Excavator training courses in Northampton
An excavator is one of the most basic machines on any construction site. That is why the demand for excavator training courses has increased significantly in recent times. Northampton is a large city in the centre of England and the largest in the region. Bustling with economic and cultural life on a daily basis, it has been developing steadily for many years. There are numerous construction sites for various investments here. Employees from local construction companies often need professional excavator training. Northampton leads the way in terms of the number of excavator courses on offer. This can make it difficult to choose the right training provider.
Why choose our excavator training?
CPTS LTD is a company that has been operating locally for many years. We have several training centres, including one in Northampton. Proximity is always very attractive to local residents. Ease and speed of access is very important to many people. The second aspect that definitely sets us apart is our highly qualified and experienced training staff. Our trainers have extensive theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills, which they are always happy to pass on to their students. This helps them to pass their exams and obtain their certificates more easily. The third aspect is definitely our individual approach to customers and the friendly atmosphere, which makes everyone feel at home with us.
Why choose our excavator courses in Northampton?
I won’t sugarcoat it. There are plenty of training providers in the UK, but the difference comes when you step onto the site and have to do the job ‘cleanly’, without nerves and without mistakes.
With us, you get:
- many years of experience in excavator and construction training
- instructors who teach from real-life experience, not from a textbook
- training focused on skills you will actually use on a construction site
- access to various categories of equipment (including wheeled and tracked excavators)
- an approach that does not treat the student like an idiot, but guides them step by step
In addition, thanks to the fact that we operate in the industry and have contacts, we often help students get their first meaningful jobs after passing the exam.
If you want to enter the industry as an excavator operator, here you can do it wisely, not impulsively.
What is the 360 Excavator Training Course?
A 360-degree excavator (often simply called a 360 digger) is one of the most important machines on a construction site. It has a fully rotating superstructure, boom, arm, bucket and operator’s cab. It comes in two types:
- tracked excavator
- wheeled excavator
In practice, you will use it for:
- digging foundations and trenches
- earthworks and trenching
- trenching, i.e. excavations for installations
- material transfer, loading, backfilling
- levelling, profiling and grading the ground
And now the most important thing: the course is not about ‘twisting joysticks’.
You will learn full control of the machine, working techniques, safety and procedures that apply in the UK.
This training is designed to make you an excavator operator by profession, not by chance.
Why do you need 360 Excavator and CPCS Red Card certification?
Let me ask you a question that is asked all the time on construction sites:
‘Do you have a ticket?’
In the UK, paperwork matters. And it’s not about showing off the card in your wallet. The point is that:
- without certification, you often won’t get onto better construction sites
- without CPCS, you won’t pass verification on many contracts
- your employer can see that you are trained and knows that they are reducing their risk
The average earnings of an excavator operator in the UK are attractive, and the CPCS Red Card certificate gives you a solid start. Later, when you gain experience and complete NVQ Level 2, you can move on to the CPCS Blue Card, which is the competent operator level.
This is a path that really increases your value in the job market.
How long does excavator training in Northampton take?
It depends on your experience. And that’s a fair approach, because why keep you there for 5 days if you grasp the subject faster?
Most often, the course lasts:
- from 1 to 5 days
The duration of the training depends on:
- your starting level
- the type of excavator (wheeled or tracked)
- the category of machine (below and above 10 tonnes)
- the pace at which you pick up the practical skills
We don’t do the course ‘for the sake of the course’. We do the training so that you pass and know how to work.
What excavator courses can you do in Northampton?
Our training centre offers a variety of excavator and related courses. This means you don’t have to search all over the UK, you can get everything you need in one place.
The most popular excavator courses
- CPCS A59 360° Excavator Course – classic 360 excavator, one of the most popular options
- N016 Micro Excavator (up to 1 tonne) – micro excavators, precision work and confined spaces
- N202 Excavator 360 Course – training on 360 excavators in a different standard/category
- N100 Digger as a Crane – using an excavator as a crane, a topic requiring good control and risk awareness
- A10 Digger 180 Degrees Below 5 Tonnes – 180 excavators, smaller categories
- A12 Excavator 180 Degrees Above 5 Tonnes – larger 180s
- A78 Vacuum Excavator Training – training on vacuum excavators, work on installations and infrastructure
- A68 Plant Driving Training and Z68 Plant Driving Course – driving and manoeuvring construction equipment
Can’t find the course you need?
Get in touch and we will select the right option for your job and construction site.
What will you learn on digger training courses?
This is where most of the action takes place, because this is the core of the entire training. You leave the course with skills that translate into real work.
1) UK regulations and industry standards
You will learn about the legal framework and rules that govern the work of an excavator operator. This will enable you to work in accordance with the requirements and avoid problems on site.
2) Operator duties and responsibilities
You will learn what your tasks are, how to maintain a safe workplace and how to work with the signalman, supervisors and other teams.
A good operator does more than just dig. A good operator thinks and anticipates.
3) Machine construction and control
You will gain a professional understanding of:
excavator components: boom, dipper, bucket, cab
basic technical terminology
control, movement control, smooth operation
4) Pre-use inspection and basic maintenance
You will learn how to perform:
start-up checks
daily inspections
safe machine shutdown procedures
This is something that many people ignore. And then the machine stops, construction stops, and you have to explain yourself.
5) Safe working in difficult conditions
You will practise manoeuvres on:
uneven terrain
slopes and inclines
confined spaces
surfaces with varying grip
This is where it becomes clear whether someone is an operator or just ‘tried to drive’.
6) Digging and earthmoving
You will perform practical tasks such as:
excavating foundations
trenching for installations
grading and levelling
spreading and levelling
moving spoil and loading
7) Additional equipment and excavator capabilities
You will learn the rules for using additional elements and attachments that increase the functionality of the machine.
8) Recognising hazards on the construction site
This is a topic that can save your skin.
You will learn to identify:
underground installations
obstacles overhead
work areas of other machines
risk of collision and impact
If you don’t see any hazards on the construction site, it means you don’t know where to look yet. We will show you.
Where is the Northampton CPCS Training Centre located?
If you are interested in excavator training in Northampton, you can visit our training centre in the city.
We are located:
off St James Road (A4500), near Halfords Autocentre, about a 5-minute walk from Northampton train station, past Westbridge BP garage.
Opening hours
Monday–Friday: 8:00 am–6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am–6:00 pm
Please note: we require an appointment in advance.
Please call or email us before you arrive so that we can serve you efficiently.
Address
50 Byfield Road, Northampton, NN5 5HG
Contact
Telephone: 0777 18 12 418
Email: northampton@cpcs-training-courses.co.uk
We also welcome learners from nearby areas such as Daventry, Towcester, Brackley, Earls Barton, Bugbrooke and Weedon Bec.