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9 February 2022 2024-10-02 15:42Home
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the right place.
Who are CADUK?
We’re specialists in construction NVQs!
We have delivered thousands of NVQs since 2011. Our customers are employers, individuals and other training providers in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and countries further abroad.
Our NVQs provide access to Gold & Black CSCS cards, Blue CPCS cards and professional status with CIOB, RICS, CABE and ICWCI.
Why choose Us?
We’re specialists in construction NVQs!
We're trusted by companies including Macegroup, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Novus, Multiplex, Willmott Dixon, Network Rail and many more.
All of our qualifications can be delivered online through our bespoke ePortfolio portal, with no time off work, no classroom-based elements and no visits to site. We have learners registered on our qualifications from all over the world!
We have fast-track assessment options which are suitable for very experienced Supervisors and Managers and can enable them to achieve high-level qualifications within 4 weeks.
We're CITB Grant Approved! This means that CITB registered companies can claim back up to £1500 on our construction-based NVQs. This effectively makes many of our NVQs free for CITB registered companies!
Our assessment team are industry experts! CADUK have more FCIOB & MCIOB assessors than any other NVQ centre in the UK. Most of them have worked (and some still do) at the highest levels of construction themselves, so they're in a position to add real value to your qualification.
Who are CADUK?
We’re specialists in construction NVQs!
We have delivered thousands of NVQs since 2011. Our customers are employers, individuals and other training providers in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and countries further abroad.
Our NVQs provide access to Gold & Black CSCS cards, Blue CPCS cards and professional status with CIOB, RICS, CABE and ICWCI.
Our qualifications
Select a category below to see the NVQs we offer in your specialist area.
In addition to Black and Gold CSCS cards, many of our qualifications provide access to Chartered status with The CIOB, ICWCI and IOSH.
How can we help?
Our Qualifications
Select a category below to see the NVQs we offer in your specialist area:
What do our customers think of us?
Martyn Tuttey FCIOB FCABE FAPM
Associate Director – Mace LimitedKevin Beaver FCIOB
Kier Infrastructure and Overseas LimitedMichael O'Byrne MCIOB
Colmore Tang Construction LtdTom Messenger MCIOB
Thistle SystemsFrequently asked questions
What is an NVQ?
An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a competence-based assessment of the skills, knowledge and experience that you already have.
Generally, our NVQ candidates have worked their way up through the ranks of construction naturally. They have learned ‘on the job’ over a number of years and are established in their role, but they don’t actually have any formal recognition of their skills, knowledge and experience.
That’s where the NVQ comes in. NVQs are not about going ‘back to school’ or being taught how to do X,Y,Z, they’re simply about proving to an assessor that you carry out your job, safely, effectiveley and in line with the industry standard
Our assessors are highly experienced, qualified construction professionals who have done the job themselves.
Most of our assessors are Members or Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
We carefully select a particular assessor for each individual learner to ensure that your workplace experiences are aligned and that the feedback and guidance provided is useful, relevant and rewarding.
Your assessor will provide advice and feedback throughout the process via phone, Zoom, email and through the CADUK ePortfolio portal.
Do I need to sit any exams?
No. NVQs aren’t about how good you are at exams, they’re about proving that you can carry out the work safely, competently, and effectively.
NVQs don’t involve exams and trick questions, they are designed for practical people who have learned and developed their skills over time in a real working environment.
The only ‘test’ that you will need to take before you can apply for your CSCS card is the CITB Health Safety and Environment test (also known as the ‘touch screen test’). This isn’t required for the NVQ, but you will need to pass the appropriate level CITB HSE test before you can apply for your CSCS card (once you have completed the NVQ).
Do you need prior qualifications?
No. You could effectively go from having no qualifications at all, to a Level 7 NVQ (the highest competence-based qualification in Construction).
The only caveat being that you need to prove to us first that you are already working at the required level and have been in the job for the appropriate amount of time.
Prior to enrolment, we carry out a (free) profiling session with each candidate. This process is designed specifically to make sure that the NVQ is achievable and is the most appropriate to your skills, knowledge, experience and job role.
How does the profiling session work?
Each NVQ page of our website has a red ‘Click here to apply’ button. Clicking this button will take you to the profiling tool for that specific NVQ.
The Profiling Tool is a short form that can be completed online in 5-10 minutes. It lists the key criteria of each NVQ and provides examples of type of evidence required.
You will be asked to attach your CV to the form, then once submitted, we’ll allocate you to one of our NVQ assessors who will call you back for a brief telephone profiling session (free of charge).
During this profiling session the assessor essentially needs to make sure that the NVQ is achievable and appropriate (i.e. you have the skills, knowledge, experience and evidence needed to be successful).
Once the assessor has approved you to enrol you can start your NVQ right away.
Alternativeley, if the assessor feels that a different qualification (higher or lower) is more appropriate, they will make that recommendation.
Does the NVQ involve written work?
No, all of our NVQs are assessed through a ‘discussion-style’ process and involve no written work.
First, you will upload your evidence (documents, photos, videos, witness testimony, etc) to our online ePortfolio portal so that your assessor can see it. Once the evidence has been accepted, you will arrange a series of Zoom/Teams meetings with your assessor where you will ‘talk your way’ through the units/criteria of the qualification.
Will the assessor have to come to site?
No. The whole assessment can be completed online. Your assessor will ask to see videos and photographs from the site, but using technologies such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and our online ePortfolio portal, the whole assessment can be carried out remotely.
