When Zeva decided it was time to reskill, she chose to build on her background in painting and decorating, aiming to broaden her skill set within the construction industry. Tiling felt like a natural next step, as it’s creative, hands-on, and practical.

Taking on the NVQ Level 2 Tiling Course

Zeva has just completed our 7-week programme for NVQ Level 2 Tiling. In this interview, she shares her motivations for wanting to expand her skill set from decorator to professional tiler. Her goal is to gain on-site experience, allowing her to achieve her NVQ, and become self-employed.

Why she choose to do the NVQ Level 2 Tiling:

“I am a very academic person and I actually have severe hyperactive ADHD, so for me, it was really important to do something hands-on and not sat in an office all day. So I found this course and it’s just been the best.”

The NVQ Level 2 Tiling course at Able Skills in Dartford is a City & Guilds-accredited programme offering industry-recognised, hands-on training to a level that equips learners with the knowledge and competence needed to work confidently in wall and floor tiling while preparing them for work on construction sites.

Over the seven weeks, Zeva completed the course and found the variety of teaching styles to be a great asset:

“The content of the course was engaging. It was interesting to see how different tutors worked.”

Facing challenges as a woman in construction

Switching careers and entering construction wasn’t without its challenges. In the video, Zeva candidly shares how the industry felt intimidating at first:

“Being a woman in construction does come across as being daunting, especially for me. However, after coming here, learning my skills, I do really feel it’s not a male-dominated industry anymore.”

She reflects on her path with honesty:

“My journey so far has been a roller coaster...”

Despite the ups and downs, the hands-on learning, daily progress, and supportive environment helped her grow in confidence and skill steadily.

What’s next for Zeva

With her NVQ Level 2 Tiling certificate complete, Zeva plans to spend time gaining site experience to build up her confidence even further before taking the leap into self-employment.

Her long-term goal is to set up her own company; perhaps she’ll combine her decorating background with her new skills to offer a complete finishing service.

Retraining can feel daunting, but with determination and the right support, it can open doors to fulfilling new career paths.

If you’d like to follow in Zeva’s footsteps and gain practical tiling skills, explore our NVQ Level 2 Tiling course. It’s designed to help you build confidence, competence, and a real future in construction.

We wish Zeva the best success in her career and can’t wait to see what her next ventures will be.