Your courses

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16-18 College

Construction

Construction is an ancient human activity, beginning with the need for a controlled environment to moderate the effects of climate. Whether you train to become a bricklayer, an electrician or a plumber, West Lancashire College can guide you towards a career worthwhile.

Taught in our CEL building on our Skelmersdale campus, you will learn life changing skills and develop friendships for life when you begin working on-site with fellow tradesmen and women.

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Open Event

West Lancashire College Monday 14th October 2024 4:30pm - 7:30pm Find out more

Bricklaying Level 1

Those studying Bricklaying Level 1 will learn a variety of skills to enable them to build, repair and maintain the country's housing stock.

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Bricklaying Level 2

Those studying our Bricklaying course will learn a variety of skills to enable them to build, repair and maintain the country's housing stock.

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Carpentry and Joinery Level 1

Working in the Carpentry and Joinery industry is an exciting and rewarding time, as you will gain skills that can be utilised in this growing industry.

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Carpentry and Joinery Level 2

Working in the Carpentry and Joinery industry is an exciting and rewarding time, as you will gain skills that can be utilised in this growing industry.

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Construction Multi Skills Entry Level 3

The Entry Level 3 qualification in Construction Skills is the perfect opportunity for students interested in working in the construction industry, but do not know which trade area to specialise in.

Length: 35 Weeks
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Plumbing Level 1

This qualification is for those wanting to enter the Plumbing industry as it provides you with the opportunity to pick up some core skills and knowledge

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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Plumbing Level 2

A qualification in Plumbing will help you learn the trade and progress onto an NVQ

Length: 1 Year
Study: Full Time
Start date: 1st September 2025
Location: West Lancashire College

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100%*

pass rate for Bricklaying Diploma Level 1

*data from Proachieve September 2024

100%*

pass rate for Bricklaying Diploma Level 2

*data from Proachieve September 2024

100%*

pass rate for Plumbing Certificate Level 1

*data from Proachieve September 2024

Amanda Maddocks

Head of Curriculum for Construction

As Head of Curriculum for Construction, I have high expectations for both student and staff. I am passionate about ensuring the learning experience in Construction is the very best it can be, always looking for additional opportunities that students wouldn’t get anywhere else. We create a safe and supportive environment to ensure all learners reach their full potential and progress into the Construction Industry, with support from our network of employer links.

Alan Finnetty

Bricklaying Lecturer

I am a passionate brickwork lecturer with over 40 years of experience in construction, I have developed a broad range of knowledge and skills building large homes, hospitals, and schools with recognised construction companies. I have extensive experience as a mentor and teacher for a diverse range of students with over 15 years in education for ages ranged 16-18yrs and adult students. I have gained qualifications for tutoring brickwork at levels 1, 2 and 3 diplomas, IQA and Assessing. I have experienced, in further education, broader ranges of teaching to SEN and school groups.

Anthony Dickinson

Bricklaying Lecturer

I have been a lecturer at West Lancashire College for 10 years and prior to working here, I was part of the Construction industry for more than 28 years, where I developed a broader range of knowledge and skills. I am dedicated and knowledgeable college lecturer with a passion for education and a strong commitment to student success. My extensive knowledge base allows me to provide in-depth insights and practical applications to students, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject with adept and design and develop curriculum that align with the needs of my students and the course objectives. I incorporate a variety of teaching methods, such as lectures, interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, to promote active learning and cater to diverse learning styles.

Gary Disley

Carpentry and Joinery Lecturer

I started work in the construction industry when I left school as a joiner /carpenter, I completed a three-year apprenticeship where I achieved my city and guilds qualifications followed by my advanced city and guilds. I have worked in the industry since working on various contracts throughout the country. I started education as an onsite assessor working with apprentices on site helping them to achieve their NVQ qualifications and I later moved into full time teaching and have done so for the last fourteen years, teaching full time students and apprentices up to level three.

Carla

Carpentry and Joinery Level 2 Student

I am a Carpentry and Joinery Level 2 student at West Lancashire College, where I am learning about the welfare in construction, as well as the principles of building construction. I am thoroughly enjoying the course as it’s fun and something a little bit different for me. My future will consist of going into a full time job where I can put my valuable Carpentry and Joinery skills to the test.

