SSSTS Training in Aberdeen – £199 Live Online

Course overview

SSSTS training in Aberdeen, delivered live online

If you supervise a gang, run a work front or act as a first-line manager on a construction site, the CITB Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is the qualification employers and principal contractors expect you to hold. Our Aberdeen SSSTS course packs the full two-day syllabus into a live, tutor-led online classroom, so supervisors right across the city and the wider north-east of Scotland can gain a recognised CITB certificate without booking a hotel, sitting in traffic on the way into town, or losing an extra day to travel.

You attend in real time alongside a small group of other delegates and a qualified, CITB-approved tutor. It is a proper interactive session, not a recorded video or a self-study pack — you ask questions, take part in the group exercises and sit the assessment exactly as you would in a physical classroom. The certificate you earn is identical to the one issued on our classroom course; the only thing that changes is that you join from your own laptop rather than a training room.

Who the SSSTS course is for

The SSSTS is aimed squarely at people who oversee others on site rather than those who manage the whole project. It suits supervisors, chargehands, foremen, team leaders and first-line managers across the construction trades, as well as experienced tradespeople who are stepping up into their first supervisory role and want to get their health and safety responsibilities right from day one.

It is worth being clear about where the SSSTS sits, because it is often confused with its bigger sibling. The SSSTS is a two-day course for supervisors. The five-day SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) is the equivalent qualification for site managers who carry responsibility for planning and running the site as a whole. If your job is to lead and look after a team on the ground, the two-day SSSTS is almost always the correct choice — and it is the one most contractors ask supervisors to hold.

Across Aberdeen and the north-east, construction covers a broad mix of work — commercial fit-out, housing, refurbishment, civil and infrastructure projects, and the maintenance and energy-related contracts the region is known for. Whatever the setting, the safety principles a supervisor needs are the same, and this course gives you a solid, transferable grounding you can apply on any site.

What you will learn

The SSSTS gives supervisors a working understanding of health, safety, welfare and environmental issues on a construction site, and — just as importantly — of the part a supervisor personally plays in keeping people safe. Over the two days your tutor works through the core themes of the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme, including:

• The supervisor’s legal duties and how the main health and safety legislation applies to everyday work on site
• Health and safety at work, and why a supervisor’s own behaviour and example set the tone for a team
• Risk assessments and method statements — how to read them, apply them and brief your team on them
• Carrying out effective toolbox talks and site inductions
• Monitoring the site, spotting hazards early and stepping in before something goes wrong
• Managing occupational health, welfare and site conditions
• Common high-risk activities and how supervisors help control them, such as working at height, excavations and manual handling
• Reporting, recording and learning from incidents and near misses

The emphasis throughout is practical. Rather than reciting regulations for their own sake, the tutor connects each topic back to the day-to-day decisions a supervisor makes on site, using discussion and worked examples so you leave able to act on what you have learned.

Live online delivery — how it works

Our live online SSSTS runs over two consecutive days. Each day starts at 08:30 and finishes at 16:00 (4pm), with breaks built in, so you know exactly what your diary looks like before you book. You log in to a secure virtual classroom at the start of each day and stay with the same tutor and group throughout, which keeps the sessions personal and makes it easy to raise questions as they come up.

Because everything happens in real time, the online format keeps the interaction that makes classroom training work — group discussion, tutor feedback and the chance to talk through situations from your own sites — while removing the parts supervisors in the north-east tend to grumble about, namely the travel, the parking and the overnight stay. If you can get to a quiet spot with a reliable connection, you can take the course.

To join you need a computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection. A headset helps but is not essential, and you do not need to install any specialist software beyond what we send you joining instructions for. Many supervisors sit the course from home; others use a site office or portacabin — either works, as long as it is quiet enough to concentrate and take part.

The classroom option

Live online suits most supervisors, but it is not the only way to take the SSSTS with us. If you would rather learn in person, a classroom option is available too. It covers exactly the same CITB syllabus and leads to the same certificate — the difference is simply the setting and the price. The live online course is £199 and the classroom course is £279. Whichever you choose, the fee covers the full two days of tuition, your course materials and the end-of-course assessment, with no hidden extras added on afterwards.

Assessment and pass rate

There is no need to be anxious about the assessment. The SSSTS is designed to check that you have understood the material, not to catch you out. To gain the qualification you attend both full days, take part in the exercises and discussions, and complete a short end-of-course assessment that draws on what has been covered. Your tutor prepares you for it as you go, so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.

The vast majority of delegates pass first time — our SSSTS courses run at a 98% pass rate — which reflects both the standard of the teaching and the fact that the content is grounded in the real work supervisors already do. If you engage with the two days, you give yourself every chance of walking away certified.

Your certificate, and keeping it valid

On successful completion you receive the CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS certificate. It is a widely respected qualification, recognised by CITB and by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG), and it is regularly listed among the competence requirements major contractors set for their site supervisors — so it is as useful for winning work and moving between sites as it is for satisfying your current employer.

Your SSSTS certificate is valid for five years. Before it runs out, you renew it by completing a one-day SSSTS Refresher course, which brings you up to date with any changes and extends your certification for a further five years. It is worth keeping an eye on the expiry date, because if the certificate is allowed to lapse the refresher is no longer an option and you would need to sit the full two-day course again. Booking the refresher in good time is the simplest way to stay current.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry qualifications for the SSSTS, and you do not need to hold any previous safety certificates before you book. Some experience of working on a construction site is helpful, as it gives the discussions and examples more context, but it is not a strict requirement. Because the course, materials and assessment are all delivered in English, you do need a good standard of spoken and written English to follow the sessions and complete the assessment. If you are unsure whether the course is right for you or for a member of your team, get in touch before booking and we will point you in the right direction.

