NPTC (City & Guilds) Landbased Services Approved Centre
Merrist Wood College is a National Proficiency Test Council (NPTC) City & Guilds, Landbased Services Approved Centre, offering a range of training courses and assessments for landbased qualifications. Whether you want to take on an apprentice, update your staff's qualifications, or you need bespoke training, our team of NPTC industry specialists can help you and your business.
Our range of short courses focus on the specialist skills and knowledge required to achieve a qualification, proving you have the ability to operate safe working practices. Each qualification has been developed to ensure the content supports the requirements of industry standards.
We'll train you in the safe use and handling of chainsaws at height and on the ground.
These courses are designed for Sprayer Operators (Agricultural Equipment Operators) and all those whose work involves the use of pesticides.
Practical instruction is carried out by highly-qualified tutors at our extensive ornamental grounds, plant nursery, woodlands, and sports turf areas in the college, using both hand tools and modern machinery and equipment. Merrist Wood has developed an excellent reputation for horticultural expertise and coupled with our award-winning Learning Philosophy, we are able to offer a practical education, tailored to your needs.
Bespoke courses for businesses
A full range of bespoke training solutions is available for your business needs. Our staff have a wealth of industry experience and can visit you on site, carry out a full skills and training assessment for your business, and create a strategic training package.
Courses operate with a maximum of four students. Many employers find it more beneficial to have their staff trained on site using the equipment and machinery that they work with.
Courses on offer include:
- Aerial Chainsaw Use from Rope and Harness
- Aerial Tree Rigging
- ATV (All Terrain Vehicles)
- Brushwood chipper training
- Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting
- Clearance saws
- First Aid (including forestry element)
- Forestry and Arboriculture
- Health and Safety Training (ROLO)
- Machinery Land-based
- Mobile elevated work platform training
- Plant Machinery
- Powered pole pruner training
- Safe use of Pesticides
- Safe Use of Stump Grinders
- Tractor driving
- Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
- Tree inspection
- Tree pruning
Short courses
Alongside our suite of bespoke courses for businesses, we also offer a range of short courses for adults who are looking to upskill or retrain, from arboriculture and horticulture to floristry, and more!
Our learning locations
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