Workforce Skills Support

Nationwide construction training and NVQ provision

Workforce Skills Support is an approved training provider working across the United Kingdom and focused on the construction sector. Its offer combines accredited qualifications, card schemes and short courses with advice on the funding routes that construction employers can use to pay for them. The company states that it is trusted by more than 1,000 construction employers, including CITB levy-registered companies.

The provider presents its activity as a way of raising construction standards through training built around what it calls real workforce competence, and it works with employers to improve skills and respond to the challenges they face.

NVQs and CSCS cards

A central part of the service is support with NVQ qualifications and the CSCS cards that depend on them. The range covered spans the main card categories:

• Green Labourer
• Red Trainee
• Red Experienced Worker
• Blue Skilled Worker
• Red Experienced Manager
• Gold Supervisor
• Gold Advanced Craft
• Black Manager

The company also handles partner card schemes, including Asbestos, CCDO Cards for Demolition, Drilling & Sawing, and IATP Asbestos, alongside Shopfitting cards.

Plant training and competence schemes

Workforce Skills Support operates as an accredited NPORS centre and supports NPORS training. It also assists operators in obtaining their CPCS card, covering both the CPCS Competent Operator and CPCS Trained Operator routes, and offers Plant NVQs alongside the practical plant training.

Short courses and Site Safety Plus

Under its core construction training line, the provider lists Abrasive Wheels courses, Workplace First Aid and the Site Safety Plus programme. Site Safety Plus is aimed at people in building, civil engineering and related industries who want to improve their skills; it is delivered as open courses, closed courses and e-learning, depending on the client's requirements.

Funding and grants for employers

A distinctive element of the service is the support given to CITB levy-registered employers in accessing money towards NVQs, CSCS, plant training and Site Safety Plus. The company describes itself as a CITB Approved Training Provider Network Partner and states that CITB will match fund 50% of eligible courses. It also helps eligible employers claim CITB Short Period Qualification grants for approved NVQs and qualifications, and points large CITB levy-registered employers to the CITB Large Employer Fund, which it says may provide up to £18,000 towards training.

For service leavers and veterans, the provider supports the use of ELCAS funding towards approved training and qualifications. It additionally offers workforce planning support, working directly with clients to align training, funding and qualifications with business needs, and a free Personal Development Plan.

Recognition and feedback

The company states that it is recognised by leading UK construction certification schemes, naming Site Safety Plus (SSP), the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) and the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS). At the time of writing this profile, the site displayed a Trustpilot score of 4.9 from 76 reviews, and it publishes a set of employer testimonials covering NVQ delivery, CITB queries and card renewals.