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Matthew McHale Crowned Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion!

June 26, 2025

Matthew McHale Crowned Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion! A Proud Day at Trades Training School We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Matthew “Matty” McHale, a tiling instructor here at Trades Training School, has just claimed the Commonwealth Silver Super-Flyweight Title with a stunning fifth-round win. Matty’s journey is a true inspiration to our students and […]

FITTING A NEW BATHROOM ON A BUDGET!

May 29, 2025

🛁 Fitting a New Bathroom on a Budget: A Practical Guide for Homeowners Looking to renovate your bathroom without spending a fortune? Discover how to fit a stylish, functional bathroom on a budget — plus, learn how short trades training courses can help you save even more. Renovating your bathroom can be one of the […]

WETROOM INSTALLATION DAY

March 24, 2025

Last Friday we held a training morning on wetroom installation, attended by current and past tiling students. We started with demos by Antony and practical tasks for students to get hands on. Ciaran from Wedi talked us through their product specs and development. This was a fantastic opportunity for our tilers to learn about wetroom […]

WE'RE HIRING! PLASTERING INSTRUCTOR

February 4, 2025

We’re expanding our team of Plastering Instructors. As well as having experience in plastering, you should also be interested in teaching and passing on your knowledge - a teaching qualification is not essential and you'll have the option to work towards this. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, dependable and willing to […]

THE NEED FOR TILING QUALIFICATIONS

January 31, 2025

If you're thinking of completing a qualification in Wall & Floor Tiling, our latest feature article in Tile and Stone Journal is a must-read! Our founder and lead tiling instructor Antony discusses how tiling qualifications are still essential. “The landscape of formal education in wall and floor tiling has been shifting in the UK. With […]

FILMING STUDENT SUPPORT VIDEO WITH BAL

October 1, 2024

Earlier this month we had a visit from Mick Bull and James Hailstones from BAL, when we filmed a support video for our Tiling students. This included a Q&A session with James and Antony, our lead tiling instructor, on product selection and technical support. We’ve worked with BAL for almost 20 years, using their adhesives […]

OUR TILING STUDENTS LEARN PLUMBING!

August 27, 2024

Last Friday we ran our first Plumbing session for Tilers. Our plumbing instructors spent the morning with students from our tiling courses, covering plumbing issues regularly encountered by tilers. Our tilers learned about joining methods, fittings and pipes, how to remove and reinstall sanitary ware, including safe isolation. There were plenty of opportunities for attendees […]

MAKING THE MOST OF OUR ARMED FORCES RESSETLEMENT TRAINING

May 23, 2024

Brendan Forbes, a British Army veteran, runs a successful property maintenance business, Forbes & Son. He’s committed to empowering veterans, employing them in support of the Armed Forces Covenant. With strong leadership skills from his time in the military, he’s passionate about passing on those skills, knowledge and values to every team member he employs. […]

LEARNING THE ART OF VENETIAN PLASTERING: IN VENICE!🎨

April 30, 2024

We're thrilled to share some exciting news from Antony and Rob, our plastering experts here at Trades Training School. They recently took off on a learning escapade to Italy, and we're buzzing to tell you all about it! Last month, Antony and Rob had the privilege of immersing themselves in the world of Venetian plastering […]

THINKING OF SETTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS. READ THIS!

April 1, 2024

Gillian wrote a great article for Scottish Construction Now, with great insights into the teaching we offer here at the school. And how it goes beyond just learning a trade... “Transitioning from one career to another can feel like navigating uncharted waters, particularly for those with years of experience in a different field. Our mission […]

UNLEASHING ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS: THE TRADES TRAINING SCHOOL JOURNEY

February 19, 2024

Are you ready to take charge of your career and start your own business? At Trades Training School, we not only provide comprehensive training but also offer unwavering support to empower you on your entrepreneurial journey. Transitioning to a new career can be a daunting task, especially after spending years in a different field. However, […]

BESPOKE TRAINING - VETERANS HOUSING SCOTLAND

February 4, 2024

It’s back to business as usual at the school, with the first few busy weeks now under our belt. A highlight last week was a bespoke training day for Veterans Housing Scotland (VHS), where we delivered training tailored to their unique needs. Our focus was on providing development training for the dedicated Visiting Officers at […]

OUR COURSES IN 2024

December 21, 2023

Make 2024 the year you learn a trade! We have courses that cover everything, whether you’re looking for help with DIY or want to launch a new career. Start dates for most of our courses are flexible, meaning you fit learning around work, studying and life! Here's a quick overview of what we offer ↓ […]

TILING DEMO EVENT WITH NICOBOND

December 5, 2023

Last Friday Shaun Cardwell of Nicobond joined us at the school to share invaluable knowledge and insights with students from our tiling courses, past and present. Over the course of the morning, we covered multiple topics including: large format tiling, epoxy grout, tiling onto timber floors, BSEN classification, levelling compound, wet rooms & tanking, as […]

GILLIAN SHOWS US AROUND THE SCHOOL

November 23, 2023

Ever wondered what the school actually looks like inside? Well now you can find out! Follow Gillian around for a short tour and hopefully you’ll get a better sense of what it’s like training here with us…

CALLING ALL TILERS: FREE HALF-DAY DEMONSTRATION EVENT!

