‘Taking the mystery out of construction’

Welcome to The Builder Training Centre (The BTC).  We very much hope that you will decide to choose to train at our Construction Training Centre.  We specialise in Short Courses for men and women looking for Trade Skills. We offer Intensive Practical Training Courses and Electrical Qualification Training Courses for the Construction industry and DIY market.

Whether you are a beginner looking to learn DIY skills or handyman skills, an experienced trade person looking to extend or perfect your skills, or someone looking for a change of career, you are certain to find a course to suit you at The BTC.  We offer Foundation Courses for people with little or no experience, and we offer Electrical Qualification Courses to keep you up-to-date in the building and construction skills industry. Don’t worry if you have no experience in the Electrical field as we provide Electrical Courses for all levels from practical Foundation Courses to City & Guilds Level 3 Qualification Courses. Our courses are ideal for those wishing to obtain a variety of new trade skills as we can offer you a very competitively priced multi course package specifically designed for each individual.

The Builder Training Centre opened in 2003 to address the shortage of construction courses for those in the building trade and for those trying to get into it.  The Centre opened offering Bricklaying Courses, Plastering Courses, Plumbing Courses and Roof Tiling Courses, but has since expanded the construction skills on offer to include Ceramic Wall and Floor Tiling Courses, Electrical Courses, Kitchen Fitting Courses, Roof Construction Courses, Fibreglass / GRP Flat Roofing Courses, Carpentry Courses, Security Alarm Installation Courses and DIY Home Maintenance Courses.  With the introduction of the Domestic Installers Qualification, the Centre became an EAL Approved Centre (No L1944EW) to offer Part P Courses in 2005.  In 2007 The BTC became a City & Guilds Approved Training Provider (No 007253) for Electrical Qualification Courses. The Builder Training Centre now offers City & Guilds 2382-12 17th Edition Courses, City & Guilds 2392-10 Inspection and Testing Courses, City & Guilds 2391 Inspection and Testing Courses and City & Guilds 2377 PAT Testing Courses.

Electrical Centre

The Centre has assisted over 15,000 men and women to learn a construction trade, gain hands-on practical experience and qualifications to assist them with personal projects or to progress onto a successful career. We assist companies to ensure that their staff are trained to a high standard and they obtain the relevant qualifications and we provide resettlement training packages for armed forces personnel.

We offer high quality structured Courses.  These include Weekday Courses and, for those that have commitments during the week, Weekend Courses.  All our instructors are qualified, highly experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Tradespersons, so students can take advantage of all the tips of the trade, personal experiences and advice they offer.  The intensive courses are demanding, but the atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable which creates a good learning environment. 

Our students come from all walks of life, and their ages range from 16 to over 70.  All have different reasons for attending.  Some students want to find out whether they like the trade enough to commit themselves long term.  Other students want to increase their portfolio of skills for their own benefit to enable them to carry out home improvements and repairs or be in a position to offer a wider selection of skills to their clients or employers.  In addition there are students that have invested in properties and wish to gain the relevant skills to enable them to carry out the refurbishments themselves.  A high percentage of students are looking to take up a new career in the Electrical industry as a Domestic Installer or an Electrician, and opt to commence with our short intensive Foundation Electrical Course then progress onto the Part P Qualification Course and 17th Edition Course in order to register as a Domestic Installer with the NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, Corgi or Oftec.  The majority of these students then return to attend our City & Guilds Inspection and Testing Qualification Courses with the intention of carrying out Initial Verification and Periodic Inspections. For those wishing to carry out In-Service Inspection and Testing they also attend the Portable Appliance Testing Courses.

You are welcome to visit The BTC at any time during opening hours (8.00 am until 6.00 pm) either during the week or at weekends to see our facilities first hand. No appointment is required and you will be made very welcome.  Why not come and meet our instructors and speak to our students and see for yourself what you can achieve from each course?

The Builder Training Centre prides itself on the number of students that return to attend additional courses, and the number of students that attend by ‘word of mouth’.  Our high quality teaching is clearly appreciated by our students, as highlighted from their testimonials, a selection of which can be viewed under each trade.  Please take the time to read these and witness for yourself how good our Training Courses really are.

We will send you a map and travel information with your booking confirmation.  Whether you are traveling from as far North as Scotland or as far South as Cornwall, we can assist you with travel and accommodation. We have excellent local accommodation from as little as £30.00 per night including bed, breakfast and evening meal (please see Accommodation). We are here to help you with any questions or difficulties you may encounter and we pride ourselves on our customer service.

Head Office

The Builder Training Centre is located in Croydon, Surrey, which is in the Greater London area.  We have two centres: our Head Office in The Station Buildings at Waddon Train Station and our dedicated Electrical and Alarm Installation Centre a minute’s walk away in Stafford Road.  Getting here is easy, with Waddon Station having a direct rail link with London Victoria Station, London Bridge Station and Clapham Junction Station (approximately 30 minutes) making traveling from London quick and convenient.  We are about 10 miles from Junction 7 or Junction 8 on the M25. We are therefore easily accessible from all the Home Counties, namely Kent, Essex, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, and of course Surrey.  There is ample free parking nearby. Our facilities also include a modest canteen and we carry a wide range of reasonably priced tools for purchase whilst in attendance or at a later date. 

Fact sheets will be supplied on our Foundation Courses, so there is no need for too many notes!  After completing each Foundation Course you will receive a Builder Training Centre Certificate of Continuous Professional Development.  On successful completion of each of our Electrical Qualification Training Courses you will receive either a City & Guilds or EAL Certificate, depending on your choice of course.

If you are attending one of our Weekday or Weekend Foundation Training Courses, you will get dirty so you should bring working clothes. We have changing room facilities for men and women!  You will find our prices are competitive, and include the use of tools and materials relevant to your chosen course whilst you are here, but for health and safety reasons you are required to have steel toe capped footwear to wear throughout the course.  If you have chosen to attend an Electrical Qualification Course then you may also be required to purchase books.  Safety boots and electrical books, including recommended revision books, are available to purchase from the BTC.  All our course prices include VAT and exam fees where applicable (please see Price List). 

You are certain to find a course that is right for you but if you are still undecided, why not give Elaine, Sally or Andy a call, who will be more than happy to assist, on 0800 389 2775 / 0208 649 9340

 Practical Foundation Courses:                                             

• Bricklaying Courses
• Carpentry Courses
• DIY Home Maintenance Courses
• Kitchen Fitting Courses
• Plastering Courses 
• Plumbing Courses
• Roof Construction Courses
• Roof Tiling Courses
• Fibreglass / GRP Flat Roofing Courses
• Security Alarm Installation Courses 
• Wall and Floor Ceramic Tiling Courses

 Practical Electrical Courses:

• Foundation Electrical Courses
• Foundation Inspection and Testing Courses
• 2391 Practical Pre-Assessment Courses

Electrical Qualification Courses: 

• EAL VRQ Level 2 (Part P) Domestic Installer Courses
• City & Guilds (2382-12) 17th Edition Courses
• City & Guilds (2392-10) Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification Courses
• City & Guilds (2391-10) Inspection, Testing & Design of Electrical Installations Courses
• City & Guilds (2394-01) Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installation Courses
• City & Guilds (2395-01) Periodic Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installation courses
• City & Guilds (2396-01) Design and Verification of Electrical Installation Courses
• City & Guilds (2377) Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Courses 

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