Construction - Vocational Academy
Opportunities in the North West
Blackpool’s ambitious regeneration programme has seen a whole range of exciting construction projects get off the ground. Our £1.4m Blackpool Build Up initiative was set up to train local people for local employment and is still enjoying lots of success. The current economic downturn has caused the industry to slow down but when global economies start to pick up again it will be the Construction Industry that leads us out of recession. Until then, why not gain the skills that will be needed in better times and work towards getting an industry-recognised qualification?
What Course Should You Do
Entry Level/Level 1
If you have not completed a GCSE programme
Level 1
If you have completed a GCSE programme but don’t have the grades specified at Level 2
- Brickwork
- Plastering
- Painting and Decorating
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Plumbing
- Construction – Introductory Diploma
Level 2
If you have completed the Level 1 programme
- Brickwork
- Plastering
- Painting and Decorating
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Plumbing
- Construction – First Diploma
If you have 4 passes at GCSE grade D or a merit grade at First Certificate or Introductory Diploma
- Electrical Installation
Level 3
If you have completed the Level 2 programme
- Brickwork
- Plastering
- Painting and Decorating
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Plumbing
- Construction and the Built Environment – Diploma
- Construction – Extended Diploma
Career Low-Down
| Job title | What they do | How much they earn | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer | Build and repair the interior and exterior walls of buildings, as well as the linings of tunnels and boundary walls. | Between £17,000 and £25,000 a year. | A relevant NVQ plus a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card (to demonstrate competence and awareness of health and safety). |
| Plasterer | Mix and spread plaster onto a surface to create a smooth finish ready for decoration. | From £18,150 to over £35,000 a year. | An NVQ Level 2 or 3 in plastering plus work experience. Also a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. |
| Architect | Design new buildings and restoration projects, by hand and with the help of Computer Aided Design (CAD). | Around £20,000 a year for newly qualified architects rising to £43,000 for an associate and £70,000 for a partner. | A degree in architecture plus a year in an architectural office, a 2-year diploma and 1 year’s experience. |
| Building Control Officer | Ensure buildings conform to regulations such as health and safety and public access. | Between £25,000 and £35,000 a year. | Usually an HND/C or Diploma, or a degree. |
| Quantity Surveyor | Manage costs and work allocation to ensure a building project sticks to the agreed budget. | Up to £28,000 a year for graduate quantity surveyors and £40,000 for newly qualified chartered surveyors. | A BTEC and/or HND/HNC. |
Meet the Learner
Name: Ling Tsang
Age: 23
High School: St Mary’s
Course: Levels 1, 2 and 3 Painting and Decorating then the HND Construction
Why College?
I originally went to a sixth form college to do A Levels, but I came here as I wanted to do an Apprenticeship. This feels like my territory now.
Why this course?
I originally wanted to be an artist but it’s not easy to make money from it. Decorating lets me use my artistic skills to achieve special effects.
What’s good?
The tutors have excellent knowledge – they tell us really cool stories! I get to be artistic and all the guys on the course seem to listen to me!
What’s next?
Jump to the last year of a degree and then hopefully a project management role.
Influences:
Modern Art Deco and Victorian styles
To find out more about Vocational study at Blackpool and The Fylde College, please visit our Vocational Academy Section
