At EKC Civil Engineering Training Centre in Hersden, William Simpson, the Head of the Centre, organises the Bricklaying and Plastering courses so that the first two weeks of the eight-week programme are dedicated to Health and Safety training, which takes place in a classroom setting.
Why structure the course this way? William has two main reasons for starting this hands-on course in a classroom.
“Number one, if I’ve covered all of the Health and Safety lessons, then the Learners are prepared to work in the workshops. They’ll know all of the rules and now they’ve earned a separate qualification that they can use to gain their CSCS cards.”
“Number two, I spend the first week of the course in the classroom to get to know the students and they can get to know me.”
Learning about Health and Safety regulations also gives the students an overview of the Construction and Built industry, which lays the foundation for the start of a Bricklaying or Plastering course.
“While I’m delivering the Health and Safety lessons, I’m also delivering every aspect of construction, from Labourer, to Quantity Surveyor, to Site Manager. I’m giving them an overview of the Construction arena so that the knowledge that comes up in the theory tests gets fed through the Health and Safety lessons and unites all the teaching as one.”
William uses the classroom to understand each student’s backgrounds and to decide if they are dedicated enough to complete the course.
“I’m quite strict in my enrolments and I’m quite firm in my inductions about what I require. I put the onus on the learner and explain to them that with all the experience and skill set that the Trainers have got here. Who is in need of being here the most and who is going to get the most out of the course? It’s the Learner.”
“I set the standard at the beginning. Should they continue, then they know what’s to be expected at the end of the course.”
Are you interested in studying Bricklaying or Plastering at EKC Civil Engineering Training Centre in Hersden? Explore our courses and get in touch today.
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