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08Jan2016

Fast Track NVQ Level 2 Courses

Ian

Access Training Academies

Get your NVQ Level 2 Diploma in a matter of weeks!

Tradespeople who carry out work on-site in the UK are required to hold an NVQ Level 2 Diploma for their chosen trade. However, the NVQ qualification is notoriously difficult to achieve; in order to pass, candidates must complete a portfolio of their work, complete with photographs, storyboards, and witness testimonials.

Completing a standard NVQ Level 2 course can take many months, making it quite a troublesome hurdle to overcome. Many budding tradesmen and women, particularly those with families and/or full-time jobs, simply don't have time to put in the necessary work. However, there is a way around this problem: fast track NVQ courses from Access Training Academies!

Why should you do a fast-track NVQ with Access Training?

Our industry experience allows us to guide learners through the entire NVQ Level 2 process in a matter of weeks, not months. After a brief interview (which allows us to assess your current skill level and plan your NVQ course accordingly), we will help you to gather the requisite evidence, complete your portfolio, and gain that all-important diploma within the shortest possible timeframe.

Our NVQ Level 2 courses are designed for people who already have some experience in their chosen field, but would like to gain a qualification so that they can work on-site, or start their own business quickly! If you're a novice looking for training from the ground up, we highly recommend you take a look at our essential courses. All of our essential courses are designed for beginners who have no or limited knowledge of their chosen trade.

What fast-track NVQ Level 2 courses do you offer?

Here at Access Training, we offer a number of fast-track NVQ level 2 courses in plastering, plumbing, and carpentry. Contact us now to learn more about them! Whether you're interested in NVQ Level 2 carpentry, NVQ Level 2 plumbing, or NVQ Level 2 plastering, we have a fast-track course to suit you. Take a look at our different fast-track NVQ level 2 courses using the buttons below:

If you're not quite ready for the NVQ assessment just yet, don't worry - we offer a wide range of trade courses for learners of all levels. We even provide live online training, so you can begin mastering your trade from the comfort of your own home! So, if you're ready to start a new career...

Browse Our Trade Courses >

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The first quarter of 2016 looks as if it will prove to be an exceptionally busy period for the UK's tradesmen and women. If you work in the construction industry, you may already have noticed a surge in demand since the start of the year, and there's every reason to believe that the need for competent, professional tradespeople will remain high for the forseeable future.

So why are tradespeople run off their feet at the moment?

Flood damage. If you switched on the TV over Christmas, you're probably aware of the flooding that affected certain parts of the UK recently. While the flood waters have now receded (at time of writing, no severe flood warnings are in place), people are still dealing with the aftermath; the floods caused a lot of damage, and the necessary repairs will reportedly cost billions of pounds. According to simplybusiness.co.uk, tradespeople from "right across the board" can expect "a busy first quarter", with homes throughout the UK requiring all sorts of different repairs. Structural damage, ruined electrical systems, rooms ravaged by flood waters...all of these things will need to be put right by experienced professionals.
Cold weather. Even in years without flooding, winter tends to be an especially busy time of year for the average tradesperson. Plumbers are kept particularly busy during the colder months, with low temperatures leading to burst pipes and other problems. Gas engineers are also in high demand - the weather has been abnormally cold of late, which means that Britain's boilers are working overtime right now!
A shortage of competent tradespeople. As we've mentioned previously, Britain is currently battling a major skills shortage - there simply aren't enough qualified tradespeople to go around. Supply is falling desperately short of demand, and this problem will only be exacerbated by the cold weather and the widespread flood damage.

Demand for qualified tradespeople is higher than ever right now; wages have skyrocketed, and many workers are actually turning jobs down because their schedules are so full. While this could be a big problem for Britain, it does mean that now is a great time to learn a trade and turn professional - whether you choose to become a plumber, a bricklayer, an electrician, or something else again, you're unlikely to have any problems finding work!

Would you like to retrain and become a professional tradesperson? If so, please contact Access Training Academies today - we'll help you to book your course and gain the qualifications you need to succeed!

