I'm working on a project to determine the motivation and behaviours of individuals who self-fund training for work in the UK construction industry. 

This is partly with a view to determining the efffectiveness of of grants, tax breaks etc on take-up of training.

 I will be hosting 2 online focus groups with a small incentive for participants, I would welcome discussion by message or in the forum.

Thanks for that Mark. Few people self-funding in your experience. I'd be interested in speaking to anyone who has self-funded and works in construction.

I self funded through the Diploma (qualified 9 years ago). I also funded through the Health & Wellbeing Cert.

Employer paid for Environmental Cert and way back General Cert!

Have always worked in utilities/ construction sectors.

I have worked in the construction industry for all my working life (23 years) and i have had to self fund everything myself. That includes NVQ's, CSCS cards, first aid, SMSTS and NEBOSH construction cert and two NEBOSH Diplomas.  

I found that unless you are university qualified you are not seen as an asset to the larger companies in the industry and i have worked for quite a few both on the books and as a subcontractor/self employed. Their seems to be a reluctance for companies to pay for training as people get whatever training they need then move on as they dont feel valued, "I'm just a number" is a phrase thats stand out.

Most of the people who work for subcontractors have to undertake and self fund all their required training along with whatever cards they require to actually get on site.

The reason for self funding is, most people  do the minimum to get on site and earn a crust or others actually want to progress and expand their personal knowledge in whatever field they choose but again some people do not have the time or income to allow them to do this.

Originally Posted by: jmaclaughlin

With course cost, exam costs & loss of earnings total cost to myself was in the order of 5k which I recovered within the first 6 months of my H&S Advisor role.

And you then offset the 5K against your profit in the first year. Happy days

Brown

As a matter of interest, do you still work for that employer?

If so, do you think their pay rises have made up for you paying for the training?

I have had my IOSH MS, SMST, First Aid and Hental Health First Aid funded for me by an employer as well as my IOSH membership and CSCS card. 

I had self funded a nebosh Gen a few years ago when my previous employer wouldnt as i didnt have a "dedicated" safety role. This includes the 2 and a bit weeks leave to sit in the classroom.  Moved into a full time safety role and planned on self funding my construction nebosh however my current employer paid in the end when i got poached by their construction team to run safety on projects. 

My current employer is also paying for my NCRQ diploma.  

I am lucky.