FUNDED NVQ IN SITE CARPENTRY FOR HYDE-BASED JOINER, CRAIG

“I went from dead-end job to dead-end job on a low wage, washing cars and things like that. Eventually I realised I needed to get a trade,” says Craig.

Now a 42 year old self-employed joiner with KT Builders in Stockport, Craig has just achieved his first NVQ qualification.

Craig learnt the joinery trade through a combination of working onsite alongside experienced joiners and attending diploma evening classes at his local college. After four years, he completed his diploma and assumed he was set. But that wasn’t the case.

“Over the years I’d had apprentices working for me and I’d see a lot of my colleagues gain their NVQs through onsite assessment,” explains Craig. “I didn’t think it was something I needed to do as I’d completed my City & Guilds course at college. But when I went to apply for my CSCS Skilled Worker card, I was told I needed an NVQ”.

ESF Funded NVQ in Site Carpentry

With the help of his wife, Craig found DMR Training who signed him up to NVQ Level 2 in Site Carpentry, accessing ESF funding from the Skills Support for the Workforce initiative. He admits that he didn’t think government funding for experienced workers was still available and was dubious at first. Any doubts were soon banished once he started the qualification.

The Hyde resident spent four months working alongside his joinery assessor, Panna Singh, collecting work-based evidence, completing coursework and being observed onsite.

“Panna was brilliant,” says Craig. “He came out to visit me at work several times and watched me hanging doors; doing flooring, architraves, skirting and joist work; and fitting hardware like hinges”.

Progression to NVQ Level 3

Craig, who also employs his joinery skills in his spare time building and renovating campervans, now plans to apply for his CSCS Skilled Worker card and progress to NVQ Level 3.

Apply for NVQ funding with DMR Training

At DMR Training we have access to NVQ funding for a range of construction trades including joinery, plastering, dry lining, bricklaying, groundwork, painting and decorating, roofing and plant operations . If you live or work within Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Sheffield City Region and have at least three years’ experience in your trade, visit our NVQ funding page to find out how we can help.