Our Dorset base
Blandford training centre
Blandford sits between the coast and the north of the county, so crews from Poole, Bournemouth, Dorchester and Weymouth can all reach it.
Call 0333 0348 368 for directions
On your site · Blandford training centre
Construction training services across Dorset
Training, testing and assessment for contractors and their crews, delivered where the work is. A family-run provider with over 40 years of industry experience behind it.
- Individuals and whole teams
- Training, testing and assessment
- CITB grant support
What we do
Four training services that keep a site compliant and moving
Operators who need tickets, red cards that need to turn blue, a safety gap to close, or a street works gang due reassessment. Whichever it is, it starts here.
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Plant operator training & testing
NPORS courses for new and experienced operators, and quick in-house tests for people who already know the machine. Run on your site or at our Blandford centre.
- Novice and experienced worker routes
- Small groups: two to six delegates a course
- Test-only options for proven operators
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NVQ assessment in the workplace
A qualified assessor works with your people on the job, from Level 2 plant and groundworks to Level 6 management. It is how a red card becomes a blue one.
- Level 2 to Level 6
- Portfolio built from real work
- Bolt-on units for extra plant categories
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Site safety & utility avoidance
Short courses that deal with one hazard at a time: buried services, abrasive wheels, confined spaces, working at height, dust and noise. EUSR registered or in-house.
- EUSR CAT 1 and CAT 2
- Courses from half a day
- Up to 12 delegates on some courses
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Street works (NRSWA)
Operative and supervisor qualifications under the New Roads and Street Works Act, arranged through our sister company, KOAST (Southern).
- Operative and supervisor units
- Initial, renewal and reassessment
- Reassessed every five years
Our accreditations
How we deliver
We come to your site, or you come to us in Blandford
On-site delivery is our speciality. Where that does not suit, our Dorset training centre is in Blandford. Not every course runs there, so ask when you enquire.
Dorset coverage
From Bridport to Christchurch
Our services are available to contractors in all of these Dorset towns, at the Blandford centre or on your own site.
- Blandford
- Poole
- Bournemouth
- Christchurch
- Wimborne
- Ferndown
- Wareham
- Swanage
- Dorchester
- Weymouth
- Bridport
- Sherborne
- Shaftesbury
- Gillingham
Our speciality
On-site training
The trainer travels, not your crew. Theory, practical and assessment all happen at your place of work, which keeps disruption to the job to a minimum.
- One operator or a full gang
- Novices and experienced workers
- Sites across Dorset
Card and certificate guide
What your people will hold afterwards, and for how long
One table to plan around: every route we deliver, the card or certificate it leads to, and when it runs out.
| Training route | What you receive | Valid for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPORS course | Traditional NPORS Operator card | 5 years | Then another test on the same plant |
| NPORS / CSCS course | Red Trained Operator card | 2 years | Register for the NVQ while it is in date |
| Plant NVQ | Blue Competent Operator card | 5 years | The qualification itself lasts a lifetime |
| Groundworks NVQ | Blue Skilled Worker card | Ask us | For experienced groundworkers |
| EUSR course | EUSR card, categories listed on the back | 3 years | Not applicable |
| In-house course | KOPLANT competency certificate and card | 3 years | Units achieved listed on the card |
| NRSWA street works | Operative or supervisor qualification | 5 years | Reassessed every five years |
Family runSince 2018
Who you will be dealing with
Run by the Ostlers, who have all done the job themselves
KOPLANT was formed in 2018, but the family’s time around plant goes back three generations, to grandfather Dennis and a lifelong passion for the machines.
That background shapes how we train. We know what it is like to be told to upskill on top of a full week’s work, so we keep courses practical and fairly priced, and we fit around the job where we can. KOPLANT is an Approved Training Organisation for NPORS, NOCN, EUSR and CABWI, and a fully accredited member of the CITB Training Provider Network.
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Kevin OstlerFounder
Started as a 360 operator and has spent more than 40 years in construction. Teaching operatives the skills behind their qualifications is what he enjoys most.
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Jordon OstlerInstructor
Trained as an engineer, then worked as a plant marshal and operator before becoming an instructor in the family business in 2022.
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Daniel OstlerTrainer
A groundworker since 2010 with a soft spot for dumpers and rollers, and still learning so the training stays current.
Feedback
What operators say after a course with KOPLANT
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Had training on the dumper the other day. Great training and feeling confident about my test tomorrow. Definitely recommend.
Dumper training
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I was with Dan doing my plant tickets. Very helpful. Best training I’ve received to date. Would definitely use again. Highly recommend!
Plant tickets
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Can’t fault these lads! Couldn’t do enough for me, helped out every way they could, very friendly. Would do all my tickets through KO Plant!
Plant tickets
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Polite, friendly guy, would always answer your questions if unsure of anything. Will be going back for future training. Would definitely recommend him!
Training
On the CITB register? Leave the grant claim to us.
When your operators complete NPORS training, we can submit the CITB grant application on your behalf. The grant is paid straight to you. For NVQs, we can assist with your short duration grant claim.
Before you book
What contractors ask us first
Something else on your mind? Ring 0333 0348 368 and ask the people who deliver the training.
More questions answered Can you deliver construction training at our site in Dorset?
Yes. On-site delivery is what KOPLANT specialise in. A trainer comes to your place of work and runs the theory, the practical and the assessment there.
Where that is not suitable, training can be carried out at our Dorset training centre in Blandford, depending on the course. KOPLANT also has a centre in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
How many people can go on one course?
It depends on the course. NPORS plant courses are kept small, with a maximum of two to six delegates. In-house safety courses take larger groups: up to eight for cable avoidance, ten for abrasive wheels and confined space, and twelve for occupational health.
Our operators are experienced. Do they need the full course?
Not necessarily. NPORS has an experienced worker route, which for most machines is seven hours. To qualify, an operator needs 18 months of provable work experience, or six months of consistent daily experience, in that category.
For in-house certification there are also test-only options on several machines, typically one or two hours per person.
What do delegates need before an NPORS / CSCS course?
An in-date CITB Health, Safety and Environment touchscreen test, and a good understanding of spoken and written English. Novices need no previous experience. If someone needs extra support, tell us and we will make reasonable adjustments.
How long do the cards and certificates last?
A traditional NPORS card lasts five years. A red NPORS/CSCS Trained Operator card lasts two years, and becomes a blue Competent Operator card, valid for five years, once the NVQ is complete.
EUSR cards and KOPLANT in-house certificates last three years. Street works operatives and supervisors are reassessed every five years.
Request a quote
Tell us about your team. We will plan the training.
Send the form with the machines, the numbers and where you would like to train, or pick up the phone. We will come back with the right courses and dates.