Hard Landscape Training Group

Training to improve quality and professional standards in your business

hard landscaping feature

Course Details

COURSE PROGRAMME 2008

The following are proposed course dates, but additional dates will be arranged to suit individual companies. Dates are subject to change if insufficient numbers are booked onto the course to make it viable, or other unforeseen circumstances arise.

The List that follows gives very basic information on just some of the courses which will be available through the Hard Landscape Training Group. If you require the training we can provide it at very competitive rates, with discounted rates for members of the Training Group.
Courses are arranged either at the request of one company – if sufficient trainees (usually 6-10), or when we have sufficient trainees from various companies to make up the numbers for a viable course.

Hard Landscape

Introductory 1 Day Block, Flag and Kerb Courses
This short 1 or 2 day course covers the correct base materials to use for the different weight bearing surfaces, and the laying of blocks in different patterns, around drains, corners and other awkward areas.

Permeable Paving Block Course - 1 day
Click here to see the course details (press release)
Click here to download the course booking form

Improver Block Paving Course - 2 days
Click here to see the course details
Click here to download the course booking form

Patio Flag Laying - 2 days

Setting Out Hard Landscape Areas - 1 day

Linear Drainage - 1 day

Abrasive Wheels - 1 day
This 1 day course covers Bench mounted Grinders and Hand Held Cutting Saws, including the diamond blade cutting wheels. The Hand Saws course does not include training on Bench mounted Grinders.
Abrasive wheels are essential equipment in many industries. The range of wheels now available makes them even more flexible and effective workshop tools. Training is a legal requirement. The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require employers to provide adequate training and to ensure that abrasive wheels are operated only by employees who have received appropriate training in their safe use. If you are self employed, the regulations still apply. The course includes the following:
* Protective clothing
* Characteristics
* The marking system
* Handling & Storage
* Inspecting wheels
* Performing a ring test
* Speed & speed conversions
* Mounting & Adjustments & Truing and dressing.

Cable & Service Detection (Catscan) - 1 day

Working in Confined Spaces - 2-3 days

Basic Brickwork - 3 days

Drystone Walling - 2 days
Two-day course (Min) enabling trainees to undertake basic dry stone construction to suit the local style.

Introduction to Patio Flag Laying - 1 day

Introduction to Permeable Block Laying - 1 day

Laying Kerbs Course – 1 day

Machine Laying of Blocks/Flags/Kerbs – 1 day

After Care of Hard Landscape Areas – 1 day

Setting Out & Measuring Up Hard Landscape Areas - 1 day

Basic Brickwork - ??? days

Part P Certificate in Electrical Installation of Landscape Contractors – 5 day
End January - Near Chesterfield, Derbyshire - £995 + VAT per Trainee
This is a new Course qualifies Landscape Contractors to carry out their own electrical installations connected to the Landscape works without the need to take the full Domestic Part P Qualification

Block / Flag and Kerbing Introductory Courses
Setting out and Levels, Site Preparation and Laying Bases, Laying Pavers/Kerbs

Setting Out Hard Landscape works

Laying Natural Stone Surfaces.

Tarmacking – Introductory course

Repair / re-instatement of Blocks or Flags

Improver Courses on Block, Flag and Kerbing.

Permeable Paving

Sub-Bases
correct weight bearing bases for drives, industrial surfaces etc

Drainage under Hard Surfaces

Introductory Block & Flag Laying Courses

Kerb Laying

Soft Landscape

Machinery

Basic Chainsaw Maintenance & Operation – 2 days
Chainsaws - Used correctly chainsaws and allied cutting equipment are very versatile tools with a variety of uses. But they are potentially very dangerous. Serious accidents can and do occur without proper training, or because operators have not kept their skills up to scratch.
This 2 day course covers the following elements:
* Workshop safety awareness
* Guide bar, saw chain and power unit maintenance
* Re-assembly
* Health
* Safety features
* Lubrication and fuelling
* Personal protective equipment
* Starting and pre-cutting checks
* Site safety awareness
* Cross – cutting and stacking timber.

Felling Trees up to 200mm/Hung Up Trees– 3 days
Includes:
* Environmental precautions and legal requirements
* Pre-felling considerations
* Tree Felling and de-limbing
* Leaning, hollow and decayed trees
* Hung-up Trees.
4 trainees per course.

Brushwood Chipper Daily Maintenance & Operation – 1 day

Daily Maintenance & Operation of Mowers – 1 day

Pesticides

Safe Use of Pesticides – 1day (PA1)
The one-day theory course covers:
* The requirements of current legislation
* Using Pesticides appropriately and safely
* Keeping proper records
* Storing pesticides Correctly
* Cleaning equipment
* Disposing of unwanted pesticides and containers
* Dealing with contamination and poisoning incidents.
After the Safe Use of Pesticides Course trainees then go onto another days training in their particular field of interest.

Safe Use of Knapsack Sprayer - 1 day (PA6)
This is a day of practical training in using the Knapsack Sprayer, various nozzle options, assessing wind speed and drift, calibration of the machines, etc.
Max 6 trainees per course.
The National Proficiency Test Assessments are arranged separately but are a requirement for those undertaking Spraying. Costs of Assessments arranged separately.

