The construction sector needs thousands of skilled new workers every year. With house building on the rise and huge national projects planned over the several decades, there has never been a better time to learn a trade or to upgrade your existing skills with our short courses.
From brickwork to joinery, professional construction and painting and decorating, at Chesterfield College, we can provide you with the knowledge you need for a successful career, no matter which trade you’re interested in. Our strong links with employers mean that we know which skills they are looking for and many of our students go straight on to work or an apprenticeship at the end of their course.
As a construction student, you’ll be able to take advantage of our purpose-built construction facility, East Block One. Built across the road from our main campus, the centre has several state-of-the-art workshops which have been fitted with all the latest industry-standard equipment, enabling you to develop high-level skills in your chosen discipline.
So whether it’s a full-time course after school, a part-time course as an adult, higher education to further your existing construction career or perhaps an apprenticeship to earn whilst you learn, regardless of which path you choose you can be sure the path to construction career success is a well built one with us.
Carpentry and Joinery
We have a range of courses in Carpentry and Joinery from entry level to Level 2, both full-time and part-time options. These courses allow you to gain a solid understanding of the skills and knowledge to be successful in the industry. At Level 2 you will be able to specialise in bench or site joinery. These courses combine work placements and classroom work as part of the qualification. If you choose site joinery, you’ll be working on new builds and refurbishments. This could include installing new door and window frames, kitchen units, stairs and mouldings. If you choose bench joinery, this could include using drawings, machinery and power tools to construct door frames, windows, and kitchen and bedroom furniture.
Find out more about our range of courses.
Chloe Smith…
“I wanted to do a work placement because I wanted to get into the industry and gain a job out of it. I spoke to Terry (curriculum lead) to see if there was anything available. He came back with Realm Projects. It’s not far from where I live and I could drive so it’s perfect for me. He got it all sorted out and Linda emailed me about when it was, where is it, the time and everything. It was very good of him.”
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Brickwork
Our Bricklaying courses are taught from our Wharf Lane campus. We teach entry-level all the way up to occupational standards at Level 2, which can then go to a Level 3 standard or an apprenticeship. Our courses allow you to ease into the world of bricklaying, whilst learning about tools and techniques to make the job easier and your work of higher quality. We are here to prepare you for work. The higher the level, the more technical the course will be.
The theory is key in brickwork. We have building regulations to make sure we do everything that is required by law to build a home in the UK. The theory and practical skills you learn during the course will help you to build a portfolio as well as giving you the knowledge to pass your assessments.
Our practical and theoretical teaching styles combine to give you the skills needed for the industry. We will prepare you for working in construction sites across the country.
Find out more about our Bricklaying courses here.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Professional Construction
We offer Level 3, Level 4, Access to HE and T Level courses in Professional Construction to enable students to progress into a wide range of professions in the industry.
Our Level 3 course is perfect for those leaving school. You will study nine units over the course of the year. This will involve a mix of lectures, one-to-one sessions and teamwork. We also host industry weeks, where learners will go to lectures from external professional institutions as well as work placement opportunities. The industries include the Institution of Civil Engineering, The Chartered Institute of Builders and The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Our Level 4 HNC course in Civil Engineering or Construction and The Built Environment is the perfect progression route. It’s a natural progression from our Level 3 course or for those already in the industry wanting to upskill to management.
The Access to HE course is for those who need to gain further qualifications to enable them to study the Level 4 course.
T-Level’s
Heather Watton…
“What I love about the course I am on is that it is broken down into clear sections, which is great for me. I find that a beneficial way to study. The access to learning resources is phenomenal. The study tools and support you get are brilliant. The experience has been very positive.”
Painting and Decorating
From painting, prep work, tiling, plastering and wallpapering, we will teach you everything you need to know to become a painter and decorator. We teach you skills to become a sole trader and also skills you will need to work on-site with other colleagues. Our industry-standard workshops allow students to practice on modeled homes and we also provide work experience opportunities throughout the year to get students out in the community and working on jobs.
Find out more about our range of courses here.
Matt Anderson, Painting and Decorating Tutor…
“It is massively important to give the students valuable on-site experience. On top of the skills they are developing in the classroom, they need to know what the world of work is all about. They need to learn about timekeeping and getting used to a working day, liaising with customers and learning about the right tools for the job. It gives them valuable experience out of a simulated environment where they need to produce a good finish and meet a deadline.”
Apprenticeship Opportunities