Cost

Government funding may be available to eligible candidates. In all cases it is best to seek advice from our NVQ coordinator who will be able to advise you whether you will be able to access funding.

Publications

Caravan Industry Training produce a number of publications of interest to the caravan parks industry. All our publications are written by industry specialists in accordance with standards approved and set by both the National Caravan Council and the British Holiday & Home Park Association.

Cost

Publication Price: £5

Conserving the Park Environment

This publication was written as an addition chapter to the existing Operational Services handbook and as support material for the forthcoming CITO Environment Course which builds upon the principles of the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme.

Although now included in the Operational Services handbook the Environment chapter is also available as a stand alone publication.

Contents

• Conserving the park environment
• Environmental conservation and sustainability
• Reducing resource usage 
• Reducing water usage
• Minimising waste: reducing, reusing and recycling
• Greener Purchasing
• Managing outdoor areas
• Providing information and advice
   

Cost

BH&HPA/NCC Member: £5.00
Non Member: £7.00 

Safe Siting Textbook & DVD

The textbook is an integral part of the BTEC Safe Siting Award which has been produced to help develop the knowledge and practical skills required to participate to move, site and de-site a single unit caravan safely (holiday or residential). The 30 minute DVD was developed as a teaching aid for candidates attending the course. 

Some staff won't be going on either of the siting courses, but even someone on the periphery of the operation - perhaps they only help out on the siting team as an additional observer while the caravan is being moved, or perhaps they may move to a management position which encompass siting - can benefit from some clear and down to earth knowledge.  A book and a dvd can never be a substitute for proper training, but it will help to get some of the essential messages across, or reinforce them.

Safe Siting of Caravans

• The BTEC Intermediate Award in the Safe Moving, Siting and Desiting of Single Unit Caravans

• Planning the Siting Operation

Both courses are based on industry Guidelines of Good Practice. 

Safe Siting: Planning Ahead - 1 day

This course has been developed more recently to provide appropriate training for all siting staff, when the thoroughness and detail of the BTEC is not necessarily a requirement of the job. This one day course stresses the importance of safe working procedures, includes an awareness of siting planning, and some understanding of the necessary documents that should be completed.  However the assessment process is less comprehensive, and the industry certificate awarded does not have external accredition.  More info...

Safe Siting BTEC AwardS - 2 or 3 days

These are 40 hour courses leading to nationally accredited qualifications.  The two options currently available vary substantially and park owners and managers should contact the individual providers to establish which course suits their staff.  The TADCO course is closely linked to the parks NVQ which can enable the two qualifications to be taken in conjunction, thereby giving eligible leaners the benefit of available funding support.  The latest option from Leisuresafe covers a wider scope of siting risks during the practical course, and ensures hands-on experience of siting activities for every candidate. An optional services unit is also offered which provides candidates with LPG cylinder connection and handling skills, electrical 'first aid' skills and vacant pitch safety awareness. The contents of the course can be mapped to appropriate NVQs through Accredited Prior Learning (APL) for any candidates who wish to pursue training through such a route.

CITO recommends that at least one member of each Siting Team should take a formal 40 hour course to ensure a full knowledge of risk assessment and planning for siting operations.  More info...

Cost

BHHPA/NCC Member: £150+VAT
Non Member: £175+VAT

Host Park: 1 Free Place 

Foundation Degree in Tourism Park Management

Three and a half years distance learning, with a short residential school for each unit

A foundation degree is equivalent to the first two years of a full time honours degree course. This program has been developed by Kingston Maurward College in Dorset with the support of Caravan Industry Training, and will be validated by Bournemouth University. The program will teach important principles of business and management in a caravan park context, and students will be encouraged to apply their new knowledge and skills as they progress.

Each of the first two years will have four units; the remaining six units have a much higher park based content, and will be completed in just under a year and a half. The subjects in the first year of study are likely to be

• Business strategy
• Marketing
• Managing the park consumer
• Finance and business performance

The course focuses on personal development within the caravan parks industry and aims to provide learners with the skills and knowledge as appropriate to management of a caravan park. It should enable learners to enhance career prospects and the academic background to pursue further study should they wish.

The range of units offered will provide the learner with underpinning knowledge and assist them to acknowledge and overcome their personal strengths and weaknesses, whilst providing them with a range of transferable skills such as use of IT, conducting research and report writing.

Delivery is designed to be both flexible and innovative. The industry has strong seasonal variation, therefore professional development has to be timetabled around the needs of both employers and learners. All of the units will be applied to real park situations as a fundamental part of the teaching. Where possible, tutors on units will have experience of park work. Residential schools will be held on host parks in various locations. 

