For anyone looking for a tiling course in Scotland I don't think there are any! For this reason, after much deliberation I chose North East Tiling Training in South Shields because I was impressed with the professionalism of the website, the feedback from previous students and when I phoned for more info Tracy was so informative and friendly she finally convinced me it was the right choice.

I would recommend this course to anyone and cannot believe how much i learned from Darren in just 1 week. I started my first tiling job the day after I returned from the course and have more work lined up in the next few weeks and I haven't even advertised yet or set up my new business venture. Wish I'd done it years ago!

Been meaning to write this thread for a while but never seem to get round to it.

I attended a course a North East Tiling a few months back now and would like to let every one know how impressed i was. Darren and Tracey who run the centre are great people, very easy to get on with and cant do enough to help. Their willingness to help continues after you finish the course, I have e mailed darren a few times to ask questiond since, always getting a quick and informative reply.

The 4 day course i attended was far more informative than i expected. Going into much more detail than i thought it would. Its not just a case of Darren teaching you to slap a few tiles onto a mock up bathroom.
Darren covers all the important matters you need to be aware of before you ever see the inside of the tiling bays; Health and safety, substrates, use of different tools, adhesives, methods for fixing different tiles, setting out, measuring up work, i could go on all day.

You may think its allot to take in a few days but as you make easy notes as you go you can always look back through to jog your memory if you forget anything.

I left confident and raring to go, Business is starting to flow in now i've got my name about a bit In the first 2 months my tools have paidfor themselves and i have enough cash in the bank to splash out on a van, albeit a cheap one.

I would also recomend the natural stone course. A must if you want to earn proper money. My first stone job made me twice as much profit as a ceramic job of the same size would have.

Cheers

Wilson

Hi there,

Just thought i would give you my feedback on this course which i finished on Friday 2nd Feb.

I chose this course after talking to Tracey (Darrens wife), she sold it to me. I had contacted a couple of others courses, even one closer to home, but first impressions count.

The course has been structured in a way, that as the week goes on, all the pieces to the jigsaw fall into place. Everything from the basic setting out process, what type of adhesives to use, to starting up in business for yourself, if you so wish, was explained in great detail.

Everyone took an abundance of notes, which will be thier own personal bible for them to refer to at anytime. You also have Darrens personal details should you wish to contact him for anymore advice. I've been in touch already and he has replied in a prompt manner.

I also did the Natural Stone Course, which totally opened my mind to the way i'm going to market my business! Do yourself a favour and get on that course, it's well worth attending.

Overall, it was an intense course. Darren pushed you all the way, which i appreciated, as i learnt a lot quicker that way. Considering i hadn't tiled in my life, i would like to think i done well and with more experience, i will provide a quality service for my customers.

Anyway, if anyone is reading this and considering a career change, contact Darren and Tracey and get yourself on the next available course. You will not be disappointed.

Regards,

Colin

hi colin,was on the course same time as you,couldnt agree with you more, with the knowledge i was given, i feel like ive been doin the jobs for years,its amazing how much info you can take in.the way the course was structured had a great deal to do with the way i learnt and remembered it all.

i highly recommend this course to any1,worth every penny.the best investment ive ever made.jst starting getting advertised,had interest already.

once again, an amazing course.darren and tracey should be well proud of it.

Originally Posted by Admin

If you have been on a course at North East Tiling Training based in Tyne and Wear, let us know how it went

JUST FINISHED THE COURSE THE COURSE WAS FANTASTIC ,INFORMATION AND CONTENT SO EASY TO FOLLOW DARREN AND TRACEY WERE SO EASY TO GET ON WITH

going on north east training i am going to sit the accreditation for level 2 tiling is this a good qualification to gain as i am a 30 and will not be abel to obtain svq levels i dont think

like to hear from anybody going on north east training on the 12 march i am going for the 5 day course . would also like to hear from people who have done this course

Hi Sparky,

Welcome to the forum.

I was on the North East Tiling Training course on the 29th Jan. It was excellent, there's a lot packed into the 5 days, but i can asure you, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy the course.

Colin

Do a search mate, there's plenty reading on North East Tiling Training. Highly recommended from me.

hi sparky

you will be getting taught by the best

i have been in the building game for 22 years now and darren is a brilliant tutor and a 1st class trades/business man. you will not go wrong there mate. i couldnt be bothered recommending anybody that i didnt rate because i think people had out praise to easily these days but i can not really find a fault with darrens training except for the fact hes a geordie...(only kidding, i love the geordies, howay man)

ed

Sparky,
I am there on the 12th March, look forward to seeing you there.

