SSSTS Training in Plymouth – £199 Live Online

Course overview

The morning you first get told to keep an eye on the rest of the crew is the morning your legal responsibilities change, whether or not anyone hands you a certificate to prove it. Supervising work on a construction site in Plymouth means the law, your principal contractor and the people working under you all expect you to know what safe looks like and to act when it slips. The CITB Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is the two-day qualification built for precisely that step up, and we deliver it as a live online class so supervisors right across Plymouth, Devon and the wider South West can gain it without giving up two days to travel or sitting in an unfamiliar training room miles from the job.

This is a genuine, tutor-led course run in real time over a video link. It is not a self-paced recording or a box-ticking module. You join a scheduled class that starts at 08:30 and finishes by 16:00 (4pm) on each of the two days, working through the material alongside a qualified instructor and other delegates exactly as you would in a physical classroom. If you would rather attend in person, a classroom option is also available.

What the SSSTS course is

The SSSTS is the construction industry’s standard entry-level supervisory safety qualification. It is aimed squarely at site supervisors, first-line managers and team leaders in the construction and civil engineering industries — the people who directly oversee work on the ground and who have to make safety happen in real time rather than from an office. Completing it demonstrates, in a form main contractors accept without question, that you understand your legal responsibilities and can put safe systems of work into practice on a live site.

The course is recognised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and endorsed by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG). That recognition is exactly why so many principal contractors and clients name a current SSSTS as a minimum condition for supervisory staff before they set foot on site. It is a portable, widely understood credential, which matters for supervisors who move between projects and contractors across the South West.

It is worth being clear about where the SSSTS sits, because people often confuse it with the SMSTS. The SSSTS is the two-day qualification for supervisors and first-line managers. The five-day SMSTS is a different, higher-level course for site managers and agents who plan, organise and control whole projects. If you supervise a crew or a work area, the SSSTS is the course for you; many supervisors take it first and progress to the SMSTS as their responsibilities grow.

Who should attend

This course is written for the person who stands between the site manager and the workforce and has to translate the safety plan into what actually happens on site. It suits:

• Site supervisors and first-line managers in construction
• Gangers, foremen and team leaders with responsibility for a crew
• Tradespeople stepping up into their first supervisory role
• Supervisors who run inductions, toolbox talks and daily briefings
• Supervisors working in civil engineering and groundworks
• Experienced operatives whose employer needs them formally certificated

You do not need any previous safety qualifications to attend. If you are about to take on supervisory responsibilities and want to walk onto your next Plymouth or Devon project already holding the certificate your contractor expects, this is the course that gets you there.

What the course covers

Across the two days, an experienced tutor guides you through the health and safety knowledge a supervisor genuinely uses, framed around the decisions you make on site rather than a dry recital of legislation. The programme covers:

• Health and safety law and the supervisor’s legal responsibilities
• The supervisor’s role in maintaining a safe site and a positive health and safety culture
• Risk assessments and method statements, and how to brief them to your team
• Carrying out effective site inductions and toolbox talks
• Monitoring site activities and recognising when unsafe work needs to stop
• Communicating safe systems of work clearly to a workforce
• Understanding how your decisions affect the people working under your supervision

Because the class is delivered live, you can ask questions as they occur to you, raise real situations you meet on your own sites, and hear how other supervisors handle the same challenges. That real-time interaction is what separates a proper SSSTS class from a recorded module, and it is why delegates leave able to act on what they have learned rather than filing it away as classroom theory.

Course structure and assessment

The SSSTS runs as a two-day live online class from 08:30 to 16:00, finishing at 4pm on each day. It is delivered over a genuine video link, so you learn in real time from a qualified instructor who is present throughout to answer questions and work through examples with the group, exactly as they would in a physical classroom.

To achieve the qualification you need to attend both days in full, take part in the group tasks and discussions, and complete the exercises your tutor sets throughout. Assessment is by continuous participation together with a short examination at the end of the course. Our SSSTS courses carry a 98% pass rate, which reflects how the material is taught: worked through with you, connected to real site situations, and reinforced steadily as you go rather than crammed at the end. Engage fully with the sessions and you will be well placed to pass first time.

Your certificate and renewal

On successful completion you receive the CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS certificate, recognised across the UK construction industry and valid for five years. To keep it current you complete a one-day SSSTS Refresher before the expiry date, which brings your knowledge up to date with any changes in legislation and best practice and renews the certificate for a further five years. We can help you plan your refresher when the time comes so your qualification never lapses between projects.

