NVQ full time 6 week course - Seeking Advice

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Smokey

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Hi all

I am about to embark on a full time six week plastering course with Gold Trowel of which provides me with the opportunity of being assessed for my NVQ L2. Could I ask if there is anyone that could offer me feed-back on Gold Trowel? Also, could I ask forum members whether it is possible to achieve the NVQ L2 within the 6 week period. Whilst I have done some labouring for a plasterer I have no current experience.

Thanks in advance for your help
 
you cant get an nvq from a 6 week course, they may be able to give you some experience, and i am sure they charge you for the assessment, you need to be working in order to get your nvq 2 as the assessor will need to see the work you have done,and it will take longer than 6 weeks in order to gather all the PROOF required (portfolio of work). I am sure that spunky will come on and give you his words of wisdom about gold trowel, I am however sure that with the money you are going to pay them if you offered someone local to you some money they would train you up and get you through your NVQ, and you never know they may actually not charge you and pay you for your time if you are willing to work hard and pay attention
 
Gold trowel is an excellent training facility probably one of the best ive seen and yes you probably could get your level 2, there are plenty of lads on here who have never stepped foot in a college or training centre who maybe just possess a camera who have gone on to gain their level 2. But if your asking will i be the finished product after 6 weeks? the answer is no, but you will be at a very good starting point to go on and do jobs for friends, family and be in a better position to get a start with another plasterer, who hopefully knows what he or she is doin, to give you that bit extra you need to go out into the big bad world OH and welcome.............................now the abuse starts :)
 
peterroberts said:
you cant get an nvq from a 6 week course, they may be able to give you some experience, and i am sure they charge you for the assessment, you need to be working in order to get your nvq 2 as the assessor will need to see the work you have done,and it will take longer than 6 weeks in order to gather all the PROOF required (portfolio of work). I am sure that spunky will come on and give you his words of wisdom about gold trowel, I am however sure that with the money you are going to pay them if you offered someone local to you some money they would train you up and get you through your NVQ, and you never know they may actually not charge you and pay you for your time if you are willing to work hard and pay attention
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Hi Pete,

Many tanks for you kind reply.

I have been advised by Gold Trowel that they are able to conduct on site assessments from their premises and that will also assist me build the required portfolio. The cost for the course is expensive but not having been in a position to gain an apprenticeship with a time served plasterer leaves me with no alternative other than to take the course. The only training I have ever received as a plasterers labourer is to make coffee and use a broom and this has been in despite of my effortas in being more than willing to listen and learn. As Gold Trowel are NVQ accredited, I have assumed that I could achieve the NVQ within the 6 weeks as they have claimed. Is this not correct?

I would also like to remark on some of the more negative comments from forum members. For information purposes, I am fully aware that gaining an NVQ will not magically provide me with the experience necessary to work on site, nor would I have the audacity to consider myself a plasterer. Gaining the NVQ, will as Pete has quite rightly pointed out, simply provide me with the basic skills which will hopefully give me the opportunity of working for fiends and family and also help my prospects of working with a time served professional. My dedication to wanting to learn the trade is surely reflected in the fact that I have had to save like crazy for months to attend the course. How much more committed do I have to be?
Thanks Pete for your response, its much appreciated.
 
regarding your comment about the negative comments from the forum,better get used to it smokey as this is nothing compared to being on site,lot worse to come,you should have just laughed this banter off instead of making this comment, what you fail to realise and do not understand is that we have all served 3/5 year apprenticeships, and now its down to 6 week courses. despite this you do seem keen and eager hope it carries on, but awful long way to go.
 
Hi Hector,

I honestly appreciate where you coming from Hector but I have just seen so many negative comments from time served members. All us young guys want is to be able to help ourselves develop a career. As you will appreciate, apprenticeships are not readily available had there have been this would have been my preferred method of training. My Dad is an electrician and had to take City and Guilds and was lucky to have been able to work for his Dad who assisted with the training. I don't unfortunately have that option. I know that I'm going to have to work about 5 years after the NVQ to be anywhere near to being even considered ok at plastering but am ok with that. Thanks a lot for coming across as a human being, it's much appreciated

Best of wishes
 
Grow up, i had to re read this thread to see the negative comments and there isnt any appart from your negative comments towards the forum and its members, dont bite the hand that may feed you in the future. xxx
 
Me, grow up! I don't recall commenting about this particular thread just the comments I had read on the forum in general. The hand that will feed me will be my own.
 
