Excavator training courses in Kettering
An excavator is undoubtedly one of the most important machines on any construction site. Without it, digging foundations and other construction work would simply not be possible. In fact, most road and pavement works also require the use of an excavator. Sometimes larger ones are needed, and sometimes micro-mini excavators are sufficient. Although Kettering is not the largest city in the region, it cannot be denied that it is undergoing rapid development and undergoing many construction and renovation works in various parts of the city. That is why the demand for excavator training has been growing in this city in recent years. Undoubtedly, every construction worker in the Kettering area would benefit from such training. We organise excavator courses not far from this city.
Why choose our excavator training courses?
In addition to Kettering’s proximity to our training centre, there are several other important aspects, which we will discuss below. However, it was the short distance and excellent transport links that were one of the most important arguments for the trainees who trained with us. The second and very important aspect is the very high quality of the courses and the substantive and practical knowledge provided by our trainers. They always make every effort to prepare trainees as well as possible for exams and obtaining a licence or certificate. We also place great emphasis on a friendly and pleasant atmosphere during excavator training.
Why is it worth taking an excavator course in the Kettering area?
You can learn how to operate an excavator on YouTube. You can also make mistakes on the construction site and hope that ‘it will work out somehow’. But you know what? In the field of earthworks and excavation, ‘somehow’ can end very badly.
A well-conducted excavator training course gives you peace of mind, greater confidence and a real advantage in the job market. And employers in the UK really do look at whether you have proper CPCS training.
With us, you gain:
- training in line with CPCS standards, which in construction language means ‘it is respected on site’
- an approach tailored to your level, without judgement or stress
- practice on machines that are not ‘museum pieces’ but are normally used on construction sites
- real preparation for the exam, not just theory
In addition, thanks to our contacts in the industry, we often help our students enter the market, because operators with qualifications and skills are always in demand.
What is a 360 Excavator and why does this category make a difference?
A 360° excavator (often simply called a ‘360 digger’) is a machine with a full 360-degree rotation of the body. It has:
- a chassis (tracked or wheeled),
- a boom,
- an arm (dipper),
- a bucket or working attachment,
- a cab with a control system and safety features.
Sounds simple? On paper, yes. In practice, the operator must be able to simultaneously:
- control the stability and balance of the machine,
- work precisely in confined spaces,
- assess the ground and the risk of landslides,
- monitor the danger zone,
- read the work plan and respond to situations on the construction site.
This is exactly what you will learn on our excavator training courses near Kettering.
Who is Kettering excavator training for?
This training is for you if:
- you are starting from scratch and want to get into construction ‘for real’
- you have experience but want to organise it and get certified
- you are changing jobs and need a new ticket/licence
- you work in groundworks and want to increase your rate
- you want to become more versatile on a construction site (which is always a plus)
You don’t need any previous experience. Seriously. What’s more important is that you want to learn and approach the subject responsibly.
What does the 360° excavator operator course look like?
Duration of training
The course usually lasts from 1 to 5 days, depending on your experience and machine category.
- if you are a beginner, you need more time to ‘get a feel for the machine’
- if you have worked before, often an intensive refresher course and preparation for the test is enough
What do you get after completing the course?
After completing the training and passing the exams, you can obtain a CPCS Trained Operator (Red) Card valid for 2 years.
Then, once you have gained experience on a construction site and passed NVQ Level 2, you can upgrade to a CPCS Competent Operator (Blue) Card.
This is the normal career path for an operator in the UK and employers understand it.
What skills will you really gain from the course?
Below are the specifics. No ‘general talk’, just skills that save jobs and sometimes save lives.
1) Industry regulations and standards
You will learn about the legal framework and requirements that come back like a boomerang on construction sites in the UK. You will learn, among other things:
what is required of an operator
what responsibility looks like on a construction site
what it means to work in accordance with site safety procedures
This means you won’t be walking onto a construction site blindly, but will know what is allowed, what is not allowed and why.
2) Operator responsibilities and work culture on site
An excavator operator is not just there to ‘wave a joystick around’. The operator has an impact on the safety of the entire team. You will learn:
how to maintain a safe working area
how to cooperate with the banksman and other employees
how to avoid conflicts with pedestrian and machine traffic
3) Machine construction and control
You will go through the components of the excavator in a practical way, i.e.:
what each system does
how the machine reacts to load
how safety functions work
how to work smoothly and not jerk the equipment
4) Pre-start checks and shutting down the machine
There is no room for laziness here. You will learn:
how to perform pre-use checks
what to check in the hydraulics, chassis and attachments
how to recognise the signs of a malfunction before it becomes a disaster
how to safely finish work and secure the machine
This is exactly the part that many people fail their tests on because it ‘seems obvious’.
5) Safe working in difficult conditions
In reality, you don’t always dig on flat, dry and empty ground. That’s why you practise:
working on slopes and uneven ground
manoeuvring in confined spaces
stability control
assessing the risk of the machine tipping over or the excavation collapsing
6) Earthworks and material handling
This is the ‘meat’ of the course. You will learn, among other things:
digging trenches for installations
preparing for foundations
profiling and levelling
spreading material
safe disposal of excavated material
7) Additional equipment and extending the capabilities of the excavator
Depending on the course and your needs, you can also learn about attachments, e.g.:
different types of buckets
quick couplers
working with additional equipment
The more you understand, the fewer surprises you will encounter on the construction site.
8) Recognising hazards on the construction site
This is one of the most important things, because an excavator can cause damage in a second. You will learn to spot:
underground installations (gas, electricity, water, fibre optics)
obstacles overhead (power lines)
risk areas for people and other machines
situations in which you need to stop working and not ‘push on’
What excavator courses can you take with us?
Our training centre offers various excavator courses, including:
CPCS A59 360° Excavator Course
N016 Micro Excavator (up to 1 tonne)
N202 Excavator 360
N100 Digger as a Crane
A78 Vacuum Excavator
A10 Digger 180° under 5 tonnes
A12 Digger 180° over 5 tonnes
supplementary training such as Plant Driving
We also welcome learners from nearby areas such as Burton Latimer, Desborough, Rothwell, Corby, Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and Thrapston.