20Jan2016

2016 Set to Be a Busy Year for Tradespeople

Ian construction

Access Training Academies

Get your NVQ Level 2 Diploma in a matter of weeks!

Why should you do a fast-track NVQ with Access Training?

What fast-track NVQ Level 2 courses do you offer?

Browse Our Trade Courses >

08Jan2016

Fast Track NVQ Level 2 Courses

Ian

In an age where we order food, meet our partners and find local services all via the convenience mobile apps, it's hardly surprising that people are already exploring the ways in which these innovations can be used to benefit the home services industry.

US Electrical entrepreneur Sean Murphy is doing just that, having developed and app that aims to connect home-owners with service providers, such as plumbers and electricians. Much like the highly popular taxi hailing service Uber, the app would allow people in need of services to find local professionals, who would then contact them to discuss the job.

Super Handy (formerly Super) is still in the very early stages, with only around 400 users and 500 professionals using it so far, however, it is still very interesting to consider how this or similar apps could affect the way the industry operates in the future. Not only could this mean a greater demand for services, thanks to the ease and simplicity of contacting a trades person and setting up the job, but it could also lead to an 'instant feedback', review-based approach to hiring a professional.

Although Murphy himself admits that when he set up his family electrical business, much of the trade he gained was through word-of-mouth, apps like his could revolutionize our approach to seeking out and employing the services of industry workers. While he admits that the process is far from being streamlined yet, the rapid contact and review method of similar apps is something that could, if well-executed, hugely benefit both well-established businesses and new trades people.

While technology is often criticised for robbing jobs as opposed to creating them, evidence often shows that technology does more to create new opportunities that it does to reduce them. It is clear that the door to success is open to almost anyone who is willing to take advantage of the opportunities given to them, whether this means using your professional knowledge to start your own business, or simply having enough confidence in your abilities to promote yourself online.

Whether you have ambitions to start your own business, or simply want to ensure that you have the best training possible to secure positive feedback in an increasingly demanding society, then why not consider one of our fantastic training courses? Like Murphy, you could train to become an electrician, with a view to starting your own business, or simply take up one of the many much-needed skilled trades that are hugely in-demand, particularly in the current climate.

For more information about our courses and changing your career, feel free to get in touch today, or follow us on Twitter for more industry news and updates about Access Training.

23Dec2015

Uber for Electricians?

Ian

Did you catch the Apprentice final on Sunday? If so, you'll already know that the winning candidate was Joseph Valente from Peterborough; he saw off fierce competition from runner-up Vana Koutsomitis to become the programme's eleventh winner, and the fifth to receive a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.

So what was Joseph's big idea? A plumbing business! Impra-Gas offer a range of plumbing and gas services to customers across the UK, and the company will no doubt benefit massively from the £250k cash injection (not to mention all the publicity!)

While both finalists would have made worthy winners, we must admit that it was somewhat heartening to see a gas/plumbing company triumph over Vana's more futuristic business proposal (an app called DatePlay that combines online dating with mobile gaming to find your perfect match). More impressive still is the story of Joseph Valente's success - here's how he told it in an interview with BBC News yesterday:

"I was expelled from school when I was around 15 and it looked pretty grim at the time. But I always knew I was going to be very, very successful...I created an opportunity in plumbing and I went to work with a local plumber for a year. He put me through college when I was 16...I owe a lot to the plumbing industry."

We at Access Training have helped countless people to earn their gas/plumbing qualifications and join the industry. Many of our students are people who have been working in offices for years and need a change of scenery, but we also help young people who find themselves in the same situation as Mr Valente: young people who have left school and aren't sure what to do next. University isn't the only option - in fact, it often isn't an option at all - and our courses allow those seeking an alternative route to learn a new trade from scratch and turn it into a lucrative career.

Joseph Valente's plumbing business was reportedly turning over £370,000 per year even before he appeared on The Apprentice. Figures like that aren't uncommon in the plumbing industry; this country is still pretty short on qualified tradespeople, and this skills gap often allows our students to make far more as plumbers and gas engineers than they ever would have made working at desks. If the Apprentice final has inspired you to learn a trade and start your own business, then please get in touch with Access Training today!

