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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:13 pm
by slickboy
Hi all. I've been landscaping for about five years now and joined my brother in a partnership about three years ago but recently decided to go things alone and set up my own landscaping business. I've worked as a building labourer in holidays ever since I left school through uni (BA History!) days and stuff till I was 22 (i'm 28) so I have fair building/ landscaping experience. Along with my bro i've managed work in a school and a golf course and done some large projects as well as loads of residential stuff. Thing is, as i'm setting up my own gaff i've thought about doing some temporary 'groundwork' for an agency till i've got enough work behind me and the first job i've gone for has asked for a cscs card (?). My question is-what is all this about and can anyone tell me if my landscaping experience will cut it 'groundworking' on a big site. I know specs and stuff and can block-pave, lay flag, drainage etc.
Basically the whole change of tack has daunted me as i'm used to working for myself. Anyone any advice?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:51 pm
by Dave_L
Have a read hereCSCS cards
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:48 am
by very simple simon
you can get a site operative (Labourer) cscs card on a sign off from an employer or if you have 3 years site experience. from this you go on to do an nvq e.g. most g/workers are const. operative NVQ 2 or working towards it, you can do special ones as well like drainlayer, pavior, conc finisher etc etc.
if you have the elf n safety test under your belt then you can apply for the card. £17.50 for the test and £25 for the card the numbers for booking are on the website.
only thing with agency work (I was considering it last year when I wanted to go back to site work) is that if the gang you are working with is a bunch of w@nkers all you will learn is how to be one of them.
hope this helps
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:08 pm
by seanandruby
you will get a multiple choice health and safety booklet. then you will do a touch screen test on randomly picked questions from the book, so you need to study it. once you get your results you can apply for your cscs card. your skills will carry you through on site , just keep your head down for a while till you find your way around. its easy to get lost, or stick out on a site with 3/400 men on it. my last site had 3000 men. a lot of the big firms will put you through the test and nvq.
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:22 pm
by Tony McC
There are a couple of developments being considered at the moment that will provide a Blue or Gold card for experienced paviors, kerb-layers, groundworkers, etc., rather than have them on a green card GCO.
The first approach involves a new/revised NVQ/SVQ/Apprenticeship scheme that we're looking to have in place later this year. Secondly, there's summat called the EWPA - the Experienced Workers' Practical Assessment, which will involve a half-day assessment for those with 5 *provable* years of experience in the trade. In discussion with CITB a week or so ago, it looks as though this, too, will be in place later this year.
As soon as I have all the info, in the correct order, it will be publicised with a great fanfare on this site, as this is something our trade has sorely needed for decades: a chance for those of us with genuine skills and experience to have a recognised and accredited proof of our abilities, which should help keep the eejits, chancers and cowboys off our sites in future.
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:05 pm
by slickboy
Thanks for all the replies, hopefully i'll get enough work to be my own boss soon enough, though it'll be interesting working for someone else temporarily. The idea your work finishing at 5 o'clock every day is a novel one!
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:07 pm
by red head
Have you thought about contacting smaller local builders? I work for a small builder in north wales and we are always on the lookout for good pavers. Just give them a call and see what they've got.