City & Guilds certificate in Basic Construction Skills.

Rob28 · Post by **Rob28** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:21 am

Hi,

I've recently been made redundant, and am looking to retrain in carpentry.

I've been offered the above course by the job centre, free of charge. The only problem is that it's 2 days a week for the next 10 weeks. This is quite a long time to be out of work (I've never missed a day in my life until now, and I'm 28). Now, whilst I'm absolutely killing to learn, I don't want to waste my time if this cert is worth jack sh*t to anybody. I may aswell go back into work and take on an evening course.

The content is one days training on each of the following -

Fixing skirting to a timber background
Fixing floor joists and laying flooring
Fixing door lining in stud partition or blockwork opening
Hanging an internal door
Constructing through mortice and tenon
Constructing stub mortice and tenon
Constructing haunched mortice and tenon62
Constructing centre bridle joint
Constructing halving dovetail joint
Constructing through dovetail
Constructing lapped dovetail
Constructing biscuit joint

What do you guys think? Wasting my time, or a good stepping stone?

All comments greatly appreciated.

Rob.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:50 am

Hi Rob,

sorry to hear about the bad news.

I'm not a carpenter and so please wait until they reply to this!

I personally think that a full day to learn-

Fixing skirting to a timber background
Fixing door lining in stud partition or blockwork opening
Hanging an internal door

Is taking the p*ss slightly, I can't comment on the rest as I have not done them yet.

I would imagine that these courses are meant for 16 year old chavs that don't want to learn jack sh*t. You would easily learn all of the above in one day, not three days.

I suppose that you have to remember that some of these courses are meant for complete numpties.

Rob28 · Post by **Rob28** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:02 pm

Thanks for the input.

My thoughts exactly. Haha. I went for the initial induction on Monday, and it was a little chavtastic. If it kicked off, there'd be more blades than a Gilette factory!!

I've hung several doors at home, and replaced plenty of skirting, so I know that I'd get up to a very good standard within the allocated times.

So if anybody in the Norwich area wants an extremely hard working, reliable, amiable apprentice/labourer, give me a shout. I don't expect to earn top wedge straight away, but do need to cover my mortgage etc.

apprenticejim · Post by **apprenticejim** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:31 pm

i agree with UHM. Try and find a NVQ based course, this is what the companys want, although the NVQ's are work based so you would have to be working.

Welsh Decorator · Post by **Welsh Decorator** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:22 pm

Agree with all of it, I would look at a 1 day a week proper course if this is where you want to be.

Rob28 · Post by **Rob28** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:29 pm

Thanks for the replies. I think it's the better option. It just means that I've got to find somebody to take me on now. I've spent the afternoon emailing local companies, so fingers crossed.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:52 pm

NVQ ones will be far more use id have thought.

These courses are often put up as part of the 'New Deal' schem, does that still even exist? Retraining people once theyve been on the doll for x amount of time. You might well also find lots of school leavers.

The NVQ based ones can be done a number of ways normally, day release, intensive or blocks.

The intensive might be easier if youve nothing else to do. A work placement is only required for a few weeks at the end of the course normally i beleive.

Welsh Decorator · Post by **Welsh Decorator** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:11 pm

Personally, I would go down the NVQ route, it will be much better to you in the short and long term, chances are there will be less idiots on this, and the people there will want to learn something, unlike the dole course.

Danielb · Post by **Danielb** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:24 am

Welsh Decorator wrote:Personally, I would go down the NVQ route, it will be much better to you in the short and long term, chances are there will be less idiots on this, and the people there will want to learn something, unlike the dole course.

Do you learn anything good with this cause? Like could you do some jobs after finishing this type of cause or do you need to go the NVQ route?

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:51 pm

Thats the vaguest mishmash of things to learn I've ever seen. Basic Construction Skills??? Hanging a door, yes....through dovetail....errr, well no!! Bench joiner in a shop...at a stretch!!!

Yet another waste of public money trying to make the government look clever...I bet the only ones to benefit are the colleges bank balances!!

If I where in your shoes Rob, I'd go talk to your nearest college in person. They offer skills based training and can assess you on what you know already and help find you the right course. They also help find apprenticeships with the larger companies like Carillion etc!!

Best of luck mate

apprenticejim · Post by **apprenticejim** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:47 pm

Hitch wrote:NVQ ones will be far more use id have thought.

These courses are often put up as part of the 'New Deal' schem, does that still even exist? Retraining people once theyve been on the doll for x amount of time. You might well also find lots of school leavers.

The NVQ based ones can be done a number of ways normally, day release, intensive or blocks.

The intensive might be easier if youve nothing else to do. A work placement is only required for a few weeks at the end of the course normally i beleive.

Its changed now, were told we need minimum 1 year in work placement.

Rob28 · Post by **Rob28** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:03 pm

Thanks for all the input, guys. I'll be heading into the college first thing on Monday morning. I'll update this thread as soon as I know more.

The Weegie · Post by **The Weegie** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:04 pm

Sorry to hear about your news Rob.

Although I'm not a carpenter/joiner. I have learned a lot from reading books and watching DVD and then trying it out. There are certain things which I have found difficult such as dovetail joints done by hand

.

I have managed successfully to do the following.

Hanging internal doors,architrave.
Made various pieces of furniture using dowels, moritce and tenons and biscuits.
Fitted skirting.
Installed my own kitchen. Apart from electrics.

Other bits and bobs involving Carpentry/joinery.

My advice is the above initially.

Certainly do NVQ courses but practice in your spare time. You will be surprised by how much you learn.

Good luck in what you want to achieve