix tiles
ICA 149 Repair Tiling

For more information on this Tiling award, please go to ICA Level 2 Tiling Award

2 - NVQ Route

NVQs are an excellent achievement as they confirm that you are competent in your chosen trade and other areas associated with your work; this is why NVQs cannot be obtained without experience. In order to start you on the route to NVQ, underpinning knowledge received via a training course is essential. Training for at least 6 weeks will definitely prepare you for the reality of all tiling projects within properties, old and new.

With time comes experience and competence and as you progress in time and you gain an acceptable level of competence, you can be building your portfolio of evidence for your Able Skills NVQ assessor to assess. These qualifications (NVQs) focus on practical skills and knowledge relating to Tiling, health & safety, PPE etc.

Developed and approved by people who work in the industry, they are a great way to get into construction or to boost your career by developing new skills and knowledge through the assessment of work based competence recorded in a portfolio.

An alternative to Distance Portfolio Evidence is OSAT:

On Site Assessment and Training.

As an NVQ approved assessment centre, Able Skills can offer NVQ on site assessment (OSAT) to those of you who have underpinning qualifications or who have spent some time working within the industry and who have reached a level of competence which falls in line with NVQ code of practice. We have our own Assessors and Internal Verifiers, all of whom are City & Guilds and CAA approved. As long as you are working within the Tiling Industry, we can come and assess you on site.

NVQ Assessment process

To obtain a full NVQ it is a requirement that you are working as a Tiler.
The NVQ process will start with an interview between you and your assessor whereby an action plan and timetable will be drawn up. You will be required to gather and record evidence as indicated on your assessment plan.

Following your initial interview, dependant upon which NVQ route you prefer, we will either arrange visits to your place of work where we will also examine and discuss the evidence you have provided.

We will allow you to produce your own evidence portfolio backed up by witness testimonies, customer statements, job references etc. Evidence which proves your competence in Tiling and which can be checked is what we are looking for.

An assessor will sign off completed units where sufficient quality and quantity has been provided. Any shortfalls of evidence will be discussed and any training requirements identified. In between visits, you will continue to generate further evidence.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

VR01 Conform to General Workplace Safety
VR02 Conform to Efficient Work Practices
VR03 Move and Handle Resources
VR141 Prepare Backgrounds for tiling
VR142 Tile Wall and Floor Surfaces

There is no time scale on achieving an NVQ. If your line of work allows, NVQs can be achieved in a relatively short space of time however, if the work you are doing is restricted or repetitive, the NVQ process can take longer because the opportunity to meet all of the required NVQ units will not be available to you.

3 - The Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA)

This is a fast route open through the CAA-ConstructionSkills / City & Guilds awarding body. It is available for workers with a minimum of five years experience and who don’t need any further training.
It involves spending a day having your skills and knowledge assessed at Able Skills Construction Training Centre. This can sometimes be done at weekends.

All the skills needed to pass the NVQ are included in one task, which is observed by our approved Tiling assessor.

The 4 Steps of EWPA

Step 1: Following your first call to us, you will be contacted by a member of staff within 2 - 3 weeks to arrange your first appointment.

Step 2: An assessor will introduce you to the process and make an initial assessment to ensure you are suitable to qualify through this method. They may also ask you to bring some items of ‘evidence’ with you. Evidence you provide can be in a written form, such as witness statements from customers or supervisors worked with in the past, or it can take the form of photographs of your work, site plans, qualifications or proof of employment.

Step 3: You will undertake a practical assessment of your skills which will be observed by the assessor. This will be followed by professional discussion to assess your knowledge of the subject. This will be over a period of 2 days.

Step 4: If you are successful, you should receive your full CSCS card within 7 working days and your NVQ certificate will also arrive a few weeks later. If you do not pass the assessment all is not lost: the work you have done can still count towards your qualification through OSAT.

Whichever category you fall into, Able Skills is confident that with the quality of Tiling training we provide and staff in place, we can get you to where you need to be.

If you require any additional information about these qualification routes, please feel free to contact us on 01322 280202 where staff are on hand 7 days each week to answer any additional questions you may have.

You can contact us by telephone or Email: info@ableskills.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can visit us in person to view our facilities and obtain further information about the courses and qualifications available to you at:

Unit K5, Riverside Industrial Estate, Riverside Way, Dartford, Kent DA1 5BS. The industrial estate is situated on the A2026 Victoria road, 5 minutes from Dartford mainline station and the town centre. Dartford train station is accessible from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Victoria and London Bridge. There are excellent road links to surrounding motorway networks:- M25 junctions 1a and 1b, A2, M2 and M20. We have sufficient parking facilities.

Opening hours 8.30a.m - 4.30p.m (7 Days per week) Mon - Sun

For more details please phone our booking line on 0808 100 3245

Able Building Skills Centre are giving £ 1.00 to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity for every course booked.