Click here to view our plumbing courses

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Click here to view our gas training packages

22Dec2015

Apprentice Winner Joseph Valente: "I Owe a Lot to the Plumbing Industry"

Ian

With 2016 fast approaching, now is the perfect time to consider a career change or think about learning some new skills. If you're looking for an area of industry that offers a steady stream of work and income, then why not train to become a plumber?

At Access Training, we offer a range of plumbing courses, to suit both beginners as well as experienced plumbers:

Our Essential Plumbing Course is great for people who want to learn the basics of the trade, setting a foundation on which to build a portfolio of plumbing skills in order to go on to further training.

For a combination of practical and technical plumbing knowledge, our Professional Plumbing Course will equip you with all the skills you need to become a professional plumber. By the end of the course, you will have achieved the qualifications necessary to start your career in plumbing. While this course is designed with beginners in mind, it would also suit experienced candidates looking to update their skills.

Candidates who are looking to become professional plumbers/heating engineers should consider our Premier Plumbing Course, which will allow you to also gain multiple gas and electrical qualifications, enabling you to join the Gas Safe Register and take on a wider variety of jobs.

If you're interested in enrolling on one of our courses or finding out more information, please feel free to get in touch with us today.

For regular updates about Access Training, you can follow us on Twitter.

17Dec2015

Train to Become a Plumber

Ian

Job loss is, sadly, a very common occurrence in the United Kingdom these days. Austerity and budget cuts have put hundreds of thousands of people out of work in recent years; a This is Money article published in 2012 suggests that, between May 2010 and November 2012, almost 660,00 jobs were lost in the public sector alone, and this regrettable trend seems to be alive and well in 2015. The British steel industry, for example, has been in the headlines recently, with one report from the Guardian indicating that 1 in 6 steel workers is now "facing the axe".

However, several other news reports have proved that it is possible to bounce back from job loss and find lucrative new work elsewhere. Earlier this week, the Sunderland Echo published a story about four men who recently found themselves unemployed when the SSI steelworks in Redcar closed down; the closure came as a "devastating blow" to Chris, Richard, Nicholas and Matthew, but happily, they have since succeeded in completing a 17th Edition Wiring Regulations course and are now en route to their new careers as professional electricians.

And this is just one such story. Countless people across the UK have responded to job loss by learning a new trade, gaining industry-recognised qualifications, and starting afresh in a rewarding new role; a cliché it may be, but the assertion that 'losing your job is an opportunity' is often very true!

If you have recently lost your job - or if you are simply looking for a change - Access Training Academies can help you to start a new career as an electrician. Browse our Electrician Courses now, or contact us to learn more about the training programmes we offer.

10Dec2015

Electrician Courses Offer Life After Job Loss

Ian electrical

This year, the United Kingdom has been facing its biggest skills shortage for a generation. There are huge talent gaps across a number of professions, including bricklaying and plumbing.

The scarcity of plumbers is now having large repercussions as we enter the winter months; not only are a number of construction firms having to cancel or delay new projects, a number of private firms are finding themselves unable to cope with the increased demand for plumbing maintenance and repair this winter. The country’s shortage of plumbers (combined with the increase in sick leave that’s to be expected at this time of year) is leaving older/vulnerable people without heating and hot water for extended periods of time.

In Sunderland this week, a diabetic pensioner went for 40 hours without heating or hot water because an emergency repair team was unable to cope with demand. It is reported that they had 10 emergency plumbers that were supposed to be working over the weekend; however, seven of the ten plumbers were off because of illness. This is not an isolated case, nor is it a regional shortage. This scenario is common throughout the whole of the United Kingdom.

The current skills shortage means that people who are willing to gain the skills to become a qualified plumber are getting heavily rewarded for their work. Fully qualified plumbers can earn between £1,200 and £1,800 a week, and because of the skills shortage, there is no shortage of work available. In short: there has never been a better time to enrol on a plumbing training course and gain the qualifications needed to become a professional plumber.

