5
February
2013
Free NVQ Level 2 Qualifications for the Construction Industry
The Qualifying the Existing Workforce project will assess 500 currently unqualified, experienced, employed construction workers to NVQ Level 2, helping to increase productivity and meet the industry’s skills challenge. The project is being delivered by CITB-ConstructionSkills NI in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) and the Joint Council for the Building & Civil Engineering Industry.
Eligibility
• This scheme is open to both private sector employers with unqualified employed experienced workers and to unqualified experienced individuals employed in the private sector.
• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK (i.e. have a National Insurance number).
• Candidates must not have an existing Level 2 or equivalent qualification.
Occupations Available for Qualifying the Existing Workforce
Access Plant
Bench Joinery
Bituminous Paving – Machine
Bricklaying
Compacting Plant
Concrete Drilling & Sawing
Concrete Finisher
Concrete Paving – Machine
Construction Operative
Cranes
Demolition Plant Operator
Earthmoving Plant
Fibrous Plastering
Forklift Trucks
Formwork
High Friction Surfacing – Machine
High Friction Surfacing – Manual
Highways Maintenance
In Situ Flooring
Lay Screed Floors
Loading & Securing Plant
Non Structural Concreting
Painting & Decorating
Pavement Marking
Piling Operative
Piling Rig Operator
Planing – Machine
Processing Plant
Shopfitting Bench Work
Shopfitting Site Work
Site Carpentry
Solid Plastering
Steel Fixer
Structural Concreting
Surface Dressing – Machine
Transporting Loads
Wall and Floor Tiling
Assessment Methods
There are three routes available for qualification including:
• Portfolio Building
• On Site Assessment
• Experienced Worker
What does assessment by these routes involve?
• Portfolio building: Candidates build a portfolio of evidence from a range of sources e.g. testimonials from supervisors, written statements etc. The average time taken to complete is 6 months.
• On site assessment: An assessor visits the candidate on site 3 or 4 times over a period of approximately 3 – 6 months. This method recognises existing competences and little training should be required if candidates are experienced.
• Experienced worker: This method is only available for limited number of trades. Extensive experience is required and there should be no training at all required. It involves a discussion with an assessor (called a professional discussion) and a practical assessment which covers all the skills required by the NVQ.
Please note:
Funding is limited to assessment and qualification, any additional training required is at the employer’s or individual’s expense, though may be grant aided by CITB-ConstructionSkills NI for registered employers.
For more information on the scheme and to find your local assessment centre, visit www.citbcsni.org.uk/Qualifying-the-Existing-Workforce-(QEW)
