Digger training Solihull. Train for the machine, the site and the work ahead
There is a common mistake people make when looking for digger training in Solihull. They start with the card. CPCS or NPORS? A58 or A59? Red Card or another route?
We would start somewhere else. Which excavator will you actually operate, and what will the working environment look like?
Solihull is an especially good place to ask that question. The borough contains everything from town centre redevelopment and residential construction to major transport infrastructure, airport related activity, business parks and the UK Central Hub around Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Arden Cross and the future HS2 Interchange Station.
The card matters, of course. Yet a competent operator also needs to understand the specific machine, the people and vehicles around it, the ground, the attachments and the site controls that apply to the job.
The short answer if you just want to know which course to book
Find the machine specification first. If CPCS is required, A58 covers Excavator 360 below 10 tonnes and A59 covers Excavator 360 above 10 tonnes. If NPORS is required for a conventional 360 machine, N202 may be the route to investigate. Tell us whether the excavator is tracked or wheeled and whether lifting forms part of the work.
If you do not know any of this yet, do not guess. Ask the employer or send CPTS the machine details before choosing a course.
One town, several completely different excavator working environments
This is where Solihull becomes interesting. Someone operating a digger on a housing project can face a very different working environment from somebody operating plant around a large transport or commercial development.
Major infrastructure and transport sites
The UK Central Hub includes Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Birmingham Business Park, Jaguar Land Rover, Arden Cross and the HS2 Interchange area. Plant working in a busy infrastructure environment may interact with site vehicles, contractors, pedestrians, services and tightly managed traffic routes.
Good excavator control is only one part of operating safely in that environment.
Town centre redevelopment
Central Solihull presents different challenges. Holbeche Place, formerly associated with the Mell Square redevelopment, is creating new homes, commercial space and public realm in an established town centre.
Urban construction can place plant close to existing roads, buildings, pedestrians and buried infrastructure.
Residential and mixed use construction
Housing work can involve site preparation, drainage, foundations, service trenches, loading, grading, backfilling and landscaping.
Different phases of the same project can demand very different attachments and excavator tasks.
Industrial and employer owned sites
Solihull also contains substantial business and manufacturing areas. An employer may already own the excavator that operators will use every day.
In some circumstances, selected NPORS training can be considered at a suitable employer location rather than requiring every candidate to travel to a training centre.
Where is the CPTS training centre if you are coming from Solihull?
CPTS does not currently list a separate physical excavator training centre address in Solihull. The existing Solihull page describes a Solihull training centre but gives the physical address as Airfield Road in Wellingborough.
Construction and Plant Training Services LTD
Airfield Road
Wellingborough
NN29 7XA
United Kingdom
The current official CPTS contact details list 01234 604 151 and office@cpts.uk. Centre based excavator training is therefore arranged through the Wellingborough facility.
Selected NPORS courses may also be delivered at a suitable company site where the relevant course allows it and the required plant, operating area and safety conditions are available.
Please confirm the exact training location for your booking before travelling from Solihull.
Do you know the excavator but not the course code?
Send us the make, model and approximate operating weight. Tell us whether it is tracked or wheeled, how much experience you have and which card your employer expects. We can discuss the relevant route before you book.
Why Solihull is unusually important to the West Midlands construction map
Solihull sits at the centre of one of the region's most significant concentrations of transport, commercial and infrastructure assets.
The Council's current planning work identifies the UK Central Hub Area as a major economic cluster containing Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre, Jaguar Land Rover, Arden Cross and the HS2 Interchange.
A current UK Central publication also identifies Birmingham Business Park within the Hub and describes associated infrastructure investment totalling £1.6 billion.
This does not mean that completing an excavator course guarantees work on any of those sites. It does demonstrate why plant competence, infrastructure skills and construction training remain relevant to the wider Solihull economy.
Two Solihull developments that show why one plant skill does not fit every site
A large scale transport led development environment
In June 2026, Solihull Council reported confirmation that the first plots around the HS2 Interchange Station would be available for development from 2030.
The Council says the future Arden Cross development is expected to include thousands of homes and jobs, alongside a HealthTech Campus led by the University of Warwick.
