Free Level 1 Construction Skills Course in Accrington. Classes run at Accrington and Rossendale College. You'll study full-time during the day, spending most of your time in purpose-built workshops learning hands-on carpentry and joinery skills. The course covers hand and power tool use, working with timber, creating joints and frames, and reading technical drawings. It runs for one year. To enrol, you'll need two GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, including Grade 2 or 3 in both English and Maths.
Who this course is for
Are you ready to lay the foundations for your future? Our Level 1 Brickwork course is the ideal starting point for a successful career in the construction industry. Tailored for those new to the trade, this programme provides an outstanding introduction to the essential skills and knowledge of bricklaying. You’ll move from the classroom into our specialist workshops, learning hands-on from experienced tutors who are experts in their field. We are dedicated to providing a supportive and welcoming environment where you can develop your abilities with confidence.
Throughout the course, you will learn how to lay bricks and blocks to a line, a vital skill for any project. You will also master the fundamentals of health and safety within construction, ensuring you can work safely and effectively on any site. We will guide you through building basic structures, including half-brick and one-brick walls, corners, and cavity walls. This practical experience is complemented by the theory you need to understand construction technology and communicate effectively with colleagues. By the end of this course, you will have developed core competencies and gained a recognised qualification to progress onto an apprenticeship or further study, setting you well on the path to becoming a skilled tradesperson.
Entry requirements
2 GCSE passes at a minimum of Grade 3, which must include a Grade 2 and 3 in English Language or Literature and Maths, in either combination.
What you will learn
You'll use hand tools including saws, chisels, and planes safely and correctly.
You'll operate power tools for cutting, shaping, and finishing timber.
You'll create fundamental carpentry joints and timber frames.
You'll read and interpret technical drawings used in construction.
You'll follow health and safety practices in a workshop environment.
You'll develop core skills used across the construction industry.
How you will learn
You'll learn through practical, hands-on sessions in purpose-built workshops, working directly with timber and tools. Classroom sessions support the practical work, covering theory and technical knowledge. Assessment is based on your practical work and the skills you demonstrate throughout the course.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. Accrington and Rossendale College will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Carpenter: how to become a carpenter, starting with site joinery work.
Joiner: workshop-based role making doors, frames, and staircases.
Construction labourer: entry-level site work supporting trades.
Shopfitter: fitting out retail and commercial interiors.
Maintenance operative: general repairs and upkeep in buildings.
What you could study next
Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry: the next step toward skilled carpentry work on construction sites, and a step toward the NVQ Level 3 that carpenters need for a CSCS skilled-worker card.
Level 2 Diploma in Joinery: focuses on workshop-based joinery, making fitted furniture, doors, and frames.
Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in Construction: useful alongside any trade qualification for site work.
