e businesses whilst others have unfortunately had to cease operations altogether.
The construction industry is one sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the government’s lockdown putting a stop to construction work earlier in 2020. The majority of construction workers were able to return to sites in May, but the industry hasn’t quite recovered yet despite an increase in demand for projects and the substantial rise in building material costs.
Although the pandemic has undoubtedly been a difficult period for most construction businesses, a recent industry survey reports that it’s not all doom and gloom. The survey states that businesses are getting back on track and are confident about the future as lockdown restrictions have now been lifted largely thanks to the successful rollout of the government’s vaccination programme.
Prior to the national uptake of the vaccination programme, the Department for Education (DfE) had announced a series of free level 3 qualifications to help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are aged 19 or over, and do not already have a level 3 qualification, you could be eligible to apply for a free place. A full level 3 qualification is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or 2 A levels.
If you are interested in taking advantage of this DfE scheme please click here to view which colleges and training providers are currently able to offer free places for one or more of the level 3 qualifications available to eligible adults. Information on how to apply including the eligibility criteria is available here.
You are required to contact the college directly to discover if they have free places for the qualification that you’re interested in, or if they are considering offering the qualification in the future. If you’re eligible, and your college or training provider can offer a free place for the qualification that you are interested in, you will not have to pay for the course.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the construction industry and in particularly the roofing sector, you’re in luck as there is a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) available. You would need to make contact with your local or regional college or training provider to find out if they are running the course in your area.
We are always on the look-out for industrial roofing operatives to join us as we continue to expand and grow. If you are looking for work or considering a new challenge, please send an up to date CV to info@retainlimited.com or contact us on 0800 027 2244 to register your interest.
Knowledge based on experience.