Smokey said:
Me, grow up! I don't recall commenting about this particular thread just the comments I had read on the forum in general. The hand that will feed me will be my own.
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I dont recall you ever commenting in any other thread appart from this one I also notice you havent mentioned all the excellent feed back people have had on the forum. You are asking the forum whether it is possible for you to achieve the NVQ L2 within the 6 week period? **** knows we have never met you, Ive read your replys in this thread and you seem like an educated person so i doubt it :) You are the one on the forum askin questions, so the forum must be usefull in some ways and if you dont think the answers and the knowledge you could learn the forum wont be the hand that feeds you, i am wrong :(
 
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Smokey said:
Hi Pete,

Many tanks for you kind reply.

I have been advised by Gold Trowel that they are able to conduct on site assessments from their premises and that will also assist me build the required portfolio. The cost for the course is expensive but not having been in a position to gain an apprenticeship with a time served plasterer leaves me with no alternative other than to take the course. The only training I have ever received as a plasterers labourer is to make coffee and use a broom and this has been in despite of my effortas in being more than willing to listen and learn. As Gold Trowel are NVQ accredited, I have assumed that I could achieve the NVQ within the 6 weeks as they have claimed. Is this not correct?

I would also like to remark on some of the more negative comments from forum members. For information purposes, I am fully aware that gaining an NVQ will not magically provide me with the experience necessary to work on site, nor would I have the audacity to consider myself a plasterer. Gaining the NVQ, will as Pete has quite rightly pointed out, simply provide me with the basic skills which will hopefully give me the opportunity of working for fiends and family and also help my prospects of working with a time served professional. My dedication to wanting to learn the trade is surely reflected in the fact that I have had to save like crazy for months to attend the course. How much more committed do I have to be?
Thanks Pete for your response, its much appreciated.
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How much is this course gonna cost you smokey?
 
Fanny answred your question the 1st time round.Out of the training schools around Gold trowel would be the best place to go.
Your not just going to walk away with NVQ, you have the oppertunity to learn and apply yourself and if have listened, learnt and have a good feel for plastering you will pass.

But this is only the start.
 
Hi Fatarm - The course will be costing me £2580 and as I will not be able to travel everyday I shall have to take the accomodation at £25 per day for 6 weeks. Total: £3,630.Crazy expensive, I just hope that I will gain the basics to use as a platform.
 
flynnyman said:
I dont recall you ever commenting in any other thread appart from this one I also notice you havent mentioned all the excellent feed back people have had on the forum. You are asking the forum whether it is possible for you to achieve the NVQ L2 within the 6 week period? **** knows we have never met you, Ive read your replys in this thread and you seem like an educated person so i doubt it :) You are the one on the forum askin questions, so the forum must be usefull in some ways and if you dont think the answers and the knowledge you could learn the forum wont be the hand that feeds you, i am wrong :(
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I didn't say I had commented on any other thread. My comment referred to other threads I had read concerning other Guys that were seeking advice on work having gained their NVQ and the comments there were subsequently made by "some" forum members (see the reply from Kemp) ask yourself in all honesty, "was this necessary" - I had not insinuated that I knew it all, in fact I had stated I had no experience.

Review the posts again! I did in fact take the time to thank both Pete, Hector and yourself for the usefull post. What more do you expect?

Your comment about my being educated and therefore probably not being able to gain the plastering NVQ is an insult to any other plasterer that that may have attended school and passed GCSE'S.

What frightens you about education?
 
Hi Spunky

I'm a trainee sheet metal worker (2 years) The company is real small and the training I was initially promised has not occured. Not their fault, they just dont have the time. My initial plans are to take the NVQ L2 and then work for friends and familys who will allow me to take my time and do the job to the best of my ability. Clearly Im gonna have to learn from my own mistakes but sometimes this can be good. Once I have gained a little confidence I shall be seeking work from time served plasterers. I really dont mind doing this for 3 years. I'm pretty honest and will ensure that whoever is prepared to take me on will know this. I will be prepared to travel out of my own area for the training so as not to tread on any toes, as when the 3 years are complete I will be wanting to return to my own county. Does this seem to you the best hting to do? if not how would you personally go about learning the trade spunky?
 