November 22, 2023

We’re excited to announce that Shaun Cardwell from leading adhesive manufacturer Nicobond, will be joining us here at the school for a demonstration event open to ALL tilers. Shaun’s demo will cover: • Large format tiling • Epoxy grout • Tiling onto timber floors • BSEN classification • Levelling compound • Wet rooms and tanking […]

VENETIAN PLASTERING - NEW DATE

November 2, 2023

*For course information and current start dates click here Learn the art of Venetian Plastering on our immersive 3-day course, starting on January 8, 2024. You'll be tutored in classic polished plasters by a seasoned specialist with 15 years of experience. This course caters to both novices and those seeking to enhance their existing skills. […]

YOUTUBE SERIES: TOOLS OF THE TRADE | WET CUTTERS

October 17, 2023

Part 2 of our new YouTube series has just dropped! In August we launched an engaging new series titled 'Tools of the Trade' over on our YouTube channel. Our second instalment shines a spotlight on wet tile cutters.  Because we know it can be daunting when deciding where to splash the cash, in this video Antony explores […]

CASE STUDY: JOHN MACKAY | CITY & GUILDS PLUMBING DIPLOMA

October 10, 2023

John’s story is one we see a lot of at the school – where an employer wants to up-skill their staff but doesn’t have on-site training. In John’s case, his employer Mitie - one of the UK's largest facilities management and professional services company – wanted another member of their team trained in plumbing. John […]

NEW BATHROOM FITTING COURSE

September 11, 2023

Our Bathroom Fitting Course page is now here https://tradestraining.co.uk/plumbing-course/bathroom-fitting-course/ Our exciting new Bathroom Fitting course is a comprehensive 7-week course that covers all aspects of plumbing and tiling. We're not just scratching the surface; we're immersing you in every aspect you need to master to confidently remove, plan, and replace a bathroom. You will […]

OUR NEXT VENETIAN PLASTERING COURSE

September 5, 2023

*For course information and current start dates click here Following the success of our hugely popular Venetian Plastering courses this year, we’re delighted to announce we have places available in October. Seeing a massive resurgence in popularity, Venetian Plastering is a specialist artisan technique resulting in beautiful finishes. Our intensive 3-day course of classic Italian […]

WHAT IS AN NVQ?

August 29, 2023

We get asked about NVQs a lot here at Trades Training School. Here are the main things to consider: An NVQ is a ‘vocational’ qualification, which means you will already have experience and will be assessed ‘on the job’. This is a qualification obtained by experienced workers who want to demonstrate their existing knowledge and […]

NEW YOUTUBE SERIES: TOOLS OF THE TRADE

August 22, 2023

This week, we've kicked off an engaging new series titled 'Tools of the Trade' over on our YouTube channel. Our debut instalment shines a spotlight on manual tile cutters, commonly known as straight cutters. Navigating the market's assortment of models can be daunting when deciding where to invest. Our founder and lead tiling instructor, Antony […]

TOP TIPS: HOW TO BLEED A RADIATOR

August 2, 2023

In our latest YouTube video, we're tackling a common yet often overlooked task: how to bleed a radiator like a pro! Is your radiator not heating up as efficiently as it used to? Don't worry; air pockets can accumulate over time, causing reduced heating performance. But fear not, as we've got the ultimate top […]

CASE STUDY: AN ARTIST LEARNS VENETIAN PLASTERING

July 26, 2023

Our latest case study tells the wonderful story of how artisan techniques weave their way into the courses we teach at the school, demonstrating that artists and creatives can learn valuable skills from our courses. Before telling you more about how Edinburgh-based artist Joanna Kessel came to take our Venetian Plastering course, let’s start the […]

THE NEED TO UP-SKILL

July 25, 2023

If you work in the tiling trade, our latest feature article in Tile and Stone Journal is a must-read. Our founder and lead tiling instructor Antony discusses how training in the tiling industry is adapting to the changing landscape. “We’ve seen a changing landscape in the tiling industry over the last few years. The number […]

DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD IN THE DAILY MAIL!

