Live or work in Greater Manchester?
You could be eligible for fully funded NVQs
Northwest Skills Academy, with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, can offer fully funded NVQs to people who live or work in Greater Manchester.
Want to see if you can get a fully funded qualification?
Partnership
GMCA &
North West Skills Academy
North West Skills Academy are working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to give people who live or work in the Greater Manchester area the chance to undertake a fully funded NVQ.
If you’re looking to undertake an NVQ in Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Joinery, Bricklaying, Passive Fire, or Drylining (Fixer / Finisher) we can offer different ways to achieve these (subject to eligibility).
North West Skills Academy can offer these courses, fully funded, at either Level 2 or Level 3 – fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page to find out more or apply!
These fully funded NVQs can be delivered by either our Fast-Track EWPA, which is an experienced worker practical assessment. This is a one-day practical assessment at one of our assessment centres undertaking a rigorous practical skills test in your chosen trade area.
The other delivery option is our On-Site Assessment & Training (OSAT). This delivery method takes slightly longer (1 – 4 months) as we come to your place of work and undertake assessments on-site.
These delivery methods are subject to eligibility, please contact us if you’re unsure on anything – we are more than happy to help.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
The NVQs that are available from North West Skills Academy are:
Painting and Decorating Level 2
Plastering Level 2
Joinery Level 2
Brick Level 2
Passive Fire Level 2
Dry lining Level 2
Painting & Decorating Level 3
Plastering Level 3
Joinery Level 3
Brick Level 3
Occupational Work Supervisor Level 3
There are two ways in which North West Skills Academy deliver qualifications to learners. This can be by either our ‘Fast Track’ route or an On-Site Assessment.
Fast Track delivery is an experienced worker practical assessment (EWPA). A one-day practical assessment at one of our assessment centres undertaking a rigorous practical skills test in your chosen trade area. For the Fast Track Assessment option you will be required to have 5 years construction experience as a minimum.
The On Site Assessment takes longer than the Fast Track option (1-4 months) as we come to your site over several visits and assess your capability over an extended period of time. For the On Site Assessment route you need to be an experienced member of the trade we are assessing.
Unit 46,
Marcus House,
Longton,
Stoke-on-Trent,
ST3 5XA
Preston New Rd, Samlesbury,
Preston,
PR5 0UP
Unit 501,
Phoenix Close Trading Estate,
Heywood,
OL10 2JG
In order to qualify for the free funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority you need to either live or work in Greater Manchester and be either employed or self-employed.
If you’re unsure if you qualify, please fill out the form below and a member of our team can help you.
There are two different assessment methods available for these qualifications – EWPA and OSAT.
EWPA is Experienced Worker Practical Assessment and can get you qualified in one day! However, in order to be eligible for the EWPA assessment, you will need to have at least five years general site experience.
OSAT is On-Site Assessment and Training and is carried out over a longer period (1-4 months). Every learner is eligible for this route and allows experienced individuals to gain their qualification whilst working on site and demonstrating to the assessor their competency and capability to perform safely and at the required standard in the workplace