Im 25, Im only earning £250 per week now, but I couldn't accept any less as I have to pay rent for a bedsit/car/petrol/food etc, so yes £50 per day would be excellent.
 
You're in a good position to learn the trade but it wont happen overnight......you've probably got a good feeling about what I'm going to say lol.........
If you go on Site you will probably learn as much if not more as you did on the course in the first year working with someone so there is absolutely no point in spending 3600 quid on the course, even if you did complete the course you'd still spend the rest of the year fumbling about trying to teach yourself
If you can get a job labouring with someone apart from learning the trade you get a good idea of how the building trade works, what others trades are doing around you so you get an idea of how to get over problems and make contacts 90% of my work comes from ringing around mates, after the first year trust me you will be on level par with what you would have picked up on the course and be in constant work, still progressing and you wouldn't have lost nearly 4grand! If you wanted you could put this money alongside another course that runs alongside plastering like tape jointing, metal stud or even tiling
If you did I still wouldn't untill you're confident doing the basics of plastering then you will have a better understanding especially tape jointing of what you have to do
Get yourself a cscs card and ring around local plasterers mate forget the course it's pointless
 
spunky said:
You're in a good position to learn the trade but it wont happen overnight......you've probably got a good feeling about what I'm going to say lol.........
If you go on Site you will probably learn as much if not more as you did on the course in the first year working with someone so there is absolutely no point in spending 3600 quid on the course, even if you did complete the course you'd still spend the rest of the year fumbling about trying to teach yourself
If you can get a job labouring with someone apart from learning the trade you get a good idea of how the building trade works, what others trades are doing around you so you get an idea of how to get over problems and make contacts 90% of my work comes from ringing around mates, after the first year trust me you will be on level par with what you would have picked up on the course and be in constant work, still progressing and you wouldn't have lost nearly 4grand! If you wanted you could put this money alongside another course that runs alongside plastering like tape jointing, metal stud or even tiling
If you did I still wouldn't untill you're confident doing the basics of plastering then you will have a better understanding especially tape jointing of what you have to do
Get yourself a cscs card and ring around local plasterers mate forget the course it's pointless
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Spunky, you have been a true Gent. Cheers!

I do have a CSCS Card (labourer) a few years back I did exactley what you suggested and worked for a labourer. He was a real good guy and have been advised that he was excellent at his craft. All I really learnt during the 4 months I worked for him was to mix up/make tea and generally tidy up. He explained that he just could not afford the time to train me. I was working full days for £20 during this time and didnt mind a jot. My occured when folks moved to Cambridgeshire and being young I wanted to be close to my pals. I found the job I have and this pays for my lodgings etc and unless I can earn a regular wage of £50 a day I would not be able to survive. Ive tried cold calling companies etc as you have suggested but they either have a labourer or apprentice or simply dont have the work to pay me a regular £50 for a 5 day week. I cant continue to survive on the wages im on forever and just need to develop a career. I also have an uncle in Oz who is prepared to sponser me but without the NVQ L2 they would not be interested in me. Also it would appear searching online for plasterers jobs a lot of the sites are looking for this qualification. This may not apply to the long served as they would have built up a reputation for themselves through the old apprenticeship schemes. (almost none existant now) The only reason im taking the NVQ
 
Oz is rendering and tape jointing would you're uncle pu you with someone who could take you on and teach you?
 
Their looking for Solid Plasterers Spunky - Oz is absolutely shouting for them and they are even offering fast tracks for the working VISA. My Uncle is a Panel beater but has a huge amount of contacts in the building industry. My folks also just want me to have a better life and say that having a trade is the best thing you could do, my uncle agrees with them. I know plastering isnt an easy life but what is. The sparkys are ripped off at every turn (my dads a sparky) plumbing is not for me. Ive looked at other career paths and plastering is want I really want to do.
 
Smokey you wont be a plasterer after the course mate if it gets you into oz do the course and try you're luck you could always do other work anyway
 
Spunky, thanks for your valued advice. I know the NVQ L2 is worth a pile of xxxx but us newbies will never get on sites without it over here. Its another bloody money making scheme set by the governement. Its killing people like me who just want to learn the trade. These courses for the NVQ are so expensive and will just result in less people learning trades as they will not be able to pay for them. The coutry will end up with a load of cowboys, which is exactley what they were aiming to eradicate. The NVQ will, however help me build from a very small platform and with luck and hard work I will get to learn my trade from some of the masters. Thanks for your support Spunky and very best wishes with your own business.
 
