Monumental Moment for Farmers Bronze Restoration: NVQ Funding Helps 30-Year-Old Family-Run Restoration Business
Whilst Farmers Bronze Restoration may not be as old as some of the monuments they help to preserve, they’re a family business with a proud tradition.
Started in the 1980s with ‘the legendary Wally Farmer at the helm’, the firm is now run by Mark Livingstone and his partner, Tracy Farmer.
Passionate About Work
Based in Stockport, Mark and Tracy specialise in the restoration and maintenance of bronze monuments, statues and construction components. “We undertake any kind of work to renovate bronze and marble,” explains Mark. “It’s work we’re very passionate about”.
In recent years, Mark and Tracy were becoming increasingly aware of the need to gain vocational qualifications and CSCS cards so they could tender for larger scale work. CSCS card ownership is becoming a mandatory requirement for construction-related workers on many sites – a trend that is likely to continue (find out more about the CSCS card scheme here).
NVQ Funding
After consultation with DMR Training, Mark and Tracy enrolled on a government-funded NVQ Level 2 in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations with an additional unit in Applying Coatings by Air Spray. “We’re only a small, family-run business so funding was a godsend,” says Mark.
During their NVQ, Mark and Tracy were observed onsite by DMR assessor, Steve Graham, applying lacquer to metal components of a shopfront, using access equipment and erecting scaffold and barriers. They were also asked to complete detailed job cards relating to the bronze restoration of a statue of a soldier on Colwyn Bay War Memorial.
“I’m not the most academic person but I’ve got plenty of common sense,” says Mark. “Steve was very helpful in simplifying some of the academic aspects of the NVQ such as the knowledge questions. We learned a lot from the qualification, especially from the health and safety units”.
Mark Livingston and Tracy Farmer restoring Colwyn Bay War Memorial
Growing the Business
Mark, who also runs his own motorcycle MOT and repair business from a local garage, believes that having the NVQ and CSCS card will help him continue to grow the firm. “The NVQ is like a stamped seal of approval, and gaining our CSCS cards is good for the future of the business”.
Visit Farmers Bronze Restoration at www.bronzerestorationservices.co.uk.
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.