This is an environment associated with transport infrastructure, extensive construction interfaces and long term mixed use development. It is also a useful reminder that a plant card does not replace the controls imposed by a particular major project.
Construction inside an established town centre
The former Mell Square redevelopment is now progressing under the Holbeche Place name.
Solihull Council states that Phase 1 will deliver 346 homes across four residential blocks together with retail, parking, landscaping and residential amenity space.
In July 2026, the Council also approved Phase 2 proposals for 228 affordable homes plus associated retail and shared space.
Town centre work highlights another side of excavator operation. Existing buildings, roads, pedestrians, buried services and constrained space can all matter as much as the raw size of the machine.
A CPCS or NPORS card is not a universal permission to operate every excavator
This is an aspect that is easy to overlook after passing a test.
The Health and Safety Executive says excavator drivers should be trained, competent and authorised to operate the specific excavator. Training certificates from recognised schemes can help demonstrate competence, but the certificate is not the whole competence system.
HSE also explains that competence develops through training together with knowledge, experience and skill.
What your operator card does and does not do
Think of formal certification as one layer of the competence picture.
Passing the test is a milestone, not the point at which learning stops. When the machine, attachment, working method or site changes, additional familiarisation or training may be necessary.
Which excavator training route should a Solihull candidate investigate?
Once you know the machine, the alphabet soup becomes much easier to understand. You only need to explore the categories relevant to your actual work.
Excavator 360 below 10 tonnes
CPCS officially identifies A58 as Excavator 360 below 10 tonnes. Current CPCS documentation includes tracked, wheeled and lifting related requirements within the category.
If the machine is around the category boundary, give the training centre its exact specification rather than guessing from physical size.
Excavator 360 above 10 tonnes
CPCS A59 covers 360 excavators above 10 tonnes. Official CPCS material provides separate training standards and testing information for this category.
CPTS provides a dedicated CPCS A59 360 Excavator course at the Wellingborough training site.
NPORS Excavator 360
The NPORS N202 Excavator 360 course is available for novice and experienced operators.
CPTS currently delivers N202 through its main Wellingborough centre and states that training can also be provided at a suitable employer site.
On site delivery requires an appropriate machine, sufficient operating space, safe ground conditions and a suitable practical training and assessment area.
Micro excavator up to one tonne
A smaller machine can be the right machine. Compact excavators can be useful for restricted access works, landscaping, drainage and smaller excavation tasks.
CPTS provides NPORS N016 Micro Excavator training for machines up to one tonne.
Excavator used as a crane
If the excavator will handle suspended loads, tell us before booking. Excavators are primarily earthmoving machines and lifting creates additional safety and legal requirements.
Read the NPORS N100 Excavator as a Crane course when lifting forms part of your duties.
Vacuum excavator
Where work involves sensitive excavation around buried infrastructure, specialist plant can become relevant.
CPTS also provides CPCS A78 Vacuum Excavator training. This is a separate specialist plant category rather than a substitute name for conventional 360 excavator training.
Need a different excavator type? Visit the main excavator training guide for the wider range of available machine categories. This Solihull page concentrates on local training decisions rather than duplicating every individual course page.
How to choose digger training in Solihull without guessing
Identify the machine
Get the make and model if possible. Confirm whether you need a standard 360 excavator, micro excavator, 180 excavator, vacuum excavator or another form of plant.
Check its operating weight and configuration
Establish the operating weight and confirm whether the excavator is tracked or wheeled. These details can determine the appropriate CPCS category and endorsement.
List the tasks you will perform
Digging, loading, grading and lifting are not identical duties. Describe the real work rather than simply saying that you need a digger ticket.
Ask which scheme your employer accepts
Check whether CPCS, NPORS or a specific category has already been stated in the job, contract or site requirements.
Describe your experience accurately
Say which excavators you have actually operated, what tasks you have carried out and how recently. Time spent working near plant is not the same as operating the relevant excavator.
Confirm the delivery location
Centre based training is arranged through the CPTS Wellingborough facility. For selected NPORS courses, suitable employer site delivery can also be discussed.
One Solihull specific issue deserves more attention. Plant and traffic interfaces
Solihull's major employment and transport areas make site traffic management an especially useful subject to understand.
