FAQs

You are more than welcome to visit! We'll be pleased to show you around and answer any questions. Please just contact us first to arrange a time. You'll be able to speak to instructors about your options. We promise you won't be subjected to any pushy sales techniques!

Most of our courses are suitable for complete beginners and you can see the entry level on each of our course pages. You will need to have previous experience working in your chosen field before you complete an NVQ/SVQ.

No - we have no age requirements and you are never 'too old' to start something new!

No we are a private training centre and not government funded. However, we are similar to colleges in that we are approved by national awarding bodies to deliver their qualifications which means you can be assured you are receiving the required high standards of teaching.

On a college course you would typically be working as an apprentice and be released to complete college work on certain days. Many adult learners simply can't afford to spend years at college with little income but still need access to training and education. Our courses are a great alternative if you want to retrain or develop your existing skills with minimum disruption to your life. We offer various courses for all different levels of experience, including courses not available in colleges.

Sometimes funding is available depending on your circumstances. The types of funding available often change so please contact us for more information. Finance is available for our courses, allowing you to spread the costs of training. For more details visit https://ideal4finance.com/trades We can also be flexible with course dates and split our longer courses into smaller more manageable sections.

The only cost is the course fee which also includes VAT. There are no hidden costs. We supply all the tools and materials you need to complete the course.

Please call us on 0131 6611 833 to check what start dates are available and to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place (the deposit will depend on the course you are booking and is around 20% of the course price). The balance is payable 21 days before the course start date. Please see our 'how to book' page for terms and conditions. Please see our How to Book page for full details and conditions.

You can split the course into smaller sections to fit around other commitments or to spread the cost. Just contact us to discuss the best way of managing this for you.

Our courses run all year round and we have start dates every month. We don't publish a 'timetable' as such because we aim to be flexible with start dates. Please contact us to find out what start dates are available. There is no minimum notice period for starting a course and sometimes we can accommodate last minute bookings. However, our courses do book up quickly so if you have a preferred date we recommend booking ahead.

Not at the moment. However, we may offer these in the future so please contact us and we will keep you updated.

We don't have accommodation on site but can help you find good value accommodation close to our centre and often at preferential rates. If you are staying in Edinburgh we can also give you information about local amenities and entertainment. Edinburgh is a beautiful city with many attractions and bustling night life. There is something for everyone in Scotland’s capital city and home of the famous fringe festival. Our course training centre is only a short bus ride or walk from the city centre.

If you have completed a qualification (e.g. City&Guilds) we will apply for your certificate and then post it out to you once we have received it. This will usually take a 3-4 weeks but can sometimes take longer, for example, for larger qualifications. If you need the certificate urgently we can often email a PDF version of this before the hard copy is available, just let us know.

Our training does not end when your course is complete! You can return for free advice, re-attend lectures and attend our specialist training days.  We are proud to have built a Trades Training community and have established long-term relationships with many of our students. You can join our support groups both on WhatsApp and a dedicated Facebook page. You will have instant access to support from a close network of tutors and experienced students. Business start up training is optional on all of our courses – our experienced tutors will guide you on establishing and running your business, Including marketing your business, pricing and quoting for work, keeping and organising your paperwork.

You can earn a very good salary in all of the trades we teach. Exactly how much will depend on various factors including the exact type of work you do, whether you are employed or have your own business, your own ability and experience. Just like any other career! As a guide, the National Careers Service has published the following salary scales: Wall and floor Tiler £17,000 to £32,000 Plumber £15,000 – £40,000 Plasterer £19,000 - £34,000

Please see our Trade Qualifications page for more detailed information about this.

We can provide business start up training and will also be happy to put you in touch with employers where possible. We provide unlimited after course support and can help with business plans and CVs. However, we cannot guarantee anybody a job. Many of our students obtain jobs or become self-employed and so can you, but this will involve some effort on your part along wth our support.