Employer engagement will be embedded throughout the whole of the program with emphasis on ‘theory into practice’. Whether learners are nominated by their employers or applying independently, there must be real benefits to parks, as well as to individuals, as a key outcome of their study.

As the majority of learners will be employees within park businesses, the Work Based Learning can be carried out at their existing place of employment.

The first students to undertake the degree are already deriving huge benefits from their studies, and enjoying the companionship of learning tyogether in what has become a close-knit and mutually supportive group. hard work is tempered by humour and friendship.

How to Apply

Application forms are available from Caravan Industry Training, or downloaded from the website.  Entry can be by the acdemic route (A levels), the vocational route (a level 3 NVQ or equivalent) or in some cases, park management experience can be used instead of prior qualifications. All students require two references, one of them from an employer or formal business associate.  Relatives cannot provide references.

Cost

Like all UK degree courses, the college charges tuition fees for the foundation degree - the level of fees is generally set nationally. The cost for the 2009 intake was £461 per unit, which will be invoiced two units at a time. Student Loans at inflation-only interest rates can be accessed by eligible students.   This college fee does not cover any travel or accommodation required during residential schools; it is planned to keep this as low as possible by accessing accommodation on the host parks. Much of the study material is provided but a small number of books may be recommended for purchase. If the student is from a senior management position on a park there may be some support available from the Learning and Skills Councils in England, which has a funded Management and Leadership support programme.

Park Management Certificate

The material is suitable for individuals with little or no park management experience as well as an invaluable tool for those who have run parks for many years. Experienced park managers have told us that they have learned a great many new facts from the study material while newcomers to the industry were delighted with this ‘fast-track; method of absorbing information.

Electrical

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, all employers have a duty to ensure that employees are competent to carry out any electrical duties expected of them. The National Caravan Council has defined the competences necessary for electrical inspection of caravan holiday homes and park homes when they are connected. A training course with assessment has been developed to provide the necessary...

ACS Gas for Parks

Engineers, who work on units that are hired out in the course of their business, must be Gas-Safe registered. The Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Individual Gas Fitters (ACS) is available to all engineers who hold an ACoPs gas competency certificate covering caravan installations or equivalent. We consider this as being the minimum requirement before taking ACS assessment...

ISRM Pool Plant Operators Certificate - 3 day course

This is a three day course and is the only course recommended by the HSE in their document entitled “Safety in Swimming Pools.” The course will aim to provide staff who work in a swimming pool environment with the skills and knowledge to...

Safe Siting of single unit caravans - 1 Day Course

Planning ahead is a one day course which has been developed by and for people involved in siting operations. It is based on industry good practice and aims to raise awareness of the safety issues that surround this potentially hazardous operation; to ensure that all those involved can contribute to risk assessments and planning, and that the siting team understands the need to keep records to protect themselves and the business.

BTEC 40 hour siting courses

BTEC Safe Moving, Siting and De-siting of single unit caravans - 2day Course

This BTEC Intermediate Award was developed in conjunction with CITO but is now independently run by TADCO Leisure, who are also approved by Edexcel to offer the Operational Services NVQ. The aim is to raise awareness of the safety issues that surround this potentially hazardous operation, to ensure that all those involved can contribute to risk assessments & planning and that the siting team understands the need to keep records to protect themselves and the business.

To achieve the qualification learners will attend a two day face-to-face classroom based workshop. Each learner will subequantly take part in siting operations at their workplace which will be followed by a half day assessment. Including the workshop, siting operation and assessment the course is equivalent to approximately 40 hours of guided learning within a two month period.

At the workshop the learner:

• will work with the tutor in small groups to debate the important aspects of siting operations, using examples and a DVD.
• will contribute to risk assessments and to the development of plans (or “safe systems of work”) for moving, siting and de-siting single unit caravans.
• will be given guidance and straightforward paperwork to help them continue their learning while carrying out siting tasks at their own workplace.
• will not physically site, desite or move a caravan during the two day workshop. However they will work with other learners discussing possible siting operations in real park situations.

Following the workshop:

• Training alone does not prove competence, which is why the assessment is an important aspect of the course. Learners will complete a workplace log book, detailing a siting operation they participate in which will demonstrate the principles learned at the workshop.
• Learners will have access to telephone and online support from the tutor during this time.
• Finally, each delegate will have a visit by an assessor to their place of work to assess the sited unit and ensure the learner understands the principles of safe siting before being passed for certification.

