I thing I have been robbed
I have done a course at Yorkshire tiling academy and some things on this site tell me that the course is not right, the guys are nice and seem to know what there doing but there are some things that don’t seem right, can any one put my mind at rest
1) PVA every thing before tiling.
2) For the corner tiles put a dot in the centre so you can move the tile to where you want it.
3) take photos off the net and put them in to a book and tell the customers you have done them,
4) Tell the customer and insurance company that you have been tiling for 2 to 3 years

Thanks Mc

Is this a joke/wind up?
What do you mean by "For the corner tiles put a dot in the centre so you can move the tile to where you want it"

Wrong. Clearly Wrong.

Normally the YTA lads check on here every few days so they'll be here to stand their corner if this is a wind-up.

But that's so so wrong. PVA everything? they know better than that and even I know that they know better than that.

You wouldn't be competition of YTA would you MC?

this is not a joke this is what is on the course
the dot is a large dot of adhesive that is put in the centre of the tile so you can move the tile to fit like pushing on one corner or one side to line the tile up.

Dan i have been on the course and i have the certificate the give at the end of the course for what its worth

If they are telling you to take photo's and pass them off as your own you should report them to trading standards. Rememeber if you pass off someone else's work as your own to get business i would think that was illegal and if your work isn't as good as the photo's your reputation will soon be very bad and you might get reported to ts.

It doesnt sound as if your certificate is worth anything to me from what you say. If you were on site with me and you used those methods i would kick you off myself.

That is not good working practice m8,so if you are unsure of how to do anything properly then just put a new thread on the forum and the lads and lasses will set you off in the right direction.Sorry but it sounds a waste of money but i hope you get something out of it m8.

Originally Posted by Mctile

this is not a joke this is what is on the course
the dot is a large dot of adhesive that is put in the centre of the tile so you can move the tile to fit like pushing on one corner or one side to line the tile up.

Dan i have been on the course and i have the certificate the give at the end of the course for what its worth

Wow - so it's true. I'm speechless so I'll say nowt.

I dont think any tiling school or academy, would be nieve enough to think comments made like these on a course would not end up here for all to view. It sounds like a joke to me, but time will tell, if it is found to be true....a reputation will be badly tarnished and surely buisness lost. I'm certain YTA will take this allogation very seriously

I hope it isn't true. Just imagine the quality of the work out there if it is. No offence Mc.

I for one dont believe this, i believe its some sort of wind up.

What other things can you tell us about the course Mc?

Can you give us your tutors name ?

Sounds like not many of you believe me Ok then the tutors where Graham and the bald one (Jonathan) Graham is down to earth and Jonathan thinks he’s gods gift to tiling and business, I am sure that any one that’s been on the course will back me up

This could turn out to be an interesting thread to watch.
McTile there is always 2 sides to a story, so lets hear the other side. What interests me is that no one else has said anything bad before tonight and before you think i may know this company or the people involved i dont. I am just eager to hear the other side.

Can you tell us anything else you didn't like about it or if there was any good points as well....

don't get me wrong i did get an intrest in tiling and cutting tiles we tiled a kitchen area with a wood type frame to go round like a cookerhood, and window frames and some floor tiling. i would look at another coures as i think this was more like a diy course

If you go on a course with no knowledge whatsoever of tiling you won't know what's wrong or right until you join a forum of this calibre then error's will be dicovered. (if the above is founded)

Hello everyone, interesting thread….

I’m sorry to hear that you feel you were robbed Mctile.

We are training and have been training for over 18months. We could bring out a published document containing case studies and comments forms as we have plenty. Many of our trainees in the majority are now successful tilers and we also use them when we have installations.

Our training centre and methods have been scrutinised by the CITB and the LCT and both were more than happy with us. We are also about to be fully assessed for accreditation as part of our NVQ 2 training and assessment programme.
So we must be on the right track.

We don’t know who ‘McTile’ is and from the sound of it he came on our course nearly eight months ago, as Steve (aka Tiny) has been involved with training more and more since May 07. That’s a long time to hold a grudge.

A lot has changed in the training arena in the last 12 months and most courses like ourselves are either heading towards or are training and assessing to qualifications.

A certificate of course completion and of topics covered was given and means what it is, application and gaining of experience is down to the student.


We train 5 to 7 student’s week in week out. First bad feedback we have received.

Originally Posted by Yorkshire Tiling Academy

Hello everyone, interesting thread….

I’m sorry to hear that you feel you were robbed Mctile.

We are training and have been training for over 18months. We could bring out a published document containing case studies and comments forms as we have plenty. Many of our trainees in the majority are now successful tilers and we also use them when we have installations.

Our training centre and methods have been scrutinised by the CITB and the LCT and both were more than happy with us. We are also about to be fully assessed for accreditation as part of our NVQ 2 training and assessment programme.
So we must be on the right track.

We don’t know who ‘McTile’ is and from the sound of it he came on our course nearly eight months ago, as Steve (aka Tiny) has been involved with training more and more since May 07. That’s a long time to hold a grudge.

A lot has changed in the training arena in the last 12 months and most courses like ourselves are either heading towards or are training and assessing to qualifications.

A certificate of course completion and of topics covered was given and means what it is, application and gaining of experience is down to the student.


