SSSTS Training in Edinburgh – £199 Live Online

Course overview

Two-day live online class, 08:30–16:00. A classroom option is also available if you would rather attend in person.

Stepping up to supervisor is one of the biggest jumps in a construction career. One week you are part of the gang; the next you are the person signing off the toolbox talk, challenging unsafe practice, and answering to the site manager when something goes wrong. The Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) exists to give you the health and safety grounding that responsibility demands. Our Edinburgh SSSTS course delivers that training over two focused days, entirely online, so supervisors working anywhere from the city centre to West Lothian can qualify without booking a hotel or fighting the morning traffic on the bypass.

Recognised by CITB and endorsed by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG), SSSTS is the benchmark supervisory safety certificate for the UK construction and civil engineering industries. If you have looked at supervisor vacancies around Edinburgh, you will already have seen it listed as essential rather than desirable. This page explains exactly what the course covers, who it suits, how the assessment works, and why studying it live online makes practical sense for people working across the Lothians.

Who the SSSTS course is for

SSSTS is designed for anyone who holds, or is about to take on, supervisory responsibility for health and safety on a construction site. It sits a rung below SMSTS — the five-day scheme aimed at site managers — and is pitched squarely at the first line of on-site leadership. If you are the person the trades look to during the shift, this is the course that formalises that role.

It is a strong fit for:

• Site supervisors and first-line managers already running a section or gang
• Team leaders, gangers, and chargehands with safety responsibilities
• Experienced tradespeople stepping up into a supervisory position
• Foremen who deliver site inductions and toolbox talks
• Supervisors across construction, groundworks, and civil engineering
• Anyone who needs to understand a supervisor’s legal duties for health and safety

The Edinburgh and Lothians construction sector draws on a wide mix of employers — main contractors, groundworks and civils firms, fit-out and refurbishment specialists, house builders working the growth corridors around the city, and the many subcontractors who move between all of them. Whatever corner of that market you work in, if you are responsible for a group of people carrying out work, SSSTS is written for your role.

You do not need any prior safety qualifications to attend, and although site experience is genuinely useful when we discuss real scenarios, it is not mandatory. Supervisors who have come up through the trades and those newly appointed to the role both get value from the two days.

What the SSSTS course covers

Across the two days, the course builds your understanding of the law that governs a construction site and — just as importantly — what it means for you in practice as the person on the ground. The emphasis throughout is on the supervisor’s part in creating and maintaining a positive safety culture, rather than abstract theory.

Core topics include:

• Health and safety law — the Health and Safety at Work Act and the key regulations a supervisor is expected to work within, explained in plain terms
• The supervisor’s legal responsibilities — where your duties begin and end, and how they sit alongside those of the site manager and the workforce
• Risk assessments and method statements — how to read them, apply them, and recognise when work has drifted away from what was agreed
• Monitoring and controlling site activities — checking that safe systems of work are actually being followed, not just written down
• Site inductions and toolbox talks — communicating risk clearly and keeping a crew engaged with safety day to day
• Behavioural safety — understanding why people take shortcuts and how a supervisor’s own example shapes the site
• Occupational health awareness — the longer-term hazards, from dust and noise to manual handling, that are easy to overlook under programme pressure

Because the course is delivered live rather than as a pre-recorded module, the tutor works through these topics interactively — using discussion, worked examples, and questions from the group. That matters for a subject like this: a supervisor learns a great deal from hearing how another delegate handled an awkward situation on their own site, and the live format makes those conversations possible in a way self-study never can.

Course structure and assessment

SSSTS runs over two consecutive days, each from 08:30 to 16:00. Attendance on both days in full is a requirement of the scheme — CITB does not allow partial attendance, so it is worth clearing your diary and letting your site know in advance that you will be off the tools for the two days.

Assessment is straightforward and built around what a supervisor actually needs to know. To pass, you will:

• Attend and take an active part in both training days
• Contribute to group exercises, discussions, and short knowledge checks as the course progresses
• Complete a multiple-choice examination at the end, alongside a short written exercise

The exam is designed to confirm that you have grasped the practical points, not to catch people out, and our tutors prepare you thoroughly for it as they go. Across our SSSTS courses we see a 98% pass rate, which reflects both the calibre of the training and the fact that the material is genuinely relevant to the day job.

On successful completion you receive the CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS certificate. It is valid for five years, and to keep it current you complete a one-day SSSTS Refresher before it expires — a light-touch update that keeps your knowledge in step with current legislation and best practice. We are happy to remind you when that time comes around.