Russell

Hello!
I would like to give Darren and Tracey a mention who run North East Tiling. I attended the 4 day course and also the 1 day natural stone course back in August 2006, it was to me a near perfect course, it was well balanced and gave you everything you needed to know in setting up your own business as a tiler. I walked away feeling confident enough to go into someones house and do a professional job. I am so glad I picked this course and not a longer one as I would have got bored and probably been put off starting my own business, which I did 3 weeks after attending (I was an IT manager for the largest dairy company in the UK) I have never looked back, I now have work from a number of kitchen centres, I have secured a contract with a letting agency who has over 1000 houses on its books, I do work for a Fired Earth franchise and the local housing association aswell as my own work, it is a good career change if you are willing to sell yourself and be confident in what you do! This is all down to Darren and Tracey, if you are thinking of attending a course choose this one, you will not be disappointed.

Tile-Wright
Gary wright
North Yorkshire

I have to agree with all posts on here, course was spot on, the information and training you receive in the 4 days was fantastic. No need to do a similar course over a longer period, it would be a waste of money in my eyes. Thanks Darren / Tracey for an enjoyable but very busy week.

Regards

Kevin

Just finished my training today with Darren, Paul and the lovely Tracey and thought it was well worth the money for 4 days input. Considering I blew £400 in 30secs on tools straight away. I don't think I would have made that decision had the guys not given me enough confidence to make a go at it. Infact even if you don't you could probably eat and drink the course fee in chocolate buscuits n coffee within the 4 days if Tracey had anything to do with it, lol. I don't think I'll be tiling to my quickest ability for a while but these guys really do know the tricks of the trade and have constructed the course in an easy learning, mass input, relaxed and not in the slightest bit threatening way. So us people who havent studied for some time and are wondering how the brain absorbs a lecture takes on data etc. its very well balanced out and the entire experience is very enjoyable.
Cheers Darren, Tracey and the ever helpful Paul!!

Great To Read All This Positive Feedback I Am Going On This Course 12 March And Can Wait To Get Started To See What Its All About Al Let You Know How It Goes When I Get Back

I attended the course mid jan and also took the natural stone extra day, my experiance was difficult as through circumstances i missed a day to attend a
funeral, so in all it was a stressful time, not a lot of sleep, feeling i lagged behind
on the course work due to this, but i was determined and upon getting home
how comfortable i was with knowledge i had retained from the course was
surprising even to myself, and i can swear i had never laid a tile in my life.

Yes there are areas not covered, removal of plumbing, plastering/prep etc
but Darren will come back to you with an enquiry you may have and even
talk you through it, see my pics on 1st job done section, after 4 days this
was my 1st job from never laying a tile... effective/efficient communication
on the course provided by Darren, backed up by desire,some natural ability and
willingness to learn continually and progress upon leaving the course will determine who makes a success of it or not, you can attend a 4 year course and if you dont bring
the above to the show... forget it...!
Currently i am finding my feet/slow but pushing myself to make a job right, i wont leave it any other way, its emphasised on the course... IF IT DONT LOOK RIGHT... ITS NOT.

Cheers

Caledonian.

hiya mate, I finished the course last week and found it excellent, didn't really know how much I'd taken in until I got my first job 'this week' (not bad eh!).
You will find that although its fast paced, Darren does get the info into your head if you listen to him properly. You will only take from it what you want, but its all there and very well constructed.
Good luck mate!
Marts

ave completed the course it was the dogs ******** fast pasted but everything sticks 10/10

Hi all,

finished the 4 day course in jan but done natural stone yesterday and would recommend this course highly, i had my doubts about whether 4-5 days would be enough to cover all the topics etc but as darren says the tiling is the easiest part its the background prep part thats most important and he covers this all.
Start your own business or even if you want to tile your own house this course has everything you need.
Thanks Darren/Tracy
Steve.

JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO DARREN & TRACEY AT NORTH EAST TILING I AM JUST BACK TODAY AND HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT THE COURES IS PACKED FULL OF INFO SO IF YOU DO GO BE SWITCHED ON AS THERE IS LOADS OF INFO TO TAKE IN DID THE NATURAL STONE AND HOPEFULLY OPEN UP ANOTHER MARKET AND MAKE ME LOADS OF MONEY .IF YOUR JUST CONSIDERING THE COURSE THEN JUST GO FOR IT THERE WERE 16 OF US AND EVERYONE ENJOYED AND LEARNED LOADS . WELL DONE DARREN AND TRACEY AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE [NOW THATS £ 50 FOR THE GOOD WRITE UP DARREN ] ONLY KIDDING THE COURSE IS SH*T HOT MATE

I had previously done another tiling course at a local training centre, but came away feeling that I had learnt very little that I did not already know, so I started looking around for another training course to do. I needed a course that was going to give me the information that I needed at the best price and in the shortest time, being recently made redundant and now self employed, time and money were both in short supply.