HSE says excavators are frequently involved in accidents while slewing, reversing and moving around construction sites. It recommends suitable visibility, segregation, barriers where appropriate and competent signallers where movements need to be directed.
This matters on any construction site, but it becomes particularly easy to appreciate around large transport, commercial and infrastructure environments where several contractors and different categories of plant can be working at the same time.
The excavator driver
The driver needs adequate visibility and must understand the machine's blind spots, slew area and safe working limits.
The plant and vehicle marshaller
HSE says a marshaller directing excavator movements should be trained, competent and authorised and should work from a protected position where possible.
Pedestrians
People on foot need safe pedestrian routes and an understood procedure for making machine drivers aware of their presence.
Other site vehicles
Excavators can share busy sites with dumpers, telehandlers, delivery vehicles and road going traffic. Traffic planning needs to consider how those movements interact.
Being able to see the bucket does not mean you can see the danger area. A person can be beside or behind the machine while the operator remains focused on the excavation in front of the cab.
Changing excavators after your course. Why familiarisation matters
Imagine that you train on one machine and your employer gives you another manufacturer's excavator the following week. The basic operating principles may be familiar. Everything is not necessarily identical.
Machines can differ in controls, isolation systems, cameras, warning devices, attachments, quick hitches, load information and manufacturer procedures.
HSE states more generally that changes in work equipment or the introduction of new equipment can create a need for additional training to ensure continued competence.
- Read the manufacturer's operator information for the machine you will use.
- Identify differences in controls and safety systems before beginning work.
- Understand the quick hitch and attachment system fitted to that machine.
- Check visibility aids, alarms and isolation controls.
- Confirm machine specific limits and lifting information where relevant.
- Ask for familiarisation rather than pretending every excavator behaves exactly like the one used during training.
Underground services become especially important on infrastructure and redevelopment work
Excavation around buried services deserves more than a quick sentence in a training manual.
HSE's HSG47 guidance reduces a safe system of work to three broad elements. Plan the work. Locate and identify buried services. Use a safe excavation method.
HSE also explains that mechanical excavation is a common source of service damage. The excavation method should consider the service location, the ground, the work being undertaken and the constraints of the site.
An excavator operator should never treat a line on a service drawing as permission to dig blindly up to it. The site needs an agreed safe system of work and appropriate service location procedures before mechanical excavation begins.
Quick hitch competence should travel with you from one site to the next
Quick hitches make attachment changes far quicker. That convenience can create complacency.
HSE has investigated fatal accidents involving excavator attachments becoming detached. Its guidance says operators need adequate general quick hitch training and competence with the specific hitch fitted to the machine they use.
That final phrase matters. It reinforces the broader point that an operator card is not a substitute for understanding the equipment placed in front of you.
How long should excavator training take?
There is no honest universal number of days.
Course duration depends on the category, certification route, previous experience, candidate numbers and the applicable training standard.
A current CPCS example makes the difference obvious. For A59 tracked and an arrangement involving one candidate, one trainer and one machine, the minimum novice duration is 49 hours over seven days including assessment time.
For one experienced candidate with one trainer and one machine, the corresponding minimum is 14 hours over two days. CPCS also requires the provider to document the decision to place a candidate on an experienced route through profiling.
If somebody offers every candidate the same extremely short route without first asking what they can actually do, ask more questions. A beginner and a genuinely experienced 360 operator are not the same training problem.
Could a Solihull company arrange NPORS N202 training at its own premises?
Potentially, yes. This can be particularly useful for businesses with several operators, their own excavator and a suitable practical area.
CPTS states that NPORS N202 can be delivered on suitable employer sites across the UK. The venue must provide an appropriate excavator, enough working space, safe ground conditions and a suitable training and assessment area.
| Check before asking for on site training | Why it matters | What to tell CPTS |
|---|---|---|
| Correct excavator available | Training and assessment need to match the relevant machine and route. | Give the make, model, operating weight and whether it is tracked or wheeled. |
| Enough operating space | Candidates need room to complete practical exercises safely. | Explain the available training area and site restrictions. |
| Safe ground conditions | Unstable or unsuitable ground can make practical operation unsafe. | Describe the working surface and terrain available. |
| Pedestrian and traffic control | Training cannot be carried out safely in uncontrolled vehicle or pedestrian traffic. | Explain how the proposed area can be segregated during training. |
| Candidate experience | Novice, experienced and assessment routes are not interchangeable. | Give an honest experience summary for every operator. |
| Site access and working arrangements | The trainer and candidates need an appropriate environment for the scheduled course. | Provide access restrictions and operational limitations before booking. |
Training a team of plant operators in Solihull?
