Ello! NVQ Required Before 2010?

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clinton78

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Hi, Cool a plastering forum.

I've got a question regarding the apparent need for an NVQ in plastering by 2010?

Basically me and my dad are a 2 man self employed plastering team. I've been in the trade now for about 5 years and my dad about 35 years. I'm still working on a 5 year Labourers CSCS card but my dad has a 1 year skilled workers card that apparently when it runs out he has to do an NVQ in plastering to get another skilled workers CSCS card? Now I've read that by 2010 it will be compulsory for any tradesman working on site to hold a CSCS card with the relevant qualification for the trade they are doing 'ie' NVQ level 2 in plastering etc? I've also heard that you cannot simply get away with only a 5 year labourers card and still do plastering on site. I know that this really depends on how tight the site manager is but I don't want to be in a position where we can't get on certain sites because we don't have the right cscs cards so we would rather get this NVQ on site assessment thing out of the way.

I have found on the net several firms offering these NVQ site visit assessments for free via the governments Train2Gain scheme? Are these sites legit or just a scam who will eventually want me to part with my cash? Anyone know if we have to pay for the assessment etc and if so approx how much? If this stupid rule does rigidly come into effect I can see a lot of old school tradesmen getting screwed. Anyone have any suggestions, advice, same problems?

Cheers in advance for the replies. ;)

Clint
 
Contact your local learning and skills council or college for the best advice in your area mate. T2G is only available to individuals who have not got a level 2 qual or equivalent.
 
Hello nope not a scam!

I did my NVQ very easy to do any body with half a brain can do it and I didn't have to pay a thing!!

Most companies get a grant from the government

Good luck

Danny
 
Hi gents thanks for your replies.

I will look into local training places. Would it make any difference if we were just self employed not the owners of a company (Getting it free)?

Cheers

Clint
 
hope not im on the basic card and ive got no intention of paying for mine .....keep us posted on what you find out mate ;)
 
After 28 years in the trade I got my first qualification (NVQ3) last November for the same reasons as you. I went on the CSCS website where I found a help number which when phoned they gave me a list of people to contact. If you've got the evidence to show that you have done "complex internal and external plastering" then go for the NVQ3 this entitles you to a CSCS gold card and you only get it for nothing if you haven't got any other qualifications. The guys from the college only visited me twice but I had prepared a lot of paper evidence and photos to make it as easy as possible for them.
 
i think its a joke, like a lot on here i have been plastering 25 years , the apprentice i have will have his in 2 weeks and knows jack all. and as for the people who turn up to assess you. failed tradesman all of them. how the hell is it going to improve the industry.
 
its justa moneymaking scheme having to resit the test every 5 years is a joke and now they are bringing in chipped cards to hold all info on which will inevitably cost more.
 
i'd understand if it was a proper test so there'd be more to go rund for lads who pass the test.............it's a money scheme to make money out of us and give the pen pushers jobs
 
Its all B*******S What happens if you are a compentent multi trader i.e. plasterer, bricklayer, chippie for example do you need three cards? We are being ripped of by this crap all the time, whatever happened to the days when you turned up on site and if you werent good enough by 9am you were gone, but that was how we learnt.
Lucius.
 
got mine ages ago and its been mentioned on here loads of times so no one can be shocked every trade is being targeted so its across the board the rights and wrongs of it are another thing and any type of acreditation has to be good (im off)
 
i was warnin lads on ebuild 6 years ago about this but would they listen hahahahaha mine has just ran out so i will have to resit a test but hey not arsed. A lot of the lads were sayin just get a labourers card and your sweet well hey its all changed and ive always said, it will be domestics next i guarantee it. Its got to do with insurance if youve got 20 plasterers on labourers cards youve really got an unskilled work force meaning big insurance for all and a chance you wont get the contract. ive advertised my cscs card on my website fortunetly its gold and has all my quals on the back and when i go to look at a job i always advise the customer to ask other plasterers who are comin round to show theres to prove there skills in an environment where money is tight and they want a good job this sometimes gives me an advantage and gets rid of a few spreads in the future a lot more customers will be askin to see them when they become aware they exist.
 
flynnyman said:
i was warnin lads on ebuild 6 years ago about this but would they listen hahahahaha mine has just ran out so i will have to resit a test but hey not arsed. A lot of the lads were sayin just get a labourers card and your sweet well hey its all changed and ive always said, it will be domestics next i guarantee it. Its got to do with insurance if youve got 20 plasterers on labourers cards youve really got an unskilled work force meaning big insurance for all and a chance you wont get the contract. ive advertised my cscs card on my website fortunetly its gold and has all my quals on the back and when i go to look at a job i always advise the customer to ask other plasterers who are comin round to show theres to prove there skills in an environment where money is tight and they want a good job this sometimes gives me an advantage and gets rid of a few spreads in the future a lot more customers will be askin to see them when they become aware they exist.
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From what i understand its a piece off piss to get this, which, to me makes it a waste of time, unless your'e going on site. And lets face it, it's all skim work and no float and set. How do you prove that you can float and set, etc, to get the gold card.........show pictures, lots of visits to jobs, or do they just believe any thing you say. basically how do they know what you can do, as i want to know if its worth the paper its written on.
 
Maybe just maybe it'll get rid of a lot of so called plasterers as well that we all complain about. At the end of the day if it gets rid of the cowboys it means more money and work for good plasterers.
 
The Apprentice said:
Maybe just maybe it'll get rid of a lot of so called plasterers as well that we all complain about. At the end of the day if it gets rid of the cowboys it means more money and work for good plasterers.
Click to expand...
Good point, but if they are making it so easy to get the card surely its not worth the paper it's written on. There are posts on here where some bloke turned up and the labourer had a trowel on the wall,....hey presto, he is a plasterer, and signed off as. Whole thing is a joke......But for some, needs must.
 