Dylan

Bricklaying Level 2 Student

I chose the Bricklaying course at West Lancashire College as it will help me in aiming towards an Apprenticeship in the industry. It is a fantastic hands-on, practical course which I am really enjoying. Alan has been a fantastic tutor throughout my time here and I am very grateful for his dedication to seeing students thrive.

Mollie

Plumbing Level 2 Student

I am currently studying the Level 2 Plumbing course at West Lancashire College and I chose this as I wanted to be different, to take my career in a direction that nobody else would choose for me. I have applied to be an Apprentice with the college in the near future, which I am really looking forward to. Amanda Maddocks has been fantastic with helping me to apply and has offered a lot of advice for the future.

Owen

Bricklaying Level 2 Student

I am due to complete my Level 2 course in Bricklaying, where I’ve successfully completed my practical units in line with the construction standards, as well as completing my Health and Safety and Principles of Building City & Guilds online exams in which I earned a distinction grade. The support at West Lancashire College has been amazing; my tutor Alan is always there to support me and my classmates with all elements of the course. I am hoping to find an Apprenticeship or progress onto the Level 3 Bricklaying course.

Phone: 01695 52300

Email: enquiries@westlancs.ac.uk

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Daily tasks:

Writes reports for funding bids and planning authorities and acts as expert witness.
Examines accident 'backspots' to improve road safety.
Assesses schemes to manage traffic such as congestion charging and parking controls.
Forecasts the impact on traffic and transport of new developments (e.g. shopping centre).
Records, monitors and reports progress.
Identifies defects in work and proposes corrections.
Regularly inspects and monitors progress and quality of work, ensures legal requirements are met.
Hires and may supervise site staff, establishes temporary site offices, takes delivery of materials.
Plans work schedules for construction projects based on prior discussion with architects, surveyors etc..
Assembles information for invoicing at the end of projects.

Median Salary

£37,219 View more

Daily tasks:

Repairs burst pipes and mechanical and combustion faults and replaces faulty taps, washers, valves, etc.
Attaches fittings and joins piping by welding, soldering, cementing, fusing, screwing or other methods.
Tests completed installation for leaks and makes any necessary adjustments.
Installs fittings such as storage tanks, cookers, baths, toilets, taps and valves, refrigerators, boilers, radiators and fires.
Measures and cuts required lengths of copper, lead, steel, iron, aluminium or plastic using hand or machine tools.
Examines drawings and specifications to determine layout of system.

Median Salary

£31,607 View more

Daily tasks:

Maintains and repairs woodwork and fittings.
Checks accuracy of work with square, rule and spirit level.
Aligns and fixes prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing and dowelling to form frames, shop fronts, counter units, decking, theatrical sets, furniture, small wooden craft, scale models and wooden templates.
Selects and measures appropriate wood and cuts, shapes and drills to specification using saws, planes, chisels and other power or hand tools.
Examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements.

Median Salary

£27,859 View more

Daily tasks:

Reports as required to managerial staff on work-related matters.
Determines or recommends staffing and other needs to meet productivity requirements.
Liaises with managers and contractors to resolve operational problems.
Establishes and monitors work schedules to meet productivity requirements.
Directly supervises and coordinates the activities of construction and building workers and/or subcontractors.

Median Salary

£37,760 View more

Daily tasks:

Tests joints with electronic test equipment or by filling piping with water, smoke or compressed air.
Joints pipe by sealing with rubber, cement, lead, etc., connects piping to manholes and attaches pipe junctions as required.
Selects appropriate asbestos, clay, concrete, plastic or metal pipe sections and lowers them into prepared trenches using hoisting equipment.
Cuts, shapes and fits wood, lays bricks and tiles, cleans exterior surfaces of buildings and resurfaces eroded stone or brickwork, and performs other tasks in the construction, alteration, repair and demolition of buildings.
Selects appropriate plasterboard or dry lining panels, cuts them to required size and fixes them to ceilings and walls.
Fills machine with insulating mixture, positions hose, drills access hole and fills cavities or coats surfaces to prevent loss or absorption of heat and provide fire protection.