PLASTERING NVQ HELPS LUKE GAIN PAY PARITY AND A TICKET TO OZ

When Luke Wainwright first enquired with us about doing a plastering NVQ in 2019, he was vexed that he wasn’t on the same pay rate as other plasterers at the firm where he worked. Despite diving head first into the plastering trade when he left school at 16 and then working full-time for five years, Luke was earning less than the going rate.

Frustrated that his skills were underselling his earnings, Luke knew it was time to gain a vocational qualification and a CSCS Skilled Worker card.

“I was never told that I couldn’t plaster,” says Luke. “But I never received a day rate because I didn’t have my NVQ and CSCS card. My goal was to gain my qualification and apply for my card so that I could demonstrate that I was a fully qualified plasterer”.

Twelve months on and the 21-year-old Yorkshireman is flying high. Since finishing the NVQ, Luke has set himself up as a self-employed plasterer. He is now earning more money as a direct result of his qualification, and he recently completed the PASMA course in mobile access towers.

To achieve his NVQ, Luke undertook a range of assessment activities. These included onsite observations by his NVQ assessor, gathering of work-based evidence such as photographs and videos, and completing job knowledge coursework.

“I know my trade – I’ve been doing it for five years”

“I felt confident about the NVQ from the start,” says Luke. “I know my trade – I’ve been doing it for five years – and it also helped that I’m young and went to college fairly recently”.

Luke now feels that with his NVQ behind him, he’s well-placed to achieve his career goals. “Finally getting the certificate saying I was fully qualified was a big relief,” he says.

“The biggest benefit of the NVQ is that I can now go to any site, anywhere in the country, and get on without any issues”.

Ticket to Australia

Another advantage of his NVQ is that it opens up doors to work abroad.

“In 2021, I plan to work in Australia for a couple of years and my NVQ will help with this. When I come back, I’d like to set up my own company and have people working for me”.

Skills Support for the Workforce

Luke’s NVQ Level 2 in Plastering was funded by the Skills Support for the Workforce programme – part-funded by the European Social Fund. Funding is available for construction workers in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and parts of the Sheffield City Region. Contact us today to find out if you’re eligible.