Thanks for your replies gents.

Yes it is a complete load of B/S but we will be forced into it or we will not be able to get on site or into savvy clients homes but there will always be some t**t who has done the NVQ with no experience at all who will do...Fact! Me and my dad are just gonna get it out of the way with. It's just going to be a bit of a pain in the arse arranging it all. If I was you guys I would consider doing it sooner rather than later because the government is not going to fund it forever. Personally I hope the scheme falls flat on it's face but there's a good chance it won't. Better to be safe than sorry and skint! I'll keep you posted on our adventure in the land of NVQ's.

Cheers

Clint
 
so your saying i wont be able to skim in some 1 house next year..... but ill be able to decorate as i am nvq qulified. whats gona stop me from skimming when i get through the door
 
Depends how rigid this rule becomes when it comes into effect but if it is rigid on site you will not be allowed to do any plastering but you will be able to do painting and decorating as you have an NVQ for this. As for in someone's home yeah your right nothing is going to stop you from skimming once in the door so to speak but as I pointed out if it is a savvy/clued-up client asking to see your qualifications before you start then no you won't be able to (up to the savvy house owner really?). I mean say for instance in a couple of years they make a big thing out it on national TV programs like dodgy builders etc that you should ask to see a tradesmans qualifications before you let them start work on your house like Plumbers have to. Your gonna be fckd? As I said I hope it falls flat on it's face and it just gets forgotten about but theres a good chance it won't.

Cheers

Clint
 
just rang a guy up an he said for domestics there going down that route but mabye not for 2010 but definatly for the future....
basicly people wont be able 2 sell there house's if they do work to them or any1 who isnt quilified.... if thats the case people wont be able to decorate there own homes.. and people who have wonky walls becacuse jack built the house... they'll have to knock the house down and rebuild it before dai the plasterer can come and skim his perfectly square wall. cant seen how its gona work myself. were's the line between good and bad for example i did a job for some 1 who had a room boarded out by a carpenter and the walls were no were near square... i said that to the customer and he said do the best job u can..... so i did, but the walls were not square. maybe i should of refused to do the job..

also say if u do a job for someone and cracks appear becuse its a old house or tempreture.. they wont see it like that. they say u dont know what u doing. and u wont be able to go in a house again.

also if any1 wants any trowels ive got loads for sale :'( :'( :'(

i'll just have 2 work 4 people who dont want to sell up.... or work in the night when nobody watching

or skim the room and apply lining paper to hide the plaster. ahhhhhhhh

surly if it was true they would have to give u a bit more notice.
 
Crazy >:( I really don't see how people who know a few trades are gonna get by I mean are they going to need to take loads of different NVQ's? Will cost a bomb?

Clint
 
This is what they asses you on for an NVQ Level 2 in Plastering:

All of these:
VR01: Conform to general workplace safety
VR02: Conform to efficient work practices
VR03: Move and handle resources
VR66: Produce internal solid plastering finishes
VR67: Produce external solid render finishes (???? Don't know about this one as i've seen another list and it was one of the optional units like below?)


Then you pick any 2 optional units from:
VR65: Apply finishing plaster to background surfaces
VR68: Install direct bond dry linings
VR69: Lay sand and cement screeds
VR70: Apply projection plaster and maintain equipment
VR71: Install mechanically fixed plasterboard

Cheers
Clint
 
ive already done VR01 2 and 3

so all id have to do is vR66 and vR67

how much rendering do i need to do for this and what finishes...... does it have to be outside. cheers
 
Dunno? I presume it would have to be external. I have not done the course yet. I found a similar list the other day which said that External rendering was an optional unit? (Cant find). But found this new list today which says its mandatory?

Can you get away with showing them photo evidence of you doing the unit's?

Cheers

clint
 
did mine last year. osat, didn't cost anything. was a joke to be honest, don't want to upset anyone, but as i understand it, the assessors get paid for each person that passes so its in their interest to pass people. only saw the bloke twice, gave him a handful of photos of me fixing board, d +d, floating and skimming, i didn't send any evidence of me rendering but i still got a certificate?! (i can render though)
 
Ring cscs 08704 178777 tell them what you want to do and they will put you in touch with your local rep. I did NVQ 3 and got a gold card for FREE.
 
Any clown can get an NVQ level2, (not that you're a clown if you have one) but from my experience a lot more questions and evidence was required to get the level3. I was asked to prove that I could do the following

VR01- Conform to General Workplace Safety
VR209- Confirm Work Activities and Resources for the Work
VR210- Develop and Maintain Good Working Relationships
VR211- Confirm the Occupational Method of Work
VR71- Install Mechanically Fixed Plasterboard
VR76- Produce Complex Internal Solid Plastering Finishes
VR77- Produce Complex External Rendering Finishes

I had to show the assessors work I had completed and a site agent had to sign a form saying that the work was mine and confirm a good working relationship over a prolonged period of time. I think the NVQ3 and CSCS Gold Card is the way to go if you wish to stand out from the masses, one thing is for sure it can't hurt.
 
The 2 main issues with all the evidence etc is that organisations do get paid for people achieving and also their centre may have its approval withdrawn if they do not meet the national benchmarks of all other organisations. The other problem is that people do stand in front of walls etc., that others may have done, and claim that they have done it.

Both areas desperately need addressing however the government have set targets of a certain % of the workforce being NVQ2 accredited and it wouldn't do to have egg on ones face would it? Having said all that the assessor should be asking questions on the work that is claimed to check the candidates underpinning knowledge.

Looking at it from a different angle, would you 3 coat float an area that you could get away with by giving 2 really thick coats to?
 
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