Entry requirements

The course, its materials, and the examination are all delivered in English, so every delegate needs a good standard of spoken and written English to take part fully and complete the assessment. If you are unsure whether your English is sufficient, contact us before booking and we will talk it through honestly rather than have you commit to a course that will not work for you.

To join the online class you will also need an internet-connected device — a laptop, desktop, or tablet — fitted with a camera and microphone, which most modern machines already have, plus a steady connection and enough confidence with technology to join a video call. If you can sit in on a video meeting, you have everything the course asks for. We send clear joining instructions ahead of time and are on hand if you would like to test your setup beforehand.

Why train online from Edinburgh and the Lothians

The single biggest advantage of the live online SSSTS for supervisors based around Edinburgh is that it removes travel entirely. Construction work in the region is spread widely — from projects in the city centre and Leith out through Livingston and Bathgate in West Lothian, across to Dalkeith and Musselburgh in Midlothian and East Lothian, and up into Fife. Getting to a fixed classroom for two consecutive days, on top of a working week, is a real cost in time and money. Study online and your commute is the length of the room.

That travel-free format matters even more when supervisors on the same project are booked together. Rather than several people each losing time crossing the city, everyone dials in from wherever suits — the site cabin, a home office, or the depot — and no one spends a penny on fuel or parking. For firms working to tight programmes across the Central Belt, keeping the crew local while they train is a practical win.

Crucially, online delivery does not water the course down. This is a live video-link class, not a set of recorded slides. You are taught in real time by the same qualified CITB-approved tutors, following the same schedule and covering the same syllabus as the classroom course, and you sit the same assessment. The certificate you earn is identical and every bit as recognised on site. You get the full, interactive experience — questions answered as they arise, group discussion, and a tutor who responds to the room — with none of the travel.

If your circumstances genuinely suit a traditional classroom, that option remains available too. For most Edinburgh and Lothians supervisors, though, the online route delivers the same qualification with far less disruption to the working week.

Pricing and what is included

The SSSTS course is £199 for the live online class and £279 for the classroom option. Your fee covers the full two days of tutor-led training, the official course materials in a downloadable format, the end-of-course assessment, and — on passing — your CITB SSSTS certificate valid for five years. There are no hidden extras: the price you see is the price you pay to become a certified site supervisor.

Book your Edinburgh SSSTS course

Qualifying as a site supervisor is one of the clearest ways to show a main contractor you are ready for more responsibility — and on many Edinburgh sites the SSSTS card is simply the ticket that lets you take charge of a team at all. Two days of live online training, a 98% pass rate, and a nationally recognised certificate at the end make this a straightforward step to take.

Reserve your place on an upcoming SSSTS course today, or get in touch if you would like to talk through dates, book several supervisors from the same project together, or check whether the online or classroom route suits you best. Our team is happy to help you get booked onto the right course for your role across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Edinburgh SSSTS course a 2-day or 5-day course?

SSSTS is a two-day course. It is aimed at supervisors, team leaders, and first-line managers. The five-day scheme you may be thinking of is SMSTS, which is the equivalent qualification for site managers. If you are supervising a team rather than running the whole site, SSSTS is the correct course.

Is the online SSSTS certificate the same as the classroom one?

Yes. The live online class follows the same CITB syllabus and schedule, is taught in real time by the same qualified tutors, and involves the same assessment as the classroom course. The certificate you earn is identical and equally recognised on construction sites across the UK. The only difference is that you learn by video link rather than travelling to a room.

Do I need a physical venue in Edinburgh to attend?

No. The course is delivered as a live online video-link class, so you can join from anywhere across Edinburgh and the Lothians — the site cabin, a home office, or the depot. A classroom option is also available if you would prefer to attend in person. Either way, you gain the same qualification.

What are the entry requirements for the SSSTS course?

You need a good standard of spoken and written English, as the materials and exam are in English. No prior safety qualifications are required, and while construction experience is useful when discussing real scenarios, it is not mandatory. For the online class you will also need a device with a camera and microphone and a reliable internet connection.

How much does the SSSTS course cost in Edinburgh?

The live online SSSTS course is £199, and the classroom option is £279. The fee covers both full training days, the official downloadable course materials, the end-of-course assessment, and your CITB SSSTS certificate on passing.

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

The CITB SSSTS certificate is valid for five years. To keep it current, you complete a one-day SSSTS Refresher before it expires, which updates your knowledge in line with current legislation and best practice. We can remind you when your renewal is due.

What is the pass rate for the SSSTS course?

Across our SSSTS courses we see a 98% pass rate. The assessment — a multiple-choice exam plus a short written exercise — is designed to confirm you have understood the practical points, and our tutors prepare you for it throughout the two days.

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.