SSSTS or SMSTS? A quick comparison

Supervisors booking their first CITB course often want to be certain they are picking the right one, so here is the distinction in plain terms. Both sit within the CITB Site Safety Plus family and both lead to a certificate valid for five years, but they are pitched at different roles:

• SSSTS — a two-day course for site supervisors, chargehands, foremen and first-line managers. It concentrates on the supervisor’s role in applying safe systems of work and monitoring a team on the ground. Renewed with a one-day refresher. This is the course on this page.
• SMSTS — a five-day course for site managers who plan, organise and take overall responsibility for a site. It goes wider and deeper into legislation and site management. It is a separate qualification with its own refresher.

If you are not the person ultimately accountable for the whole site, the SSSTS is the qualification you want. Should your role change later and you move into full site management, the SMSTS is the natural next step — but there is no need to take it simply to supervise a team.

Booking your Aberdeen SSSTS course

Booking is quick and can be done entirely online. Pick a start date from the list of available course dates, reserve your place and you will receive confirmation along with the joining instructions you need for the live online classroom. We run the course regularly, so there is usually a date within easy reach whether you are booking a single supervisor or several members of a team at once.

If you are arranging training for a group and would like advice on dates or numbers, or you simply want to double-check the online course is the right fit before you commit, our team is happy to help. Get in touch and we will make sure you and your supervisors are booked onto the course that matches the roles you actually do.

Why supervisors in Aberdeen choose our online SSSTS

For teams working across Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland, the live online route removes the biggest practical obstacle to getting supervisors trained: time away from site. There is no journey into the city, no travel expenses to claim back and no productive day lost to getting to and from a venue. Your supervisor logs on, completes a recognised CITB qualification over two days and is back on the tools the moment the course finishes — with the same certificate they would have earned in a classroom.

It is a straightforward, cost-effective way to keep your supervisory team qualified and compliant. Book online in a couple of minutes, choose a start date that fits around your project, and get your supervisors certified without disrupting the work in hand.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SSSTS a two-day or five-day course?

The SSSTS is a two-day course. The five-day construction course is the SMSTS, which is aimed at site managers rather than supervisors. If you supervise a team rather than manage the whole site, the two-day SSSTS is the right qualification for you.

Do I need to travel into Aberdeen to attend?

No. The course is delivered as a live online video-link class, so supervisors anywhere in Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland can attend from home or a site office. You only need a device with a webcam and microphone and an internet connection – there is no travel and no overnight stay.

Is the online SSSTS the same qualification as the classroom course?

Yes. Whether you take the live online class or the classroom option, you sit the same CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS and receive the same certificate, recognised by CITB and the UK Contractors Group. The only difference is how you attend.

How much does the SSSTS course cost?

It is £199 for the live online class and £279 for the classroom option. Both prices include the full two-day course, your materials and the end-of-course assessment, with no hidden extras.

What times does the online course run?

The live online class runs across two days from 08:30, finishing at 16:00 (4pm) each day. You attend in real time with a qualified CITB-approved tutor, following the same structure as a classroom course.

How long is the SSSTS certificate valid, and how do I renew it?

The certificate is valid for five years. To renew, you complete a one-day SSSTS Refresher course before it expires. If it lapses, you would have to take the full two-day course again, so it is best to book the refresher in good time.

Do I need any qualifications or experience to book?

No formal qualifications are required. Some construction experience is helpful but not essential, and no prior safety certificates are needed. You do need a good standard of spoken and written English, as the course materials and assessment are delivered in English.

Modules breakdown

Our comprehensive SSSTS training covers the following key areas:

Health and Safety Law

• Current legislation affecting construction supervision
• Legal responsibilities of supervisors on site
• Understanding Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) requirements
• Health and safety regulations specific to construction activities
• Consequences of non-compliance for individuals and companies

Risk Management

• Principles of risk assessment
• Understanding and implementing method statements
• Delivering method statement briefings for workers
• Managing common site hazards effectively
• Control measures for various construction activities
• Managing hazardous substances

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The supervisor’s role in safety management
• Building and maintaining a positive safety culture
• Identifying and addressing bad practice
• Effective communication techniques
• Managing subcontractors and visitors
• Conducting site inductions and safety briefings

Practical Safety Management

• Planning for site safety
• Conducting effective toolbox talks
• Safety inspection procedures
• Accident reporting and investigation
• Record-keeping requirements
• Promoting safety awareness among workers

Health and Wellbeing

• Occupational health concerns in construction
• Behavioural safety approaches
• Managing workplace stress
• Noise, vibration and dust exposure
• Manual handling best practices
• Worker welfare requirements

Environmental Issues

• Environmental responsibilities on site
• Waste management and reduction
• Energy efficiency considerations
• Pollution prevention
• Sustainable construction practices
• Regulatory compliance

Course Structure

The CITB SSSTS course is delivered over two consecutive days through our professional remote learning platform:

• Led by experienced instructors with extensive construction backgrounds
• Interactive sessions with fellow construction professionals
• Comprehensive digital training materials provided
• Practical scenarios and case studies
• Group discussions and knowledge-sharing opportunities

Full attendance across both days is required to qualify for the examination. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical application to ensure relevance to daily supervisory duties.