July 4, 2023

What a delight it was to pick up a copy of the Daily Mail’s You magazine on Sunday and see a whole 2 pages from journalist Katie Glass on her plumbing course at the school! Katie stayed with us in late May and did our one-week plumbing course as she wanted a basic understanding of […]

EX-ARMED FORCES OR GETTING READY TO LEAVE?

June 29, 2023

Did you know you can use your armed forces resettlement funds on any of our courses? And we’re also an approved provider for the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme. We have been a preferred supplier with the Career Transition Partnership since 2010 and have years of experience providing trades training to armed forces veterans and forces […]

A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR VENETIAN PLASTERING COURSES

June 26, 2023

Scroll down to watch our YouTube video where Antony tells you what to expect on our Venetian Plastering courses at Trades Training School. We’ve recently launched Venetian Plastering courses at the school. Seeing a massive resurgence in popularity, Venetian Plastering (also known as Italian Plastering) is a specialist artisan technique resulting in beautiful finishes. Used […]

CASE STUDY: SHANNON BROWN | TILING

June 21, 2023

Shannon Brown from Edinburgh, took our Tiling Diploma Level 2 course after leaving a job as a mobile engineer. Shannon’s dream is to move to Australia, and she wanted to launch a career that would allow her to do that. After gaining her City & Guilds, Shannon gained full-time employment as a tiler with McTear […]

What kind of qualifications do we offer?

June 6, 2023

Learning a trade is a great way to start or developing your career in the construction industry, and there are various routes you can follow, depending on your experience and what you aim to do after your training. We are approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and City & Guilds. If you complete a qualification […]

How do I finance my course?

May 30, 2023

There are no hidden costs when you book a course with us: the only cost is the course fee which also includes VAT. We supply all the tools and materials you need to complete the course. There are a few ways we can help you budget: • If you have chosen on of our longer […]

Proud to become a member of The Tile Association

May 23, 2023

As official Tile Junkies, we're delighted to be approved by The Tile Association as an Associated Training Centre. The Tile Association represents all aspects of the wall & floor tile industry in the UK, from manufacture to installation, and is the single independent association for the entire industry.   Our membership of the Association demonstrates that […]

Expert Cait Whitson answers all your Venetian Plastering questions

May 9, 2023

We’ve recently launched Venetian Plastering courses at the school. Seeing a massive resurgence in popularity, Venetian Plastering (also known as Italian Plastering) is a specialist artisan technique resulting in beautiful finishes. Used for centuries in building and is now used to complement the interior design of a building, whether it’s old world traditional, contemporary design […]

VENETIAN PLASTERING COURSES - NEW DATES

May 5, 2023

We ran our first Venetian Plastering course last week, an intensive course on Classic Polished Plaster. The course covered everything needed for our students to get off the ground using polished and textured plaster. Cait from Whitson’s was in attendance to cover the products available and provide after-course support. Our students practiced their techniques on […]

A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR PLUMBING COURSES

April 26, 2023

Scroll down to watch our YouTube video where Immy tells you what to expect on our plumbing courses at Trades Training School. Learn plumbing with us - from beginner level to starting your own business, we have a plumbing course for you. Taught by expert plumbers, our courses range from 1 week to 6-week Diplomas […]

ENGAGE & RETAIN

April 11, 2023

Gillian recently wrote a piece for Tomorrow’s Tile and Stone magazine highlighting the importance of up-skilling existing employees. We spotted a change in the ways tilers are learning their trade and have adapted our offerings to fit around the needs of our clients. Our courses are fully adaptable and can be split into smaller modules […]

A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR PLASTERING COURSES

April 3, 2023

Scroll down to watch our YouTube video where Antony gives a quick tour of the plastering bays at Trades Training School. Learn to plaster with us - from beginner level to starting your own business, we have a plastering course for you. Taught by expert instructors with lots of one-to-one training and time to practice. […]

Venetian Plastering Courses now available

March 28, 2023

We are excited to announce our new Venetian Plastering courses. These have been developed in partnership with decorative plastering specialists Whitson's Venetian Plastering (also known as Italian Plastering) is a specialist artisan technique resulting in beautiful finishes. Used for centuries in building and is now used to compliment the interior design of a building, whether […]

COURSE UPDATE

March 17, 2023

In March and April we have a busy course calendar with courses running in Plumbing, Plastering, and Wall & Floor Tiling. We have students starting on various courses from 1-week introductory courses to 6-week Diplomas. Our start dates are flexible, so we have students starting on all of these courses throughout the month. We have […]

A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO OUR TILING COURSES

March 8, 2023

Scroll down to watch our YouTube video where Antony gives a quick tour of the tiling workshops at Trades Training School. We have wall & floor tiling courses for all levels, from beginner to NVQ. High quality training with hi-spec tools and materials and real-life conditions. You will learn from instructors experienced in tiling. With […]

