SuperSkills Construction Training

I'm enormously proud of my son Tom - which Dad isn't?
He's autistic and has worked for a decade to bring the realities of living in a neurotypical world to a wider audience.
Invisible Animal
Omnibus Theatre London - 17/10-4/11
https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/invisible-animal/?fbclid=PAAabRHsoCSIe99ZZN8Elpmeshqn3HtO2t65NMaxbA_wV_n7M74aYKQ9aQnQg

SuperSkills Construction Training is now on WhatsApp.

SuperSkills Construction Training updated their phone number.

Really pleased to see the CSCS highlighting this - construction workers don't deserve to have the wool pulled over their eyes.
always apply through https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/
The same applies to the CITB Site Operatives test - book that through https://citb.co.uk/courses-and-qualifications/health-safety-and-environment-hse-test-and-cards/book-a-test/

SuperSkills Construction Training updated their information in their About section.

SuperSkills Construction Training updated their address.

Getting your NVQ and is quick, simple and convenient with SuperSkills!
Call 01845 527445 for FREE ADVICE today!

Carpentry and Joinery NVQ Courses - All You Need To Know Quick, simple and convenient training and assessment for Carpentry and Joinery NVQ courses at Level 2 and Level 3. Call 01845 527445 Today!

We've been getting a lot of calls from Carpenters recently - especially those who have normally worked in people's houses.
They've found that customers are nervous about having Trades in, so haven't been getting work done.
The requirement for CSCS Cards by many employers has come as a surprise to people who've never needed one.
I had a conversation with somebody this week who'd never even heard of CSCS until he got made redundant at Christmas and started looking at Job vacancy adverts.
If you're a carpenter in those circumstances, I hope this will tell you all you need to know........

https://www.superskills.co.uk/construction-nvq-assessments/carpentry-joinery-nvq-courses/

LOCKDOWN 2.0

It was inevitable really - after Covid cases rising for weeks and many areas in the country being placed under ever greater restrictions - the Prime Minister having to hold a press conference in which he has updated the nation about new measures to contain Covid-19.

I have never (I doubt any of us have) experienced such a period of uncertainty. For life to change so quickly and our ability to do the things we had become used to being taken away almost without warning.

There is no doubt jobs and the economy will take another huge hit - and our hearts go out to everyone affected, whether by getting the virus, or not being able to work. That particularly affects trades who have always worked in people's houses, rather than on building sites.

Even though construction is an exempt category in general and there are protocols for getting work done in residential premises, lots of trades we speak to are finding people don't want to have work done in their houses and their work is drying up.

SuperSkills Construction Training is in one of the exempted categories and is permitted to keep going during the "lockdown" period.

It follows that our assessments can go ahead as normal unless circumstances change. In a world of bad news, this means that people who have always done "domestic" work, but who now find they need to get onto sites, but don't have CSCS Cards, can get the NVQ they need quickly, simply and conveniently.

We are obviously taking the safety of our candidates and staff seriously - we have been doing assessments under Covid secure arrangements since we reopened in June - and remember that if you have symptoms of Coronavirus or have to self-isolate for any reason, you can change your assessment date and just let us know.

You will not lose your deposit in these circumstances. We've always adopted a sympathetic approach when people's arrangements need to change and we've no intention of changing now.

There is accommodation available in Thirsk, so if you need an overnight stay, we will do our best to get you fixed up.

You can always contact our office on 01845 527445 should you need any advice.

In the meantime, we trust you and yours remain well and sincerely hope you are not affected by this dreadful virus.

It's been "Bring your daughter to work day" at SuperSkills.......
Have a great weekend everyone!

How to get a - all your questions answered!
We get dozens of calls a day from people who need a CSCS card, or who need to renew their existing card.
Click the link and get all the information you need

Have a great weekend everyone!

SELF-EMPLOYED?
It's time to claim your next instalment of the Self Employed Income Support Scheme...see here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme

It's that time of the month again - when people suddenly realise their CSCS Card is about to run out and they need to renew it - but can't find their NVQ certificate!
Fortunately, we've bobbed all you need to know in a recent Blog post.........
https://www.superskills.co.uk/lost-nvq-certificates-what-you-need-to-know/

Our candidate brought an old friend with him for his assessment today......

