Determination meant that Jon got his CSCS card in 3 weeks.
After losing his job in early 2011, Jon Brown, 18, from Beeston, Nottingham, was referred to ignite by his Jobcentre Plus Adviser. As construction was something he enjoyed and wanted to continue pursuing, he felt that this route for training and support into employment was the best suited to him.
Before coming to ignite, Jon was having very little luck when it came to job searching. There was one thing he realised that he needed to push him further in his employability prospects: his CSCS card.
Central Skills provides up-to-date construction training, essential for anyone wanting a career in the industry. At the end of the training, the learner then goes forward to undertake the CSCS test to get the CSCS card. The CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card allows the holder to work on any construction site in the country. Its aim is to improve on quality and reduce accidents within the construction sector. Covering hundreds of occupations across the industry, it is now a vital certification which the majority of employers are now demanding as proof of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients, and others.
As all card holders have to pass a Construction Skills Health & Safety Test, the CSCS card also shows they have certified health and safety awareness. Jon felt his health and safety awareness needed some practice. To overcome this, Jon used a series of computer aided programmes at Central Skills on health and safety in order to prepare himself for the test.
Jon said, “When my Jobcentre Plus adviser referred me to Central Skills I thought it would take months for me to get my CSCS card. I put my mind to it and stuck at it as I was determined to get it. I had fun at the same time and thought positively about the whole process. It must have worked because I got my CSCS card in three weeks!”
Jon is now one of ignite’s fastest learners having passed his CSCS test first time!
Whilst waiting for his CSCS card to be delivered Jon is attending Employability Skills workshops on ignite. He will be working closely with advisers to improve his CV and job searching skills. “I aim to get back into full-time construction work as soon as I can”.
The advice Jon gives to future learners is: “turn up, think positively, don’t give up and don’t think of it as a chore”.
