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Month: January 2017

9 Jan

Useful information

About us by Andy

Courses normally commence at 9.00AM each day, with lunch provided, and usually end around 5PM. All tools and equipment will be provided for trainees, and they need only arrive with suitable clothing to include knee pads.

Parking is available on the estate. Please park in the designated area or opposite the centre and be considerate of the needs of other units and visitors on the estate.

Traveling to the FloorSkills training centre

The nearest motorway exit is M42, junction 3. On leaving the motorway, follow signs for Limes Country Lodge. At the T junction facing the hotel turn right, and Lyndons Farm is the first trading estate on the right (approx. 500 metres from the junction).

The nearest train station is Earlswood, about 1 mile from the centre, and trains normally arrive around 8.55AM and there are departures at 4.55PM and 5.55PM.

Local Taxi Service: ABLE Senator Cars 01564 200 000. Please tell them, when booking, you are attending Floorskills Training Centre.

Recommended accommodation

Most convenient accommodation for the centre, please quote FloorSkills when booking:

The Limes Country Lodge
Address: Forshaw Heath Road, Earlswood, B94 5JZ
Tel: 01564 703444
Distance: 1/4 mile
(Recommended for Apprentices)

Travelodge Birmingham Maypole Hotel
Address: Maypole Lane, Birmingham, B14 5JF
Tel: 0871 559 1896
Distance: 4.6 miles
(Recommended for Apprentices)

Rose Cottage B&B
Address: Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, B94 5NH
Tel: 01564 782936
Distance: 4.8 miles

Premier Inn Solihull Hockley Heath
Address: Stratford Road, Solihull, B94 6NX
Tel: 0871 527 8984
Distance: 5.4 miles

9 Jan

What we offer

About us by Andy

FloorSkills is Europe’s largest independent Training Centre with over 28000 sq-ft of dedicated flooring training area. We have over 40 training bays of all shapes and sizes including a range of movable obstacles, our facilities include:

  • 28’000 sq-ft facility
  • 50 dedicated training bays
  • 7 separate training areas so we can run 7 different courses per day.
  • 32 seat auditorium
  • 3 conference areas
  • Specialist clean room training bays (walls & ceilings) to include Bioclad and Altro whiterock installation techniques
  • Specialist Concrete and Anhydrite diamond floor grinding
  • Multiple obstacles and practice areas to include stairs, winders, open plan stairs, shower trays etc
  • Specialist test area with UFH and water injection to change test bed RH

FloorSkills also works in partnership with numerous colleges across the UK and training providers, each with their own quality assurance checks. We are also approved by many manufacturers to provide training around their products.

9 Jan

Who we are

About us by Andy

FloorSkills Training Centre is run under the personal supervision from two of the country’s leading trainers Sid and Matt Bourne, who have between them won British champion installer and represented the UK in the European championships. FloorSkills only uses trainers who are proven in the trade, along with a majority who have also won UK competitions or competed in them. FloorSkills also work in partnership with the BWFA who FloorSkills provides the training towards the BWFA apprenticeship program on their behalf.

The main aims of our training courses are to educate fitters while on courses and to enable access to ongoing training. FloorSkills has undergone a rigorous approval process where the contents of its courses and the processes it uses in association with them have been thoroughly checked and approved by leading Manufacturers. FloorSkills is also a multi awarding winning training centre.

 

 

9 Jan

What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships by Andy

An apprenticeship is a combination of working, studying and earning a wage.

While on an apprenticeship you will be working with your employer daily and attending FloorSkills Training Centre for off site dedicated training.

FloorSkills flooring apprenticeships are available with funding to anyone living or working within England.

You will be required to visit Europe’s largest multi award-winning training centre where you will learn many methods of installation for a variety of different floorcoverings.

You will be trained in both textiles and impervious floorcoverings to a level 2 standard and complete an end point assessment to be a certified Floorlayer.