Well we didn't think June would be this busy, but it's great to be back helping Trades get their 's and sorted - if you need your Blue Card, we give FREE ADVICE on 01845 527445

Here's a copy of the latest guidance from the Construction Leadership Council for Site Operating Procedures during the -19 emergency.

http://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Site-Operating-Procedures-Version-3.pdf

www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk

-19 - Latest Government Guidance for Construction

(Taken from the Department For Business, Industry & Skills website, published 15th April)

"Construction work plays an important role in ensuring public safety and the provision of public services. It can continue if done in accordance with the social distancing guidelines wherever possible.

Where it is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines in full in relation to a particular activity, you should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the site to continue to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission.

If you decide the work should go ahead, you should advise staff to wash their hands frequently using soap and water for 20 seconds, and especially after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing, on arrival at work, before and after eating, after using public transport, and when they arrive home. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used.

You should still advise staff to keep 2 metres apart as much as possible.

You should plan work to minimise contact between workers and avoid skin-to-skin and face-to-face contact. Where face-to-face contact is essential, this should be kept to 15 minutes or less wherever possible.

As much as possible, keep groups of workers working together in teams that are as small as possible (cohorting). For example, you keep vehicle crews working together, rather than mixing crew members on different shifts.

Staff should also wash their hands each time before getting into enclosed machinery (such as diggers) with others, and wash their hands every time they get out. To help with this, you should consider adding additional pop-up handwashing stations or facilities, providing soap, water and/or hand sanitiser.

Employees should keep the windows of enclosed machinery or enclosed spaces open for ventilation and be careful to avoid touching their face at all times. The inside of cabs should be regularly cleaned, particularly between use by different operators.

You should try to use stairs in preference to lifts or hoists. Where lifts or hoists must be used, you should lower their capacity to reduce congestion and contact at all times, and regularly clean touchpoints, such as doors and buttons.

To protect your staff, you should remind colleagues daily to only come into work if they are well and no one in their household is self-isolating.

The Construction Leadership Council has published more detailed advice on how you might carry out government guidance.

Additional useful information for firms can be accessed on BuildUK’s website."

Stay safe everyone!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance

Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance Advice for employers on social distancing during coronavirus (COVID-19).

-19 - Latest Government Guidance for Tradespeople & Working In People's Homes

(Taken from the Department For Business, Industry & Skills website, published 15th April)

"You are a tradesperson carrying out essential repairs and maintenance in people’s homes. You can continue work, providing that you are well and have no symptoms. You should notify all clients in advance of your arrival.

On entry to the home you should wash your hands using soap and water for 20 seconds. You should wash your hands regularly, particularly after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing, and when leaving the property. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used, and you should carry this with you at all times.

You should maintain a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from any household occupants at all times, and ensure good ventilation in the area where you are working, including opening the window.

No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless your work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repair.

No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild."

Don't forget - stay safe everyone!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance -and-working-in-peoples-homes

Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance Advice for employers on social distancing during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Here's this morning's update from Construction News.
It refers to a couple of webinars about managing in construction during the crisis.

https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/health-and-safety/covid-19-construction-briefing-3-april-03-04-2020/

SuperSkills Construction Training updated their website address.

CORONAVIRUS TOOLBOX TALK
The CITB have released a Toolbox Talk for Site Supervisors to help people work safely on essential tasks.
We think the more people see it, the better off we'll all be.
https://zcu.io/DPMr

Latest Coronavirus Update about NVQ's CSCS Health & Safety Tests and CSCS Cards - 31 March 2020.

There are some useful links in this post for people to follow and get the latest position from the CSCS and CITB websites if they are still at work.

Coronavirus Update - NVQ Assessments & CSCS Cards During the Coronavirus emergency, the CITB & CSCS have updated their advice see here - or Call 01845 527445 For Free Advice

From today's edition of - workers being told to "F*** off" when they raise concerns about Coronavirus on sites - truly disgraceful management behaviour.
https://zcu.io/RwaT

Onsite coronavirus cases ‘kept secret’, scared workers told to ‘f**k off’ Coronavirus outbreaks on projects are being hidden from onsite staff and safety concerns are being i...

Whilst the Coronavirus emergency is taking place, we're trying to keep everyone up to date with what's happening at SuperSkills - whilst we continue to operate as usual, we're obviously taking every precaution to keep our customers and staff safe......