We train 5 to 7 student’s week in week out. First bad feedback we have received.

Thanks for your response YTA, what makes you think this is steve (aka tiny) from may o7.....this dosnt appear to be a grudge post, but maybe just an observation.Can you tell us who you are Graham? Jonathan? or neither please.......Gaz

When i say Steve aka Tiny.
It is in regard to steve being employed with us to help with training students and as steve's name is not mentioned it would appear Mctile was on our course at least 8months or more ago as steve (tiny) has been involved with every course since May 07.
It is because Mctile ONLY mentions myself and Jon.

Regards, Graham.

Can i ask YTA if the comments 1st made by McTile are true?

I am not holding a grudge I have tiled my bathroom and my dads bathroom I have now been made redundant and decided I would give the tiling a go as a full time job to get work I joined a bathroom installation company and they told me that pva was wrong and when I came on this site and found out other things I did on the course was wrong I had to post it so no one else throws there money away, I have a tiling manual from YTA when I find it I will copy and post it on the site

sorry mate but Mickey & Mouse come to mind

Originally Posted by Yorkshire Tiling Academy

Hello everyone, interesting thread….

I’m sorry to hear that you feel you were robbed Mctile.

We are training and have been training for over 18months. We could bring out a published document containing case studies and comments forms as we have plenty. Many of our trainees in the majority are now successful tilers and we also use them when we have installations.

Our training centre and methods have been scrutinised by the CITB and the LCT and both were more than happy with us. We are also about to be fully assessed for accreditation as part of our NVQ 2 training and assessment programme.
So we must be on the right track.

We don’t know who ‘McTile’ is and from the sound of it he came on our course nearly eight months ago, as Steve (aka Tiny) has been involved with training more and more since May 07. That’s a long time to hold a grudge.

A lot has changed in the training arena in the last 12 months and most courses like ourselves are either heading towards or are training and assessing to qualifications.

A certificate of course completion and of topics covered was given and means what it is, application and gaining of experience is down to the student.


We train 5 to 7 student’s week in week out. First bad feedback we have received.

If 7 months is a long time to be holding a grudge or not, is not what's important here if he has only now found out he was given the wrong advice during his course.
To be honest I would have thought the points regarding correct instruction on the course would have been the priority ones that YTA would address.

As yet these comments about using pva and stealing images from the net have not been denied....Gaz

I don't mean to sound harsh, and I appologise if YTA are actually looking into the matter, but it just seemed like a politicians response, ie avoiding the main points raised.

Jimmy Boy i agree with your comment but as yet McTile hasnt produce the evidence ( YTA tile manual) so far either. I am watching this thread with interest.

We have looked into the claims put forward by Mctile.

When we first set up the tiling courses, we were in the trade as a tiler and plumber/bathroom fitter. A tiling manual was constructed to help students study before commencing the course. The manual was an aid for the student to help them get used to the terminology used within the industry. It covered all things tiling such as tools used by the trade, past pictures from work completed describing what and how we achieved the end result, even step by step pictures on marking and cutting a tile etc etc.
Priming the substrate with PVA was in the manual due to various manufactures using similar methods (Granfix PVA & bonding agents, Nicobond Universal Bonding Agent and Sealer PVA). In response, we recommend to follow manufactures guidelines due to adhesive manufactures differing with Acrylic Primers, Bonding Agents and self priming adhesives.
Even though the likes of Nicobond has the letters PVA in big letters across their primer.
We give handouts from manufactures Granfix on every course which includes a table of every adhesive they do and how or if the substrate needs prior attention or priming before use. Sometimes we use the Nicobond Guide which is very in depth illustrating just about every scenario of differing tiles to differing substrates and what products are recommended.


2)The tiling with a dot in the middle of a tile to move into a corner; well I’m afraid we are all unsure as to what Mctile means.


3)Taking photos off the net? Not sure about this either.
We do however say that when you are starting out as a tiler and haven’t got many or no pictures of your own work to show customers and you are in with a tile showroom, ask if you can take some pictures of their displays and add them into a album. This will help the customer get ideas aswell as when you are trying to measure up the bathroom / kitchen etc, it keeps them busy while you are concentrating on measuring up and looking for areas of complication etc. Just a handy tip until you build up your portfolio but by no means pass off as your own work.


4)We do not say to tell insurance companies and customers you have been tiling for 2 to 3 years. We even tell students when we do our business start up that insurance can cost around £60 to £80 for £1 million liability as a tiler and it isn’t any more if you say you have just started or been tiling for a week as former students have proved this.

I've been to a number of tile courses in the UK on my travels and although there are some differences in training material the info from the thread poster seems wild (note I am NOT a tiler - so cant really comment)

BUT: I wanted to know if I can I come up to Yorkshire and visit sometime this year?

Reason I ask is that the training centre sounds like a good place and I would lile to pop my head in for a day.

PS: About the photographs on the net. If ANYONE wants photographs cheap and I mean REALLY cheap you can do no wrong than to go to i-stock photos and they sell them for as little as £1. A quid is great value



This photo cost me a quid!!! And the absolute max you will pay is £12 which is cheaper than a takeaway pizza... Bargain!

Check them out here. (Please note I use their images but dont have anything to do with I-stock.com)


Richard