Safe Use of Fogging/Misting Machines - 1day

Safe Use of Boom Sprayers – 1 day

Safe Use of Pesticides on Water – 1day

Pruning Shrubs

CSCS External Landscape Operative Card (Route to attain card).

ROLO Health & Safety Course for ROLO/CSCS Cards – 1 day
The Health & Safety Course takes one full day. This course complies with Health & Safety requirement that all your staff receive training in Health & Safety to make them aware of all the items listed below to ensure they comply with your company’s Health & Safety Policy. R
The main HSE topics covered during the day are:
Legislation - European Legislation
HSE Law - R.I.D.D.O.R
1997 Regulations - Risk Assessments
P.U.W.E.R. - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Hazardous Substances - C.O.S.H.H.
Electricity - First Aid
Noise - White Finger/Arm Vibration (HAVS)
Working at Height - Fire
Manual Handling - Safety Signs
Excavations - L.O.L.E.R.
Street Works. - BALI Certificate of Attendance

Manual Handling/Safe Lifting – 1 day
A one day HSE Approved course. This training is a mandatory requirement for all employees within your business. To comply with Health & Safety Regulations all staff within the company should have received training on how to lift and handle objects safely, how to assess the risk to themselves etc.
February 8 - Cheshire
February 15 - Suffolk

Emergency First Aid/Appointed Person – 1 day
This 1 day course is the minimum First Aid training available and will equip at least one man in each of your teams to deal with emergencies until the trained paramedics arrive. It gives basic practical knowledge and life saving practice in dealing with emergency situations.
The Course covers:
* Assessing situations and taking appropriate action, including informing emergency services
* Artificial ventilations and chest compressions
* Recovery position
* Clearing obstructed airways
* Controlling severe bleeding
* Recognising and treating shock
* Requirements of a first aid kit
* Reporting accidents in the work place
* Head Injuries
* Major illnesses
* Burns, scalds, poisons and fractures
* Chemical contamination. If it is more than three years since you attended a First Aid course, you should consider doing another one.

First Aid at Work
This 4-day course is regularly organised by your local Red Cross or St. John’s Ambulance.
It is a more intense four-day course which includes a formal assessment on the last day.
The Course includes all the skills listed in the Emergency First Aid course (but dealt with in greater depth) plus:
* Spinal injury recovery position
* Strains, sprains, dislocations and fractures
* Miscellaneous conditions.

Working at Height
A half day HSE Approved course looking at correct positioning of ladders for different ground conditions etc, risk assessments, safety aids etc

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Awareness
A 1 day course to explain the new legislation which is comes into force this year on the use of machinery and tools which could cause the above problem to regular operators.
The course will explain what causes the disease and the best way to minimise the potential harm these machines and tools cause to employees.

Plant Operation Training / Assessments
Upon Demand

MANAGEMENT

Writing Risk Assessments & Method Statements - 1 day

How to Write Site Specific Method Statements
1) for the pre-Tender stage which covers Health & Safety issues in the Contract.
2) for the Contractual Sequence of the work that will be carried out on site.

Operation of theKerb and Flag Laying Machine & Method Statements.
Training to comply with Health & Safety requirements for those operating the Machines + ensuring compliance with the Contractual Sequence of the Work .

Ronadeck Fast Grip Training (Resin Bonded Aggregate Surfacing System)
Course covers description of the product, its uses, and its application process.
Followed by a practical hands-on Workshop session to demonstrate the products within the system including Scratch Coat for filling surface imperfections and reducing porosity, mixing and application of the resins, spreading aggregate, curing, sweeping off, seal coats.

MANAGING PEOPLE 3-Day Course (1 day per week)
This Course will be suitable for Managers and Supervisors and covers a comprehensive range of areas that you will find invaluable in your work. This course can be tailored to meet your company’s needs.
For more detailed information on the course please apply to Kath.

Effective Manager – 2day

Instructional Techniques – 3 or 5 day (Lantra) course

Participative Training Techniques – 3 days

Team Leader Courses – 2 day

Customer Relations / Complaint Handling - 1 day

Time & Self Management – 1 day

Developing Assertiveness – 2 days

Decorative Decking - 1 day

Quantifying & Pricing

Sample of some of the Other Courses available:
Dealing with Customers, Negotiation Skills Developing Assertiveness, Business Planning, Instructional Techniques, Showing People How, Mower Daily Maint & Operation, Pruning Plants & Bushes, Specialist Types of Paving

Training can take place on your premises if you have the necessary facilities, or at a venue in your area. The above training courses are only a cross section of what is available to the Hard Landscape Sector.

Courses can only take place if we have sufficient trainees booked on a course to make it viable.

The Training Group offers a wide choice of courses in a range of subjects, from practical skills, health and safety, supervisor or team leader and management training.

Many of the courses are recognised by CITB or Lantra, these are sector skills councils - one for the Construction industry the other for the Land Based industry.

If you can't find what you are looking, or if you need any information on any of the courses listed above, or any other training requirements please go to the contact us page and ask for more information.