Anyone here in the building trade? Or more specifically, a trade that involves a CSCS card? I'm jobhunting and I see a lot of "must have cscs card" and I'm thinking getting one might make it easier to get work. Then I look up the card and there's a gazillion different types, and the website says you have to have qualifications before you can get one and it's all super fucking confusing. It reminds me of dependancy hell on an outdated Linux system.
Is there a "basic" card I can get which will allow me to work the sort of jobs the Guardian is constantly telling us English people don't want to do? This seems ridiculous.
>>11332 As I understand it, you need to pass some basic training and then you can apply for the card. Some training providers will do a bundle where they'll do both, and if you're a leeching scumbag you may be able to get the JCP to pay for it if you can show that it would improve your prospects (i.e. lots of site labour work going locally).
Yes. You want the CSCS Labourer card. You might see this referred to as the green card. The only qualification you need for this is a basic health and safety certificate, which you can get after a one day course. You'll also have to take an absolutely piss-easy exam on health and safety. The course, exam and card will cost you between £120 and £200 all-in, but you might be able to access free training, especially if you're signing on. Google "free cscs" and the name of your nearby towns for details. These free courses usually include some bollocks about numeracy, literacy and employability in order to qualify for funding, but it's worth the hassle if you're skint.
If you're under 25 and unemployed, you could be eligible for a development award from the Princes Trust. You can claim up to £500 for expenses to help you get into work - training and licensing, tools, equipment, clothing, and transport to work until you get your first pay packet.
I was talking to a Site Manager last night, he says that in his current team of 50 labourers, none of them are British and most of them are cowboys who don't know what they're doing despite overconfidence.
While the initial pay is hardly a living wage, by the sound of it if you're either humble enough to learn and check what you're doing is right or you have the language and communication skills to help direct a bunch of Eastern Europeans who barely speak English into doing things properly, there's probably a decent chance to climb the ladder. At least to middle-management.
Not that having had one conversation with this bloke means I know what I'm talking about, but it's a thought.
It is however the level of debate people seem to have based on my sample of Facebook friends. The self-congratulating circle-jerking it with the choir of most people’s political opinions boils my piss. It is like they can't comprehend how anyone could have an opposing position from them without being the Anti-Christ.
A number of years ago I got myself a CSCS card and did a bit of labouring for a week before I realised I'd make more money working in McDonalds.
From my limited experience, a building site is basically something like a slave plantation. You've got your overseer Englishman at the top, your various skilled tradesman or house negroes in the middle; working class Englishmen involved in various skilled trades, and you've got your labourers or dumb plantation negros at the bottom; Poles, Lithuanians, and various other Eastern Europeans working cash in hand for a pittance.
>>11343 Politics on facebook is mildly interesting to browse through but it's a terrible place to engage in any sort of debate. Just shows you how many of your mates are complete spastics.
