PCA Apprenticeships & NVQs | Training for Property Care Experts

Apprenticeship Programmes & NVQ’s

To support both member and non-member employers with the training needs of new entrants, we have developed a Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) in both structural waterproofing and damp & timber.

SAPs were introduced by CITB to support employers to train new entrants where due to small numbers of candidates, it is not possible to develop an apprenticeship.

SAPs include all the training you would expect to see for a new entrant in the sector and leads to a recognised qualification. Candidates registering for the SAP are able to access an Apprentice or Trainee CSCS card and on successful completion, access a blue skilled worker card.

SAP Overview

Both our Damp & Timber and Structural Waterproofing SAPs are delivered over 18 months.

During the first 12 months, at least five training blocks are delivered at our head office and practical training centre in Huntingdon, and for our structural waterproofing trainees, at manufacturer centres across the UK. Where trainees haven’t previously undertaken them external courses such as PASMA and Asbestos Awareness are arranged as part of the programme.

The Damp & Timber SAP includes modules:

Building Preservation Introduction
Health & Safety and First Aid
Documentation and Information
Building Construction, Terminology and Types
Wood Boring Insects Plus
The Control of Wood Boring Insects
Wood Rotting Fungi and its Control
Exposure of a Dry Rot Outbreak
The Application of a Timber Treatment Product to in-situ Timbers in a Building & Masonry Biocide
Rising Damp and its Control.

The Structural Waterproofing SAP includes modules:

Background to Structural Waterproofing
Legislation and Health & Safety at Work
Documentation, Drawings, Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS)
Site Compliance, Site off Load and Storage & Protection of Materials and Tools
Prepare surfaces for (all forms of) structural waterproofing
Prepare joints in structures including ‘dry-pack’ underpinned areas and apply primary waterproofing
Apply cementitious coatings, multi-coat renders, crystallisation active materials with/without primers
Apply liquid, multi-pack, resin & Mastic Asphalt systems with/without primers
Install sheet membrane systems with/without primers
Install cavity drainage membrane systems, drains, sumps and pumping ancillaries
Prepare and Install gas membranes
Prepare for and apply concrete.

NVQ Diploma

During the last six months, trainees work with an assigned assessor at their workplace, to help them achieve either the NVQ Level 2 in Insulation and Building Treatments (Wood preserving and damp proofing) or Sub-structure work occupations (Structural waterproofing).

Fees and Funding

The SAP costs £6,500 with £1,200 payable on registration.

Eligible, CITB registered employers are entitled to attendance grant for elements of the SAP. Each SAP unit is paid at between £30 and £120 and total approximately £800 of funding. During 2024/25, an additional £1,000 of funding is available for eligible employers.

A further £600 is payable to employers once trainees have completed their NVQ.

Additional funding for trainee travel costs and up to 80% of accommodation costs is available via the CITB Travel to Train scheme.

Further CITB grant is also available via the Skills and Training Fund.

Dates

Our next Intakes start:

Damp & Timber - September 2024
Structural Waterproofing - January 2025

To find out more or register your candidates, click the button below.

Contact here

What candidates have said about our training & apprenticeships

More about training & qualifications

To find out more about our specialist training and qualifications, visit our main 'training & qualifications' section.

Find out more >>

Professional Guidance

For those professionals looking for information, technical help and guidance towards and variety of property related problems, why not check out our 'professional guidance' pages.