On our Textile and Impervious apprenticeship you will cover –

• Subfloor preparation
• Stretch fit textile to include stairs, winders, open plan stairs, BN steps, joins etc
• Contract textile installation to include direct stick, dual stick systems
• Carpet tiles
• LVT to include, straight lay, diagonal lay, border work and designs
• Domestic cushion floor vinyl
• Contract vinyl, safety floor, linoleum
• Estimating, creating cutting plans, writing specifications, reading scale drawings
+ a whole lot more

9 Jan

FloorSkills Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships by Andy

FloorSkills apprenticeships are delivered on a block release system; apprentices will attend training on alternate months, averaging 3-5 days per block release.

FloorSkills believe the best way to learn is to complete a full installation from start to finish, this includes the apprentices preparing their own area ready for installation, right through to the finishing touches. FloorSkills do not pre-prepare or part install the area for the students.

On the Textile and Impervious apprenticeship apprentices will cover:
• Subfloor preparation
• Stretch fit textile to include stairs, winders, open plan stairs, BN steps, joins etc.
• Contract textile installation to include direct stick and dual stick systems.
• Carpet Tiles
• LVT to include, straight lay, diagonal lay, border work and designs.
• Domestic cushion floor vinyl
• Contract vinyl, safety floor, linoleum
• Estimating, creating cutting plans, writing specifications, reading scale drawings
+ a whole lot more

The apprenticeship is delivered over an average of 18 months, varying to suit individual apprentices needs. After approximately 18 months the apprenticeship moves onto the EPA Assessment process.

What is an EPA Assessment?

The EPA assessment consists of:

  • Practical assessment.
  • Professional Discussion.
  • General Knowledge test.

FloorSkills will be constantly assessing the apprentice’s ability throughout the apprenticeship and tailoring the training to suit the individual.

Mock assessments are completed and additional training provided as necessary to ensure the apprentice is ready for the EPA.

The EPA assessment can be carried out at any approved EPA centre or at FloorSkills by an independent assessor, where FloorSkills will look after the whole process making it trouble free for the employer and the apprentice.

What will the apprentice achieve?

Apprentices work towards gaining the following achievements / qualifications:

  • Level 2 Floorlayer Certification.
  • Level 1 and/or Level 2 Functional Skills.
  • Employer Rights and Responsibilities.

9 Jan

Apprenticeship funding and how it works

Apprenticeships by Andy

FloorSkills has funding available for ALL age groups. There are no age restrictions.

16-18yrs are fully funded, no employer contributions, and a confirmed employer incentive of £1000

19yrs + are 95% funded, with the employer covering the 5% shortfall.

The above costs include all training provided by FloorSkills, End Point Assessment (EPA), Certification, Function Skills, etc.

THERE ARE NO HIDDEN COSTS!

6 Jan

Apprenticeship schedule *

Apprenticeships by Andy

Textile & Impervious Apprenticeship

  • Week 1 (3 Days) – Induction, H+S, ERR, Subfloor Preparation (Solid Subfloors)
  • Week 2 (4 Days) – Textile Installation to basic area, straight stairs, BN steps and Joins
  • Week 3 (3 Days) – Subfloor prep (Wooden Subfloors) Basic LVT Installation
  • Week 4 (4 Days) – Textile Installation to complicated area, twin stick, Joins, straight stairs, winders
  • Week 5 (5 Days) – Subfloor prep (mixture of systems) Safety Flooring, Inset Cove formed, Sit on skirts, welding
  • Week 6 (3 Days) – Quotes, Customer Relations, Building Construction
  • Week 7 (4 Days) – Subfloor prep (floating systems) LVT diagonal lay and border work
  • Week 8 (4 Days) – Textile stretch fit (Apprentice to complete with minimal guidance) to include joins, stairs and winders, Carpet Tiles and Cushion floor vinyl
  • Week 9 (4 Days) – Subfloor prep (Apprentice to specify and complete with minimal guidance) DPM, Primers, Smoothing Compounds and Plywood installation
  • Week 10 (4 Days)- EPA Assessment MOCK practical test
  • Week 11 (3 Days)- Assessment

Wood Flooring Apprenticeship

FloorSkills also have a specialised wood training area and will be re-introducing the wood apprenticeship in the near future, for further information please contact us by phone 01564 703 900.

