You will study the underpinning knowledge essential for correctly maintaining plant machinery and receive tuition in how to maintain and safely operate plant machinery.

There are three units:

One mandatory unit: 201 Pre-Use Safety - Plant Machinery

Optional units: 202 Operate a 180° or 360° Excavator

Optional Unit: Unit 203 Operate a loader

There are four endorsements

• 901180° Excavator
• 902 360° Excavator
• 903 180° Excavator and loader
• 904 360° Excavator and loader.

The certificate will be endorsed accordingly. Candidates are encouraged to take their assessment with different machines to broaden their certification.

Only two endorsements can be taken in any one registration.

Unit 201 Pre-use safety - plant machinery consists of the following outcomes which are divided into assessment criteria they are used during the assessment process.

• LO1 Identify aspects of legislation which apply to the safe preparation and operation of plant machinery (Criteria 1.1)
• LO2 Prepare the machine for work safely without risk to themselves, other people or the environment (Criteria 2.1)
• LO3 State the identified knowledge that underpins understanding of driving plant machinery (Criteria 3.1–3.3)
• LO4 Manoeuvre a plant machine and operate it safely without risks to themselves, other people and the environment (Criteria 4.1)
• LO5 Carry out daily and routine maintenance on plant machinery (Criteria 5.1)

Unit 202 Operate a 180° or 360° Excavator consists of the following outcomes which are divided into assessment criteria they are used during the assessment process.

• LO1 Identify aspects of legislation which apply to the safe preparation and operation of plant machinery (Criteria 1.1 )
• LO2 Prepare the machine for work safely without risk to themselves, other people or the environment (Criteria 2.1-2.5)
• LO3 Manoeuvre a plant machine and operate it safely without risks to themselves, other people and the environment (Criteria 3.1-3.5)
• LO4 State procedures to be observed when cleaning and inspecting the machine and reporting defects (Criteria 4.1-4.2)

Unit 203 Operate a loader consists of the following outcomes which are divided into assessment criteria they are used during the assessment process.

• LO1 Identify aspects of legislation which apply to the safe preparation and operation of plant machinery (Criteria 1.1)
• LO2 Carry out daily and routine maintenance on plant machinery (Criteria 2.1)
• LO3 Prepare the machine for work safely without risk to themselves, other people or the environment (Criteria 3.1-3.2)
• LO4 State the identified knowledge that underpins understanding of driving plant machinery (Criteria 4.1-4.3)
• LO5 Manoeuvre a plant machine and operate it safely without risks to themselves, other people and the environment (Criteria 5.1-5.3)
• LO6 State procedures to be observed when cleaning and inspecting the machine and reporting defects (Criteria 6.1-6.2)

This qualification is now only delivered in the workplace on a suitable site using a tractor and attachments provided by the organisation requesting the training. Before training or assessment, it may be necessary to visit the site to ensure that the site, the tractor and equipment are suitable. (This may incur an extra cost, and a milage charge at 0.45 per mile)

This qualification is examined by an Independent Assessor who was not involved in the training.

One experienced plant operator can be prepared for assessment and assessed assessed on another mutually convenient date (usually the day following training). However, inexperienced or novice tractor operators will need to be trained over two or three days and assessed on another mutually convenient date (usually the day following training).

This qualification is examined by an Independent City & Guilds NPTC Assessor.  Assessment can take 1.5 - 3.0 hours and will always be at the venue at which you trained.

You will receive a City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Plant Machinery (0126-01) endorsed for example Plant Machine – 360° Excavator.

Note: This is issued directly by City & Guilds NPTC.

There are three options:

1. For experienced plant operators who only need to brush up their skills and prepared for assessment. This can be achieved in one day. Training is £160.00 , registration through CEPT is £27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £294.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.

2. For plant operators who have some experience, but may need more training a two day course is recommended. Training is £320.00, registration through CEPT is £27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £454.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.

3. For totally inexperienced persons who have no experience of plant operation who may need a significant amount of training a three day course is recommended. Training is £480.00, registration through CEPT is £27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £614.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.

Courses will take place at your own site please contact us. if you would like to discuss availability, date(s) and cost. Please contact Tony Davies by email. tonydavies@bestinhorticulture.co.uk

To book your place on a course please contact Tony Davies by email: tonydavies@bestinhorticulture.co.uk

We have a very high success rate in preparing candidates for assessment, to date we have achieved 98% success!

Please note it will be your, or your organisations responsibility to supply the machine, sundry equipment and materials. Also, all items of PPE for this course including safety footwear and work gloves. 

You can go on to undertake training in a variety of Certificates of Competence applicable to your role. For example:

If you work as a garden maintenance operative (gardener), the following might be useful:

• Manual handling
• Safe application of pesticides (Pa1)
• Hand held applicators (Pa6)
• Occasional chainsaw user
• Brushcutter/strimmer
• Hand held hedge trimmer
• Pedestrian mower
• Leaf blower/vacuum
• Amenity shredder
• Ride on mowers
• Compact tractors

If you work as a landscaper, the following might be useful:

• Manual handling
• Safe application of pesticides (Pa1)
• Hand held applicators (Pa6)
• Occasional chainsaw user
• Brushcutter/strimmer
• Plant machinery 360 degree excavator
• Dumper
• Abrasive wheel machine