The course is not designed to teach people how to site as each park business will have its own procedures, although the latest industry good practice will be highlighted. By the end of the course the learner will have developed a comprehensive risk assessment for siting operations on their park, which is a legal requirement with which some parks may not yet be complying.

The key principle is that learners must be encouraged to think and to plan. They should be aware of the consequences of their actions and understand the need to keep written records, thereby decreasing the likelihood of accidents, minor or serious, and protecting the business in the event of an incident.

The cost of the course is £500.00 +VAT per learner. Fees cover the two day workshop and all training materials, reasonable online and telephone support and a half-day assessment work based visit. It is proposed that all learners complete the award within two months of the initial training, and it is therefore essential that all those attending the course have the opportunity to move, site and de-site a single unit, within that period.  Where the course is taken in conjunction with the NVQ Operational Services eligible learners can benefit from full funding for both qualifications.

Siting twin units is a more specialised task, and an additional unit may be developed to cover this, but the same principles of safety and planning apply to all siting operations.

Any questions specifically on this qualification should be directed to Sarah Zoob at TADCO using the contact details given in the right hand column.

Any questions specifically on this qualification should be directed to:
Sarah Zoob at TADCO on 01458 447288

BTEC AWARD IN SAFE SITING OF SINGLE UNIT CARAVANS - 40 HOUR COURSE

This BTEC Intermediate award was developed in 2009 by Leisuresafe, a company headed by John Biles, who was for many years head of safety for Bourne Leisure before leaving to establish his own consultancy practice in 2006. Like the original BTEC it is accredited and monitored by Edexcel, and was developed to conform with industry good practice. The key difference between this and the original BTEC is that this course does aim to teach people the practical techniques to move, site, level and de-site single unit caravans safely, with a range of techniques and equipment to suit almost every situation. During the development of this course, a significant amount of research went into identifying the key causes of many siting related incidents, and specific emphasis has been placed on those areas, including manual handling - a common cause of injury amongst siting teams and a leading cause of employee related civil claims.

In addition, the course equips the learners with the practical 'hands-on' knowledge of how to site a caravan and how to overcome obstacles that may occur during siting operations.

At the 2 day face to face course, candidates will:

• Understand the key aspects of safety associated with siting activities using real life case studies, practical demonstration, video clips and short presentations;
• Use a risk assessment template developed specifically for siting activities by Leisuresafe to plan for subsequent movement, a siting, a levelling and a de-siting operation;
• Take part in a movement, a siting, a levelling and a de-siting operation:

Course numbers are limited to 6 to give every candidate the attention required to meet the learning outcomes. Every candidate receives a pre-course pack and instructions on what to do before the course. During the course candidates each receive a series of simple handouts and a copy of the safe siting guidelines.

Assessment takes place during the course using a range or oral, written and observational techniques. Candidates know before they leave whether they have met the learning outcomes and been passed for certification.

There is an optional third day which qualifies for a certificated BTEC Unit which focuses on services and pitch safety. On this third day, candidates will: 

• Understand the properties of LPG and an awareness of LPG issues on caravan parks;
• Be provided with the skills required to transport, handle and exchange caravan gas cylinders;
• Be provided with a basic understanding of electricity and an awareness of electrical safety issues on caravan parks;   Know the steps to take to re-set trip switches;
• Understand basic water connections; and
• Understand how a pitch should be left when it is empty to avoid accidents involving members of the public.

Any questions specifically on this qualification should be directed to:
John Biles at Leisuresafe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0844 55 55 468

NVQ Level 2: Operational Services for Park Staff

This NVQ is a specially developed work based qualification, suitable for most park employees, whether they are a team leader, a ‘practical doer’, or they work in reception, administration, retail or leisure. Because each park is different, the qualification offers a very wide choice of optional technical and administrative units, as well as the core essentials of health & safety, teamwork, and customer service.

NVQ Level 3: Operational Services

This qualification is aimed at anyone on the park who has a supervisory role – on a large park they could work in sales, administration, retail, entertainment, maintenance or any other specialism. On a smaller park they could be a trainee or junior manager. You don’t have to complete level 2 first – NVQs are assessed on work currently being undertaken.

Operational Services On Touring, Holiday & Home Parks

A publication developed for the benefit of everyone working on touring, holiday and home parks. It takes the tasks that happen on most parks, and sets out to explain how they can be done safely, effectively and efficiently. This is not a book for academics, it is a book for practical people.

Bespoke Training

CITO can deliver our standard training courses at a competitive in-house price, or we are able to write and deliver customised training packages that are designed around the needs of a particular organisation.