How long will the NVQ take to achieve?
Achievement of an NVQ is really down to you, and how motivated you are to have it completed.
We provide support for 12 months, however these qualifications are realistically achievable within 1–3 months depending on your own commitment.
We also offer ‘fast-track’ assessment options which are suitable for more experienced Supervisors and Managers. the aim of the fast-track assessment is to have the whole qualification completed within 4 weeks or less.
There are no exams, no workshops to attend, no site visits, and no need to take time of work.
Are any grants or funding available?
Yes, CADUK are a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO). CITB registered employers can therefore claim up to £1500 per candidate on achievement of any of our construction-specific qualifications. This includes small employers (i.e. those with a wage bill of less than £80k) who don’t have to pay the levy.
As of 1st April 2023, the amount that CITB registered companies can claim back per NVQ is:
Level 2 NVQ: £600
Level 3-4 NVQ: £1250
Level 6-7 NVQ: £1500
This grant applies to directly employed staff on the payroll and all subcontractors.
Read our article by clicking here for more information.
To find out if you are eligible to claim the CITB grant please Click Here, or call CITB directly on 0344 994 4455.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NVQ?
An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a competence-based assessment of the skills, knowledge and experience that you already have.
Generally, our NVQ candidates have worked their way up through the ranks of construction naturally. They have learned ‘on the job’ over a number of years and are established in their role, but they don’t actually have any formal recognition of their skills, knowledge and experience.
That’s where the NVQ comes in. NVQs are not about going ‘back to school’ or being taught how to do X,Y,Z, they’re simply about proving to an assessor that you carry out your job, safely, effectiveley and in line with the industry standard
Our assessors are highly experienced, qualified construction professionals who have done the job themselves.
Most of our assessors are Members or Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
We carefully select a particular assessor for each individual learner to ensure that your workplace experiences are aligned and that the feedback and guidance provided is useful, relevant and rewarding.
Your assessor will provide advice and feedback throughout the process via phone, Zoom, email and through the CADUK ePortfolio portal.
Do I need to sit any exams?
No. NVQs aren’t about how good you are at exams, they’re about proving that you can carry out the work safely, competently, and effectively.
NVQs don’t involve exams and trick questions, they are designed for practical people who have learned and developed their skills over time in a real working environment.
The only ‘test’ that you will need to take before you can apply for your CSCS card is the CITB Health Safety and Environment test (also known as the ‘touch screen test’). This isn’t required for the NVQ, but you will need to pass the appropriate level CITB HSE test before you can apply for your CSCS card (once you have completed the NVQ).
Do you need prior qualifications?
No. You could effectively go from having no qualifications at all, to a Level 7 NVQ (the highest competence-based qualification in Construction).
The only caveat being that you need to prove to us first that you are already working at the required level and have been in the job for the appropriate amount of time.
Prior to enrolment, we carry out a (free) profiling session with each candidate. This process is designed specifically to make sure that the NVQ is achievable and is the most appropriate to your skills, knowledge, experience and job role.
How does the profiling session work?
Each NVQ page of our website has a red ‘Click here to apply’ button. Clicking this button will take you to the profiling tool for that specific NVQ.
The Profiling Tool is a short form that can be completed online in 5-10 minutes. It lists the key criteria of each NVQ and provides examples of type of evidence required.
You will be asked to attach your CV to the form, then once submitted, we’ll allocate you to one of our NVQ assessors who will call you back for a brief telephone profiling session (free of charge).
During this profiling session the assessor essentially needs to make sure that the NVQ is achievable and appropriate (i.e. you have the skills, knowledge, experience and evidence needed to be successful).
Once the assessor has approved you to enrol you can start your NVQ right away.
Alternativeley, if the assessor feels that a different qualification (higher or lower) is more appropriate, they will make that recommendation.
Does the NVQ involve written work?
No, all of our NVQs are assessed through a ‘discussion-style’ process and involve no written work.
First, you will upload your evidence (documents, photos, videos, witness testimony, etc) to our online ePortfolio portal so that your assessor can see it. Once the evidence has been accepted, you will arrange a series of Zoom/Teams meetings with your assessor where you will ‘talk your way’ through the units/criteria of the qualification.
Will the assessor have to come to site?
No. The whole assessment can be completed online. Your assessor will ask to see videos and photographs from the site, but using technologies such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and our online ePortfolio portal, the whole assessment can be carried out remotely.
How long will the NVQ take to achieve?
Achievement of an NVQ is really down to you, and how motivated you are to have it completed.
We provide support for 12 months, however these qualifications are realistically achievable within 1–3 months depending on your own commitment.
We also offer ‘fast-track’ assessment options which are suitable for more experienced Supervisors and Managers. The aim of the fast-track assessment is to have the whole qualification completed within 4 weeks or less.
There are no exams, no workshops to attend, no site visits, and no need to take time of work.
Are any grants or funding available?
Yes, CADUK are a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO). CITB registered employers can therefore claim up to £1500 per candidate on achievement of any of our construction-specific qualifications. This includes small employers (i.e. those with a wage bill of less than £80k) who don’t have to pay the levy.
As of 1st April 2023, the amount that CITB registered companies can claim back per NVQ is:
Level 2 NVQ: £600
Level 3-4 NVQ: £1250
Level 6-7 NVQ: £1500
This grant applies to directly employed staff on the payroll and all subcontractors.
Read our article by clicking here for more information.
To find out if you are eligible to claim the CITB grant please Click Here, or call CITB directly on 0344 994 4455.