Thanks try doing more research you should be able to get the nvq for free through a local college, google plastering nvq in you're area ring them and ask if they do on site assessments then if you can get on with a lad explain youre going for you're nvq level 2 and would appreciate being taught basic skills to get you through in the meantime you can get a temporary card to get you on site that costs 30 quid
 
Smokey said:
I didn't say I had commented on any other thread. My comment referred to other threads I had read concerning other Guys that were seeking advice on work having gained their NVQ and the comments there were subsequently made by "some" forum members (see the reply from Kemp) ask yourself in all honesty, "was this necessary" - I had not insinuated that I knew it all, in fact I had stated I had no experience.

Review the posts again! I did in fact take the time to thank both Pete, Hector and yourself for the usefull post. What more do you expect?

Your comment about my being educated and therefore probably not being able to gain the plastering NVQ is an insult to any other plasterer that that may have attended school and passed GCSE'S.

What frightens you about education?
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Fair play but in the previous posts before mine you never actually mentioned other threads only "I would also like to remark on some of the more negative comments from forum members." spunky is giving you good advise which does come as a shock so well done spunky xxxxx
What part of oz are you on about who are crying out? Im not sure of the rules for sponsorship visa's but im sure you will need a Level3 for a skilled visa. There is also an Australian qual you might need if you only have the level2 have you not looked into a student visa and learn the trade over there?
 
Flynnyman, thanks for your post. Glad we sorted that out. Spunky has been cool. See the attached Link re oz. Solid Plasterer Jobs in Australia - Australian Visa Services


Your quite right, I would need to receive the equivalent Oz qualification but I have been assured by my uncle that this would best be done over there. Having carried some research, it was established that it would cost about 3k to be assessed for oz over here but no where near that if assessed in Oz. Again, this country completely stuffs you. My uncle is coming over in June next year and if I manage to gain the NVQ I will be going back with him for a year. The NVQ is is purely a stepping stone, "the first rung of the ladder" to commence my career. No way do I expect to be able to plaster to a professional standard.

i hope this info has helped clear things up

Cheers
 
spunky said:
Thanks try doing more research you should be able to get the nvq for free through a local college, google plastering nvq in you're area ring them and ask if they do on site assessments then if you can get on with a lad explain youre going for you're nvq level 2 and would appreciate being taught basic skills to get you through in the meantime you can get a temporary card to get you on site that costs 30 quid
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Hi spunky, completely get you but this is my problem with college. They do a full time or Part time course. I can't do either as one is for a year, and the other is part time. my company would laugh if I asked for day release for the part time course and probably sack me. The full time course is also out of the question as I need to work to pay the bills Hence my original question " can I gain the NVQ in 6 weeks" as Gold Trowel have advised me personally and also advertise on their website. I really don't think anyone taking the NVQ would expect to be considered experienced, if they do I feel sorry for them and would also understand why forum members get so agitated. Honest, I'm not a muppet. LOL. Many thanks again spunky. Your a good guy and I really have appreciated your support.
 
Smokey i would say yes you can get the NVQ2 in 6 weeks and as you said wont make you an experienced spread but will get you closer to your goal. The reason the loop hole, as in getting to oz was closed was of this reason of getting it so easy, which in turn made the level 2 worthless in their eyes.
 
Smokey said:
Hi Fatarm - The course will be costing me £2580 and as I will not be able to travel everyday I shall have to take the accomodation at £25 per day for 6 weeks. Total: £3,630.Crazy expensive, I just hope that I will gain the basics to use as a platform.
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that's a chunk of cash mate!! But if you need it to get into oz, an that's what your goal is,then your kinda held by the balls. As spunks has said if you could get in with a spread would be ideal. As you have said you won't be a plasterer in 6 weeks,but its a platform to build from all be it an expensive one! For that kind of layout I'd be wantin a guaranteed job to gain experience at the end of it.good luck mate, you sound determined to see it thru:RpS_thumbup:
 
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