I chose North East Tile Training based on the feedback on the forum. Did I make the right choice?

An unreserved YES is the answer to that question, there was no comparison between this course and the last. You will learn loads of useful information, but you must be prepared to listen and put the work in. The days are long, very long, but when you look back you are effectively putting the hours of a two week training course into one week.

Darren is very knowledgable and Tracey is very efficient on the business side, as well as making a cracking cuppa. Having had a few days now to reflect on the course and recover, I have not yet come up with any questions that I don't know the answer to and I now feel confident in doing tiling jobs that I felt a little uneasy about in the past.

So my opinion, and it is only my opinion, is that this course is very well worth doing, if you don't get loads from it, you must have been asleep.

Russell

hi everyone
just a quick note,i done a tiling course with north east tiling on january,darren gave me everything i needed to know about tiling and starting up on my own.after organising the marketing side tools and van insurance ect, ive gave up ma job and now im self employed using the knowledge from darren im plodding away,a bit slow to start with but getting faster.just like to say thanks to darren and his lovely wife tracey for all there help,and id recomend the course to anyone infact my mate from my old work went down last week.
andy.g

sorry about the caps lock know in the future but this course is worth shouting about ha ha

I've put down my deposit for a course here on the 23 of April due to the feedback recieved on this post.I'm really looking forward to it after all the great things people have mentioned about the course.
I have a clothes shop that unfortunately after 3 years is going to have to close so I'm looking for something that is completely different to sitting on my arse half the day.I thought about doing roofing that was one of my previous jobs but every roof is the same where as tiling you seem to get to express yourself a bit more with different materials and patterns.Theres a bit more variety.
I've heard all the great things about the course and how helpful all the staff are(the lady on the phone was very helpful and kind)but is there anything that you feel that if you could take the course again you wish you would of asked?Something you didn't realise till after you finished the course.
Is there anything that you wished you'd payed more attention to that you didn't realise till after.
I know its going to be a great course,I just want to get as much out of it as possible.

Look forward to your course Darren

Great site by the way Dan

Looking forward to it already, the 23 of april can't come quick enough!

Hello everyone
for all people thinking about doing a course at north east tiling training i am currently halfway through a 4 day course and am so impressed with the two days i have allready completed. Darren and tracy have really made myself and the other students feel really relaxed. The course is very detailed and darren shares his wealth of knowledge in a relaxed manner His trade tips are great and simple (if you listen). looking forward to the next 2 days.

thers 2 sides 2 it here.was at college 4 a yr(1 full day awk)and hardly learnt a thing as the college is good but ther was a carry on with tiling tutor leaving etc.anyway,went 2 ne tiling 4 the 4dys and it was great and learnt more than i ever thought i could BUT i also knew there so much more to learn and didnt want 2 do the learning in somebodys bathrm etc,so iv stuk it out and i finish the 2nd yr in june and this yr has been really good.becos we hav 2 finish our units,we getting threw them all now but learnin plenty of good little useful tips on the way.my sister joined the college sept gone and she loving it 2.you r never 2 old 2 go 2 college either(i am 37,my sister,38)and as ther all mature students in our class,its never been a problem!!

off up to the course on mon 26th me and the son in law let you no how it went

Hello just completed my last 2 days of 4 day course at north east tiling training. Must say first of all it is non stop very intense course i cant believe how much i have learned in just 4 days. The last two days have been great this is when everything you learned in the first 2 days comes to hand. So if you are prepared to listen carefully especially the first 2 days you will learn a huge amount of knowledge. Would like to take this oppertunity to thank darren, and tracy aswell as she looks after you from behind the scenes THANKS VERY MUCH. Will see you on 16th june for natural stone course...

I have just completed the 4 day tiling course at North East tiling school............Well what can I say that hasn't been said. I never new I could learn so much in a short space of time,the course is very intense but very rewarding. Thanks to Darren and Tracey, looking forward to the Stone course already..............

Also thanks to Paul who helped me out a few times

Kev
Isle of Sheppey
Kent