We've also had some additional information from the CSCS and CITB about getting Health & Safety tests (some on-screen test centres have shut for the duration), which we've put into a news post for people......

Coronavirus Update - NVQ Assessments & CSCS Cards During the Coronavirus emergency, the CITB & CSCS have updated their advice see here - or Call 01845 527445 For Free Advice

BUSINESS AS (ALMOST) USUAL.......

Everyone has been taken aback by the sudden increase in Corona Virus infections across the world.

That a pathogen of this nature can make its way across the globe in such a short time - inflicting illness and even death along the way seems hard to comprehend - and our hearts go out to those made ill or who have died or lost loved ones.

It's a sign of our times that air travel and the ease of access to it have no doubt contributed to the present circumstances.

But it is also heartening to know our public servants plan for these things and have the scientific knowledge to give effective and timely advice to politicians with the unenviable task of leading the country through these events.

Today's news comes apace - the Premier League games for this weekend called off; the first two Grand Prix postponed; an ever-increasing count of people infected.

But it isn't all doom and gloom - although people buying up all the hand sanitiser in Tesco and promptly putting it on Amazon would provide a contrary argument - there have already been some outstanding examples of folk who have helped others who have been in difficulty. There's no doubt we will see the best of humankind amongst the (relatively few) examples of selfishness over the next few weeks.

And in the meantime, we need to keep to the Government advice about self-isolating if we think we have been infected by the virus and making sure we do not pass it on.

And hand-washing. Given the seriousness of the situation, it's amazing that such a routine activity can have so much effect. But it does, for which we should be thankful.

Every business should by now have put into place a planned response to these events and SuperSkills is no exception.

We are fortunate to have the ability to arrange for colleagues to work at home, so the only people in the business are those who have to be there at any one time.

Our assessment centre runs on the basis of very few candidates being assessed together and as you can imagine, every precaution we can think of is in place.

And whilst we always take a deposit from people when they book their assessment date, we have today put into place a means by which people don't worry losing that deposit if they fall ill or have had to commence a period of self-isolation.

And now we wait - hoping this will pass during the next few weeks and months. Praying it will not effect our friends and families. Worrying about the long term impact on the economy as a whole and the livelihoods of people who work in construction.

But also making sure we continue to offer that helping hand, to provide the services our customers have come to value and to keep our business running in tough times. We're lucky to have built-in resilience, a product of being around for a long time and we are no strangers to hard work.

So, as the title says - "Business As (Almost) Usual" - and let's plan for the worst, whilst hoping for the best.

It's always great to host the Ecorend training sessions each month at SuperSkills - and this week's was as successful as usual!

Great days training with this crowd last Wednesday at SuperSkills Construction Training. Everyone got hands on with the products both trowel applied and sprayed. Lunch at The Gavel Cafe & Bar and a factory tour at Wetherby Group HQ and it's all free of charge. Book online at https://bit.ly/3cezTQc

Plenty of comment and coverage over the past couple of days about the tragic death of Caroline Flack - and of course our condolences go out to her family and friends at this tragic time.

But as Construction News point out in today's Briefing, two people a day who work in construction take their own life.

We agree this is dreadful and needs to be tackled by all in the industry.

And we can all do our bit. Keep an eye on our colleagues - and don't take "I'm fine" for an answer.

https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/agenda/opinion/cn-briefing/suicide-epidemic-tell-us-where-were-wrong-17-02-2020/

Su***de epidemic: tell us where we’re wrong Su***de dominated the media coverage over the weekend, following the tragic death of TV presenter Ca...

On Valentine's Day, and support the many thousands of families who are trapped in unsafe homes, unable to repair or sell them, because of flammable cladding.
Watch the video.
Share their post.

Manchester Cladiators tell the real story #EndOurCladdingScandal We are Manchester Cladiators and residents but we speak on behalf of all residents affected by this horrific situation across the country. We wanted to featu...

Do you know where your NVQ Certificates are?
Hardly a week goes by nowadays without somebody calling us to say they've lost theirs and can't get a new CSCS Card as a result.
Here's what to do if that happens to you........
https://www.superskills.co.uk/lost-nvq-certificates-what-you-need-to-know/

So it looks like Esther McVey is on her way out, according to
Laura Kuenssberg on
That'll be 11 Housing Ministers in less than eleven years.
We called for the Ministerial musical chairs to stop months ago!