Tell us which machines your staff operate, who is genuinely experienced and whether you have a suitable training area. We can discuss centre based training and the selected NPORS routes that may be suitable for employer site delivery.
One qualification does not cover every stage of an excavator operator's career
Your first training course may be only the beginning.
Operators can move into larger machinery, different configurations, lifting duties, specialist plant or supervisory responsibilities. Employers can also change the schemes they require as people move between projects.
Rather than collecting plant cards at random, build competence around the work you are actually doing.
- Start with the excavator category relevant to your current role.
- Build genuine operating experience on that type of plant.
- Use manufacturer and employer familiarisation when moving onto another machine.
- Add lifting or specialist plant training when your duties genuinely require it.
- Keep your card and scheme requirements under review as your role changes.
Solihull employers should think in machines and tasks rather than ticket numbers
Suppose your business has eight employees and three excavators. Asking for eight identical digger courses might be the wrong starting point.
Build a simple training matrix first.
- List every excavator and its operating weight.
- Record whether each machine is tracked or wheeled.
- Record which employees actually operate each machine.
- Separate beginners from experienced operators.
- Record who carries out lifting duties.
- Check which CPCS or NPORS requirements apply to your contracts.
- Identify where machine familiarisation is needed.
- Identify whether suitable employer site training could reduce operational disruption for an eligible NPORS route.
That produces a training plan based on real work instead of sending everybody through the same course because they all happen to work near excavators.
Does digger training guarantee work on HS2, Arden Cross or another Solihull project?
No. Any training provider promising that would be making a claim that cannot sensibly be guaranteed.
Solihull has substantial current and proposed development. HS2 infrastructure passes through the borough. The future Interchange Station sits close to the NEC and Birmingham Airport. Arden Cross is intended to create major housing and employment development. Holbeche Place is already progressing in the town centre.
None of those facts guarantees a particular vacancy or tells us which contractor will employ an individual candidate.
Training gives you a better foundation when the role genuinely requires the plant category you have trained for. Employers will still look at competence, experience, site requirements and the needs of the particular job.
More information about excavator training and operator cards
Once you identify the machine and route, move to the dedicated course information. This keeps the Solihull page useful for local search without forcing every technical syllabus onto one landing page.
Official information worth checking
For safety requirements, CPCS category information and current development planning, use primary sources whenever possible.
- Health and Safety Executive excavator guidance
- HSE guidance on training and competence
- HSE guidance on excavator quick hitches
- HSE HSG47 guidance on underground services
- Official CPCS A58 information
- Official CPCS A59 information
- Solihull Council Emerging Local Plan
- Solihull Council Holbeche Place and Mell Square redevelopment information
- Solihull Council HS2 information
Digger training Solihull FAQ
These are the practical questions worth answering before booking 360 excavator training from Solihull.
Can I book digger training if I live or work in Solihull?
Yes. CPTS accepts excavator and construction plant training enquiries from candidates and employers in Solihull. Centre based training is arranged through the CPTS facility at Airfield Road, Wellingborough, NN29 7XA. Selected NPORS courses may also be available at suitable employer sites.
Does CPTS have a physical excavator training centre in Solihull?
CPTS does not currently list a separate physical excavator training centre address in Solihull. The existing CPTS Solihull page gives Airfield Road, Wellingborough, NN29 7XA as the training address. Confirm the location for your particular course before travelling.
Where does centre based digger training take place for Solihull candidates?
Centre based excavator training is arranged through the CPTS facility at Airfield Road, Wellingborough, NN29 7XA, subject to the arrangements for the individual course. Contact CPTS before travelling to confirm the location, date and arrival instructions.
What is the difference between CPCS A58 and CPCS A59?