OUR AFTER COURSE SUPPORT

February 15, 2023

Our training doesn't 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 […]

FIGHTING WITH PRIDE

February 15, 2023

Last month we attended Fighting with Pride’s Scottish launch event in Stirling at the invitation of Douglas Morgan, Veterans Community Worker. Fighting with Pride supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+Veterans, service personnel and their families – in particular those most impacted by the ban on LGBT+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces prior to […]

CASE STUDY: TAMMY KING | CITY & GUILDS TILING DIPLOMA

January 31, 2023

Tammy is following her dream. We loved teaching Tammy at the school last year and watching her develop her skills as a tiler - completely changing career and following her dream. We hope her case study inspires you to follow yours. Tammy King from Edinburgh took the City & Guilds Tiling Diploma Course in Autumn […]

TOP TIPS FOR TILERS

January 20, 2023

Work smarter, not harder! You know what they say - time is money, and it pays to be organised. If you find yourself constantly looking for your pencil, marker, Stanley knife, nippers, spacers, etc. then this video is for you! If you’re interested in getting one of our exclusively-designed Trades Training School bibs - send us […]

HAPPY NEW YEAR

January 12, 2023

As we step into the new year, we’re busy planning our course schedules and coming up with new ideas to make sure our students leave ready to put their new skills to good use. We don’t just teach courses, we also help steer out students through the next steps–be that starting a new job, setting […]

VETERANS IN SCOTLAND

December 8, 2022

Last week Gillian and Antony swapped their dusty workshop gear for glad rags to attend the Veterans’ Housing Scotland’s Annual Review at Edinburgh City Chambers. They were there to hear more about their new campaign to secure 25 more homes by 2025. The Edinburgh-based charity has over 100 years’ experience, and have provided over 650 […]

LEAVING THE ARMED FORCES?

November 29, 2022

Start a new career with us. We have a range of ELC funded training courses to help you launch your new career. Taught by expert instructors, you will learn in real-life conditions using a range of materials. With small classes and one-to-one tuition, you'll have lots of time with your instructor and time to perfect […]

RETRAINING AFTER REDUNDANCY

November 7, 2022

One of the key elements of the school’s success is business training and technical support offered both during and after the course that ensures every student is given the best chance to move on to a career in their chosen sector, or to start their own business. We love seeing our students transition into their […]

WOMEN IN TRADES

November 1, 2022

Although the trades are a traditionally male dominated industry, we’re delighted to have seen an increase in female students recently. Our female students do really well, often having high attention to detail and great communication skills. Our personal experience of the industry has been positive and we encourage any women hesitant about training to talk […]

CASE STUDY: PETER SHAW | TILING & PLUMBING

October 25, 2022

Peter Shaw (37) spent sixteen and a half years in the British forces as a bagpiper for the Royal Highland Fusiliers before realising he needed to retrain to support his young family. In May this year he embarked on a 2-week tiling course, followed by the Plumbing Diploma at Trades Training School.    Peter loved […]

WE’RE CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF SUCCESS!

October 18, 2022

Since opening our doors in 2007, we’ve trained over 3,000 students and helped launch over 1,000 businesses. That’s quite an achievement and something the whole team is very proud of! We’ve also achieved our goal of becoming Scotland’s first independent training centre offering nationally-recognised trades qualifications to adult learners, filling a gap in the market. […]

OUR INSTRUCTOR MATTY WINS MEDAL AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES!!!

August 10, 2022

Well done Matty!!! After an outstanding performance in the semi-finals, our champ lost to a split decision but secured a bronze medal win for Scotland!! Massive congratulations to Matty, we couldn’t be more proud of him. We’re still buzzing from watching Matty at the games and seeing him receive his medal. Huge thanks to everyone […]

GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR COURSES SCOTLAND

August 5, 2022

Funding is available in certain circumstances – see below. If you’re not eligible, remember we can help spread the costs by splitting up longer courses into smaller blocks. Just contact us to discuss options for your course. National Transition Training Fund Organised by Skills Development Scotland, this £25 million scheme is designed to help if […]

OUR INSTRUCTOR MATTY TO COMPETE AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES!

August 4, 2022

If you didn’t already hear the news, we thought you’d like to know that our much-loved tiling instructor and boxing champ Matthew McHale is competing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this week. Go Matty! He’s in the Bantamweight category and will fight his first rounds on Tuesday 2 August as part of Team Scotland. […]

EXCELLENT 5 STAR ON TRUSTPILOT FOR OUR TRADES COURSES

April 26, 2022

We created our Trustpilot page last year so our students can share honest feedback online. We have been delighted to receive mainly 5 star reviews and some fantastic feedback about our training and staff. It’s great to know what we are doing well but we also monitor feedback closely for any areas we can improve. […]

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