# 15.18, Upskilling after qualifying: what's worth it and what's a waste of money
Not all training is equal. Some courses genuinely move the needle, better work, better pay, better options. Others are expensive wallpaper for your van. Here's how to tell the difference.
1. The rule of thumb
If a course doesn't get you a card, a licence, a recognised badge (Gas Safe, NICEIC, MCS, etc.), or a clear path to higher-value work, think very hard before you spend much on it.
2. Training that actually leads to more money
The courses that translate into higher earnings are the ones that either let you do higher-value or higher-risk work, or open doors to better roles.
Advanced trade quals and NVQs
NVQ Level 3+ in your trade (and related specialist NVQs like rainscreen cladding, fire stopping, supervision) let you get higher-level CSCS cards and bid for more serious work.
Site supervisor / manager safety (SSSTS / SMSTS)
CITB's SSSTS (2-day) and SMSTS (5-day) are widely seen as must-haves for supervisors and managers. Many principal contractors insist on them.
They don't magically raise your day rate as a sole trader, but they're often the ticket to better-paid supervisor or foreman roles.
High-value niche tickets
MCS / low-carbon heating, EV charger install, specialist plant, scaffolding, rainscreen cladding, etc. These let you do work others can't and tap into funded or net-zero demand.
Short version: if it qualifies you for higher-risk, higher-value or regulated work, there's usually a route to higher earnings. If it's just another generic "awareness" course, there usually isn't.
3. Certifications and accreditations that actually matter
These are the ones customers and contractors care about:
CSCS (and related schemes)
For site work, a valid CSCS card is near-universal. It doesn't make you rich, but without it you often can't even get on site.
- Blue Skilled Worker, Gold (supervisor) and Black (manager) cards all rely on the right NVQ levels.
- They're basic gatekeepers for better roles.
CITB SSSTS / SMSTS
Frequently specified by main contractors for supervisors (SSSTS) and managers (SMSTS). Often a hard requirement when advertising foreman or site manager roles.
Gas Safe / NICEIC / NAPIT / similar trade bodies
For gas and electrical work, being with Gas Safe Register or a recognised electrical scheme is hugely important to domestic customers and contractors. Manufacturers and grant schemes often insist on these for installing or servicing their kit.
MCS, TrustMark and similar quality marks
For heat pumps, solar and other low-carbon installs, MCS certification (plus often TrustMark) is required to access government grants and many funded schemes.
Plant / access / specialist tickets
CPCS/NPORS plant tickets, PASMA, IPAF, etc., directly affect what you can earn on civils and site work.
If a course or badge doesn't clearly help you get one of these, or get you onto jobs that require them, its value is usually limited.
4. CITB grants: what's available and current rates
CITB grant rules are changing, but here's the shape:
Short course grants
CITB pays grants for approved short courses (3 hours–29 days) at different tiers. After April 2023, typical rates per achievement:
| Tier | Grant rate | Refresher rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | £60 | £30 |
| Tier 2 | £140 | £70 |
| Tier 3+ | Higher, depending on course | Varies |
From 2025–26 onwards: CITB is phasing short-course support into Employer Networks and removing most short-course funding from the main grant scheme, except for plant, scaffolding and some specialist courses.
Short qualification grants
For formal quals (NVQs, some diplomas, NEBOSH, etc.):
| Qualification type | Grant rate |
|---|---|
| Standard short qualifications (Level 2+) | £600 |
| Specific management qualifications | £1,500 |
| Specific supervision qualifications | £1,250 |
| Specific rainscreen cladding qualifications | £1,000 |
| Shorter "Award"-level quals (from late 2025) | ~£240 |
Skills & Training Fund / Employer Networks
Historically, the Skills & Training Fund allowed small employers to claim between £5,000–£10,000 depending on employee numbers, to cover approved training. This fund closes to applications on 30 September 2025, with funding moving to Employer Networks as the main route.
Key message: if you're employed by a CITB-registered firm, there's money floating around to offset proper NVQs and key safety courses, but the employer usually has to claim it. Ask them.