Entry requirements

There are no formal prerequisites and no prior safety qualifications are needed to book. The one firm requirement is language: the course is taught in English and the examination is sat in English, so all delegates need a good standard of spoken and written English to take part fully and complete the assessment. Some construction experience is helpful for putting the content in context, but it is not mandatory.

For the live online class you will also need a computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam and microphone — both are built into most modern devices — and a reasonable internet connection. If you have ever joined a video call, you already have the skills you need. We send clear joining instructions in advance and are on hand to help if you have any trouble getting set up.

Why train online from Plymouth

Plymouth sits at the heart of a busy South West construction picture, from city developments and residential schemes to refurbishment, infrastructure and civils work stretching across Devon and Cornwall. For a supervisor working the far end of the region, the traditional route to a certificate has often meant a long drive up the M5 to a fixed venue and two days away from home — a real cost on top of the course fee, and a headache for any employer trying to keep a project moving.

Delivering the SSSTS as a live online class removes that friction entirely. Supervisors anywhere in Plymouth, across Devon and throughout the wider South West can qualify from home, from a site office, or from anywhere with a quiet space and a stable connection. There is no commute, no parking to find, no travel cost to recover and no overnight stay if you are working out towards the coast or the moors. A team spread across several sites can attend the same class without everyone converging on one location on the same day.

You still get the full live experience: a real tutor teaching in real time, group discussion and the chance to ask questions as they come to you. It is the same syllabus, the same CITB-recognised certificate and the same standard the region’s contractors expect, delivered in the way that actually fits how construction in the South West works. Losing a competent supervisor to two days of travel is disruptive on any live project; the online format keeps that disruption to a minimum.

Pricing

The SSSTS course is £199 for the live online class, which is the option most Plymouth supervisors choose for its convenience and value. If you would prefer to attend in person, a classroom option is available at £279. Both routes lead to exactly the same CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS certificate, valid for five years — the only difference is how you attend. The online option is the most cost-effective way to certificate a Plymouth supervisor because it also saves the time and expense of travelling to a venue on top of the fee. There are no hidden extras, and your course materials are included.

How to book your Plymouth SSSTS course

Booking is straightforward. Choose the live online SSSTS course, select an upcoming date that suits you, and reserve your place online. We will send your joining instructions and course materials ahead of the class. If you are arranging training for several supervisors, or you want advice on whether the SSSTS or the SMSTS is the right fit for a particular role, get in touch and our team will talk it through with you. Secure your place today and give your supervisors the recognised safety qualification that Plymouth and South West sites expect.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to travel to a venue in Plymouth?

No. The course is delivered as a live online video-link class, so you can join from anywhere in Plymouth, across Devon or throughout the wider South West. All you need is a device with a webcam and microphone and a stable internet connection. If you would specifically prefer a physical classroom, we also offer a classroom option at £279.

Is the online SSSTS certificate recognised on Plymouth construction sites?

Yes. Whether you take the course online or in a classroom, you receive the same CITB Site Safety Plus SSSTS certificate. It is recognised by CITB and endorsed by the UK Contractors Group, so it is accepted on sites across Plymouth, Devon and throughout the UK exactly as a classroom-delivered certificate would be.

How long is the SSSTS course and what are the hours?

The SSSTS is a two-day course. Each day runs live from 08:30 and finishes by 16:00 (4pm). You need to attend both days in full to complete the assessment and gain your certificate, so it is worth setting the time aside clear of site commitments.

What is the difference between the SSSTS and the SMSTS?

The SSSTS is the two-day qualification for site supervisors and first-line managers. The SMSTS is the five-day qualification for site managers and agents who plan, organise and control whole projects. If you supervise a crew, the SSSTS is the right course; if you manage a site, you need the SMSTS. Many Plymouth supervisors take the SSSTS first and move on to the SMSTS as they progress.

How long is my SSSTS certificate valid?

Your SSSTS certificate is valid for five years. To renew it, you complete a one-day SSSTS Refresher before the expiry date, which updates you on current legislation and best practice and issues a new five-year certificate.

Do I need any qualifications or experience before I book?

No prior safety qualifications are required, and while some construction experience helps you get the most from the course, it is not mandatory. The main requirement is a good standard of spoken and written English, as the course and the examination are delivered in English. That makes the course well suited to tradespeople across Devon and the South West stepping into a supervisory role for the first time.

Can I train several supervisors from my company at once?

Yes. Because the course is delivered online, supervisors based across different Plymouth and Devon sites can all attend the same class without travelling to one location. If you are booking for a group, contact our team and we will help you arrange dates and places to suit your workload.

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.