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Studying construction at Petroc provides a fantastic range of opportunities and skills that will give you access to an ever-changing and innovative industry. You will develop your hands-on, technical and practical skills using cutting edge machinery and technology.
The teaching methods used by our experienced and knowledgeable teaching teams will also support and guide you, to enable you to achieve at the highest levels. Many Petroc students go on to compete in national skill competitions and have become regional finalists in bricklaying as well as successes in furniture making, including the Medal of Excellence from City and Guilds. Decorative occupations have also been recognised at a national level including Trade Painters of the Year.
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Hear what current and past students say about our Construction courses!
Ashton Hewitt, a wood occupations apprentice, came third at the Worldskills UK competition.
Ashton, who is an apprentice carpenter with Kingston Building Contractors in Tiverton, competed in the regional heat in the senior Carpentry category at South Devon College.
He had to show off his skills in a timed task - with six hours to complete a challenging piece of work.
After winning third place, Ashton left with a certificate, a medal, a new set of chisels, a new set of screwdrivers, a tape measure, and more.
Marc Sevette, Wood Occupations Lecturer, said: “This type of exercise is extremely rich and inspiring for young apprentices and I am, together with the team at Petroc, extremely proud of his achievement.”
Oliver started his journey at Petroc as a Level 1 furniture making Apprentice and progressed to Level 3, developing his skills both at college and in his place of work, The Pine Centre in Bideford.
“I started at college knowing a small amount and did not think I was really that good at it,” he explained. “As I progressed, I learnt new skills and bit about the trade. It increased my confidence and I realised I was quite good at it!”
The Medal For Excellence Award is judged on the strength of each students’ final design piece – in Oliver’s case it was an intricate cabinet that Patrick struggled to explain adequately to the judges, such was the level of skill involved.
Oliver is now entered into City & Guilds’ most prestigious award – the Lion Award – which crowns the winner of winners and will be decided at an awards ceremony in London in June.
A former Furniture Making Advanced Apprentice has won a prestigious Medal For Excellence Award – the only one of its kind in the world this year.
In March, City & Guilds announced that Oliver Wise had won the Medal For Excellence for Level 3 Furniture Design, after he designed and built an impressive cabinet unit for his final exam piece.
The Medal For Excellence Awards recognise the achievements of learners who produce great results through exceptional work, showing a true journey of progression through their qualification.
“Oliver has a genuine passion for the subject,” said Patrick Broome, Construction Curriculum Team Leader. “By his own admission, he lives and breathes furniture design and producing high-end quality products. He is a true representative of what we strive for in all our students at college.”
Vocational Qualification
Apprenticeships
T-level
To find out more information and to apply for a course visit our website:
Carpentry and Joinery - Level 1 - Full-time (Mid Devon)
Diploma in Wood Occupations - Site Carpentry - Level 2 - Full-time (Mid Devon)
Have a look at what our students get up to on the course
To find out more information and to apply for a course visit our website:
Bricklaying - Level 1 - Full-time ( Mid Devon)
Construction Multi-Trades - Level 1 - Full-time (Mid Devon)
Diploma in Bricklaying - Level 2 - Full-time (Mid Devon)
Construction and The Built Environment - Level 3 - Full-time (Mid Devon)
To find out more information and to apply for a course visit our website:
To find out more about studying a T-level in Construction
With our team of industry-trained tutors, our professional standard facilities, and an array of part-time courses, we have all the tools needed for you to build a long and successful career in the construction industry. What’s more, our part-time educational programmes are perfect if you have existing work, study, or home life commitments.
Our nationally-recognised qualification programmes are available from Level 1 Certificates, right up to Level 3 Diplomas; so regardless of your current level of skill and knowledge, we’re sure to have a course to suit you.
Check out all our full range of Adult courses on the Adult page