We at Access Training offer a large variety of trade training courses, from plumbing courses for people who have no or limited plumbing experience through to courses designed for professional plumbers looking to refresh their knowledge or to gain extra skills.

So, no matter where you live, what your circumstances are, or what your experience level is, we are confident that we have the perfect course for you.

Click here to view our plumbing training courses.

09Dec2015

Trade Skills Shortage: Plumbers Unable to Meet Winter Demand

Ian plumbing

Joining the Gas Safe Register is a rite of passage for all trainee gas engineers, but more importantly, it's a legal requirement for anyone who wishes to carry out gas installations in the UK. Unregistered individuals who work on gas appliances are breaking the law and may be prosecuted.

One cautionary example is that of Michael Birch from St Austell in Cornwall. Earlier this week, Mr Birch was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the Gas Safety Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

What did he do wrong?

Back in 2013, Michael Birch (who is not a Gas Safe-registered engineer) installed a gas boiler in a property in St Austell. The boiler - specifically the flue - was not installed correctly, which the homeowner noticed and reported to the Gas Safe Register. It eventually transpired that, after Mr Birch had finished installing the boiler, he had asked a registered gas engineer named Peter Hopper to 'sign off' on his work, which Mr Hopper did in spite of the unsafe state of the installation.

(Incidentally, Peter Hopper was also sentenced this week - he was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 for illegally commissioning the work.)

All of this serves as a stern reminder of how important it is to join the Gas Safe Register before commencing any gas installations of your own. Unregistered personnel risk prosecution and hefty fines, but worse still, they risk compromising people's safety. Had the homeowner in this cautionary tale failed to notice the problems with their boiler, the story's ending could have been far grimmer than a mere fine.

How do I join the Gas Safe Register?

In order to join the Gas Safe Register and legally carry out gas installation work, you will first need to complete an ACS assessment. This is included as a component of Access Training's Premier Gas Course, which is open to candidates of all levels, including absolute beginners. More experienced individuals can undergo the assessment on its own.

Click here to browse Access Training's full range of gas training courses, or contact us to discuss the options we offer.

Source: Health and Safety Executive

04Dec2015

Unregistered Gas Engineer Fined £2,000 for Illegal Boiler Installation

Ian

Does your work day leave you feeling bored and unfulfilled? Are you considering taking the plunge and embarking on a new career? If so, Access Training can help!

We provide a number of City & Guilds-accredited electrical training courses, covering every aspect of electrical work. For people who have little to no prior knowledge of the electrical trade, we provide three course options:

Essential Electrical Course (2 qualifications)
Professional Electrical Course (5 qualifications)
Premier Electrical Course (6 qualifications)

Each of these courses will get you trained to a progressively more advanced level; for example, the 'Essentials' course is ideal for those who wish to learn the basics, while the 'Professional' and 'Premier' courses will furnish you with a number of additional industry-recognised qualifications to help you go further.

Electrical Training for Experienced Candidates

If you already have some experience of electrical work and wish to gain further qualifications, we offer a variety of courses for you, too. Options include:

Portable Appliance Testing (City & Guilds 2377) - A requirement for anyone who is inspecting and testing electrical systems.
Inspection and Testing (City & Guilds 2394) - This course covers design, installation and testing, meeting legal requirements, and issuing safety certificates.
Electrical Design Course (City & Guilds 2396) - This is the highest qualification in the electrical trade, covering designing electrical installations, calculating required materials, and inspecting, testing and verifying all installations.
Part P & 17th Edition for Experienced Installers – This qualification will allow you to re-wire entire houses, install electrical systems in dwellings, wire up home extensions, and carry out installations in commercial spaces.

So if you are serious about a change of career and wish to start training as a professional electrician, give us a call on 0800 345 7492 to book your place on one of our electrical training courses. Our training programmes are flexible, intensive, and affordable - no matter what your current commitments are, we can help you to get the qualifications you need!

03Dec2015