CPCS A58 covers Excavator 360 below 10 tonnes and CPCS A59 covers Excavator 360 above 10 tonnes. Current CPCS material also contains tracked, wheeled and lifting related requirements. Confirm the exact excavator and duties before selecting a course.
Can a complete beginner take digger training?
Yes. Excavator training routes are available for complete beginners as well as experienced operators. A beginner requires sufficient theoretical and practical training to develop safe operating skills. Training duration depends on the category, scheme and training arrangement.
Can an experienced excavator operator take a shorter course?
Potentially, where the relevant scheme provides an experienced route and the candidate can demonstrate appropriate knowledge and practical ability. For example, the current CPCS A59 tracked standard provides different minimum durations for novice and experienced candidates and requires the choice of experienced route to be supported by documented profiling.
Does having a CPCS or NPORS card allow me to operate every excavator?
No. HSE says excavator drivers should be trained, competent and authorised to operate the specific excavator. A recognised operator card can provide useful evidence of training and assessed ability, but employers still need to ensure that the person is competent for the actual machine and work. Additional familiarisation may be required when equipment changes.
Do I need familiarisation when I move onto another excavator?
It may be necessary. Controls, safety devices, quick hitches, visibility systems, attachments and manufacturer procedures can differ between machines. HSE states that changes in work equipment or the introduction of new equipment can create a need for additional training to maintain competence.
Can a Solihull employer arrange NPORS N202 excavator training on site?
Potentially, yes. CPTS states that NPORS N202 Excavator 360 training can be delivered at suitable employer sites where an appropriate excavator, sufficient working space, safe ground conditions and an appropriate practical training and assessment area are available. CPTS should confirm the venue and course arrangements before booking.
Do I need a government digger licence to operate an excavator at work?
No government issued workplace transport licence exists for excavator operation. UK workplace law requires employers to ensure that operators receive adequate training and are competent for the equipment and work. CPCS and NPORS provide industry training and assessment routes rather than government driving licences.
Do I need a UK driving licence to operate an excavator on a construction site?
A road driving licence is not the workplace competence system for operating an excavator away from public roads. Employers must still ensure that the operator is adequately trained and competent. Separate road traffic rules can apply if plant is driven on the public highway.
How long does a 360 excavator course take?
There is no single duration for every candidate. Training length depends on the category, certification scheme, machine, previous practical experience, candidate arrangements and applicable training standard. Beginners can require substantially more training than genuinely experienced operators.
How long is CPCS A59 tracked training for a novice operator?
Under the current CPCS A59 tracked training standard, one novice candidate training with one trainer and one machine has a minimum duration of 49 hours including assessment time, organised over seven days. Different candidate and machine ratios can require longer minimum durations.
Why is site traffic management important for excavator operators in Solihull?
Excavators can share busy construction environments with pedestrians, delivery vehicles and other plant. HSE identifies reversing, machine movement and slewing as serious hazards and recommends suitable visibility, pedestrian segregation and trained signallers where movements need to be directed.
Is quick hitch training important if I already know how to operate an excavator?
Yes. HSE has investigated fatal incidents involving excavator quick hitches and detached attachments. Operators should have appropriate quick hitch training and be competent with the specific hitch fitted to the machine they use.
How much does digger training for a Solihull candidate cost?
Cost depends on the excavator category, scheme, previous experience, training duration, assessment route, candidate numbers and delivery arrangements. Check the current CPTS prices and provide details of the machine and experience when requesting a quotation.
Does completing digger training guarantee work on HS2 or Arden Cross?
No. Excavator training does not guarantee employment on HS2, Arden Cross or any other project. Solihull contains substantial current and proposed transport, housing and commercial development, but individual jobs depend on employers, contractors, vacancies, project requirements and the candidate's experience.
Should I choose CPCS or NPORS excavator training?
Check what your employer, client or construction site accepts before choosing. CPCS and NPORS provide different industry routes and should not simply be treated as interchangeable. The suitable route depends on the machine, intended duties and requirements of the work you are preparing for.
Ready to arrange digger training from Solihull?
Tell us which excavator you need to operate, your genuine experience and the scheme your work requires. We can discuss the relevant course and confirm where the training will take place before you book.