  • Week 1 (4 Days) – Induction, H+S, ERR, Subfloor Preparation
  • Week 2 (2 Days) – Strip, Plank Installation
  • Week 3 (3 Days) – Wood Block (Herringbone), Border Work Installation
  • Week 4 (3 Days) – Estimating, Wood Science, Bespoke Design Work
  • Week 5 (2 Days) – Sports Floors Installation
  • Week 6 (4 Days) – Sand + Seal, Floor Repairs, Finishes
  • Week 7 (2 Days) – Stairs Installation
  • Week 8 (4 Days) – EPA Mock Assesment
  • Week 9 (4 Days) – EPA Practical Assessment

* Please note that the Schedule is a guide only.  Different Apprenticeship groups can run at different speeds dependent on previous experience an apprentice might have. Due to this the schedule ‘may’ change to suit the apprentice’s speed and skill levels.  Apprenticeship groups may also change as we try to merge apprentices into groups with similar speed and skill levels.

6 Jan

Apprenticeship schedule *

Apprenticeships by Andy

Textile & Impervious Apprenticeship

  • Week 1 (3 Days) – Induction, H+S, ERR, Subfloor Preparation (Solid Subfloors)
  • Week 2 (4 Days) – Textile Installation to basic area, straight stairs, BN steps and Joins
  • Week 3 (3 Days) – Subfloor prep (Wooden Subfloors) Basic LVT Installation
  • Week 4 (4 Days) – Textile Installation to complicated area, twin stick, Joins, straight stairs, winders
  • Week 5 (5 Days) – Subfloor prep (mixture of systems) Safety Flooring, Inset Cove formed, Sit on skirts, welding
  • Week 6 (3 Days) – Quotes, Customer Relations, Building Construction
  • Week 7 (4 Days) – Subfloor prep (floating systems) LVT diagonal lay and border work
  • Week 8 (4 Days) – Textile stretch fit (Apprentice to complete with minimal guidance) to include joins, stairs and winders, Carpet Tiles and Cushion floor vinyl
  • Week 9 (4 Days) – Subfloor prep (Apprentice to specify and complete with minimal guidance) DPM, Primers, Smoothing Compounds and Plywood installation
  • Week 10 (4 Days)- EPA Assessment MOCK practical test
  • Week 11 (3 Days)- Assessment

Wood Flooring Apprenticeship

FloorSkills also have a specialised wood training area and will be re-introducing the wood apprenticeship in the near future, for further information please contact us by phone 01564 703 900.

  • Week 1 (4 Days) – Induction, H+S, ERR, Subfloor Preparation
  • Week 2 (2 Days) – Strip, Plank Installation
  • Week 3 (3 Days) – Wood Block (Herringbone), Border Work Installation
  • Week 4 (3 Days) – Estimating, Wood Science, Bespoke Design Work
  • Week 5 (2 Days) – Sports Floors Installation
  • Week 6 (4 Days) – Sand + Seal, Floor Repairs, Finishes
  • Week 7 (2 Days) – Stairs Installation
  • Week 8 (4 Days) – EPA Mock Assesment
  • Week 9 (4 Days) – EPA Practical Assessment

* Please note that the Schedule is a guide only.  Different Apprenticeship groups can run at different speeds dependent on previous experience an apprentice might have. Due to this the schedule ‘may’ change to suit the apprentice’s speed and skill levels.  Apprenticeship groups may also change as we try to merge apprentices into groups with similar speed and skill levels.