5. Free training from manufacturers, suppliers and trade bodies
There's a surprising amount of free or cheap training if you look in the right places.
Boiler and heating manufacturers
Baxi, Vaillant and others run free product and fault-finding courses for installers to build skills and loyalty. Vaillant's Aspire programme offers free on-demand training to support MCS/TrustMark and low-carbon heating, plus discounted membership with NAPIT/MCS/TrustMark.
Insulation and building-product firms
SuperFOIL offers 100% free training via online modules and in-person days for their approved installer programme, giving hands-on experience with their products. Other manufacturers (roofing, windows, solar, shading) offer free installer training and "approved partner" schemes.
Merchants and trade bodies
Builders' merchants, wholesalers and trade associations often host free breakfast briefings, CPD-style talks and mini-courses on new products, regs or installation methods.
These won't usually give you a big formal badge, but they:
- Keep you current.
- Help you install specific systems faster and with fewer callbacks.
- Sometimes get you listed as an "approved installer" on manufacturer websites.
That's useful, and the price (free) is hard to argue with.
6. What's widely seen as poor value
This is where you save yourself some pain.
Generic, non-accredited "certificates" with no recognition
Courses that don't link to an NVQ, CSCS card, accreditation or real client requirement. They look good in a folder but don't open doors or justify higher rates.
Safety courses in isolation with no plan
SMSTS/SSSTS can be brilliant if you're moving into supervision. If you're staying on the tools with no interest in running sites, doing them just "for the card" can be poor value, they won't boost a sole trader's domestic day rate on their own.
Overlapping or repeated short courses
Multiple similar "awareness" courses (e.g. several generic H&S days) that don't add anything to what you can already prove. CITB is cutting short-course support precisely because demand has exploded and the value is patchy.
Expensive private "qualifications" with no industry recognition
Some outfits sell costly packages that don't result in an NVQ, recognised card, or scheme membership. If a badge isn't asked for by main contractors, clients, schemes or regulators, it's basically marketing.
7. Before you book any course, ask these 5 questions
1. Will anyone actually care about this badge? Does a main contractor, scheme, or client ever ask for it? CSCS, SSSTS/SMSTS, Gas Safe, NICEIC, MCS, plant tickets = yes. Random "certificate of attendance" = usually no.
2. Does it unlock better-paid or new types of work? Will it let you do something you legally or practically couldn't do before, supervise a site, fit boilers/heat pumps under grants, run plant, install a manufacturer's system?
3. Is there grant or free support available? Can your employer claim a CITB grant? Is there a free manufacturer course that gets you most of the same benefits?
4. What's the total cost vs likely payback? Add up: course fee + lost earnings while you're on it + travel. Ask: "Realistically, will this course help me earn that back within 12–24 months?" If you can't see how, think twice.
5. Does it fit the direction you actually want to go? If you're aiming for supervision/management, SSSTS/SMSTS and higher NVQs make sense. If you want to stay on the tools, trade-plus courses (MCS, EV, specialist install/manufacturer training) usually beat generic classroom stuff.
If you can't answer "yes" to at least two of those, keep your wallet shut and put the money into your tools, van or savings instead.
What to do next
- Read: 15.17 · Specialising vs staying general: when to pick a lane
- Read: 15.16 · The trades nobody talks about: less obvious paths that pay well
- Read: 7.1 · CSCS cards explained
- Read: 10.1 · What qualifications and cards do I actually need?
- Read: 15.19 · Working on the tools vs moving into management
Sources (UK)
- Capital on Tap (UK trade earnings study) · hourly rates by trade, specialist vs general earnings.
- CITB grant scheme guidance (2023–2026) · short course tiers, short qualification rates, Skills & Training Fund closure, Employer Networks transition.
- Vaillant Aspire programme · free training, MCS/TrustMark support, NAPIT discount.
- SuperFOIL approved installer programme · free insulation training.
- CITB / CLC Industry Skills Plan · priority competence areas, specialist skills gaps.
- Trade body websites · NICEIC, NAPIT, Gas Safe, OFTEC, MCS, TrustMark registration requirements.
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