Most bookedPlant / Machinery
Excavator 360˚
Full-rotation excavators, digging, grading, lifting, machine stability and safety.
Book now
Accredited training across Scotland & the UK
Professional training for a safer, more skilled workforce
Accredited plant, lifting and health & safety courses delivered on your own site, anywhere in the UK — no travel, no downtime.
Find the right training for you
Accredited provider
Recognised training, trusted qualifications
CITB
Accredited training provider
CPCS
Accredited training provider
NPORS
Accredited training provider
SQA
Accredited training provider
CSCS
Accredited training provider
CTS In-house Courses
Accredited training provider
EUSR
Coming soon
Courses
Our training courses
Cranes & Lifting
Appointed person, slinger/signaller, crane supervisor and operator training for safe lifting operations.
15 courses
Lift Trucks
Counterbalance, reach, telehandler and specialist truck training to nationally recognised standards.
8 courses
Accessing Equipment
Working at height, MEWPs, scaffold towers and ladder safety for teams working off the ground.
4 courses
Plant / Machinery
Excavators, dumpers, rollers and other site plant — operator training and refreshers.
19 courses
Small Equipment
Abrasive wheels, cartridge tools, breakers and other hand-held equipment used day to day on site.
7 courses
Health & Safety Related
First aid, manual handling, fire safety and the essential health and safety courses every site needs.
19 courses
Vocational Qualifications (SVQ's)
Work-based SVQ assessment routes for operatives, supervisors and managers.
4 courses
CITB Site Safety Plus
SMSTS, SSSTS, SEATS and the full CITB Site Safety Plus suite.
3 courses
Booking now
Popular courses
About us
Meet Mark Cairns, Founder & Lead Trainer
With over 19 years’ hands-on experience as a plant operator across civil engineering, construction and rail lifting infrastructure, I built my career on practical expertise, safety and professionalism.
Over the past decade I’ve focused on training, assessment and quality assurance — helping apprentices and experienced operators gain the skills and confidence they need. I’m a qualified Assessor, Internal Verifier and Instructor, delivering training to CPCS, NPORS, IOSH and industry standards, and I’m also a National Plant Instructor and Examiner.
Before founding CTS, I delivered training for major employers and providers across Scotland. I know what principal contractors need because I’ve worked alongside them — and because I’ve sat in the seat myself.
I believe training should be practical, compliant, and tailored to your site. Whether it’s plant operations, health & safety, or full SVQ assessment, I bring the same standards I’d expect on my own job: reliability, clarity, and a genuine commitment to helping people progress.
Every course I deliver is built on real operator experience: practical, compliant and tailored to your site.
20+ years
Training experience
40,000+
Candidates trained
96%
First-time pass rate
UK wide
On-site delivery
Why choose us
Why Cairns Training Services?
Experienced instructors
Every assessor has spent years on live sites before joining our training team.
Recognised qualifications
Cards and certificates accepted by principal contractors across the UK.
Flexible scheduling
Regular course dates plus evening and weekend delivery for shift teams.
On-site training
We travel to your yard with assessors, paperwork and testing equipment.
Full audit trail
Achievement records and training matrices ready for your next site audit.
Competitive pricing
Transparent group rates and support with CITB grant claims.
For employers
For businesses & fleet managers
Block-book dates for whole squads, keep every ticket in one place and get reminders before cards expire. We can also audit your existing training matrix and flag gaps.
- Group rates from four candidates
- Expiry tracking and renewal reminders
- Consolidated monthly invoicing
Funding
CITB grants & funding
CITB-registered employers can claim grant support on most short courses. We supply the course codes and achievement records your claim needs.
- Short course tiers 1–3 grant eligible
- Help completing your CITB submission
- Flexible Workforce Development Fund guidance
Simple process
How to get started
Step 1
Enquire or book
Tell us the tickets you need and how many people need them.
Step 2
Choose date & location
Tell us where — we deliver the training on your own site.
Step 3
Complete training
Practical, assessment and theory delivered by working instructors.
Step 4
Receive your card
Results submitted the same week, with cards tracked to your door.
Trusted by teams
What our trainees say
“Mark helped me complete my SVQ Level 2 in Plant Operations. Couldn't have asked for better support — explained everything clearly, worked around my shifts, and made the whole process straightforward. Passed first time, and got my card sorted quickly. Top instructor — highly recommend.”
“Did my SVQ Level 3 in Site Supervision with CTS alongside my MEWP and harness training. Mark is patient, knowledgeable, and actually understands how sites work — not just textbook answers. Flexible sessions and great guidance throughout. Passed with distinction!”
“Never done formal training before — was nervous about the SVQ process. Mark put me at ease straight away. Broke everything down into simple steps, gave honest feedback, and helped me build a portfolio I was proud of. Passed first go — now fully qualified and confident on the machines too.”
“Completed my SVQ Level 2 in Lifting Operations plus my refresher training with CTS. Mark knows his stuff inside out — practical advice that you actually use on site, not just what's in the book. Quick to reply, flexible dates, and genuinely wants you to succeed. Wouldn't go anywhere else for my training.”
“We've used CTS Training for all our plant and machinery training across our sites in Scotland. Mark always delivers clear, practical training that our operatives actually remember. Flexible scheduling, competitive rates, and certificates issued on the same day — highly recommended.”
“CTS provided confined space, working at height, and vehicle marshal training for our infrastructure teams. Professional, on-site delivery that fitted around our shift patterns. Mark's industry experience comes through in every session — our staff felt confident and properly prepared.”
“Reliable, knowledgeable, and great with trainees of all experience levels. CTS delivered MEWP, excavator, and banksperson training across our remote Highland sites — no job was too remote. Competitive pricing and excellent communication from booking to certification.”
“We've worked with Mark at CTS for over 3 years now — overhead crane, slinger signaller, and manual handling training for our whole site team. Always punctual, professional, and the training is spot on. Our operatives leave with a clear understanding of safety and best practice.”
“Mark helped me complete my SVQ Level 2 in Plant Operations. Couldn't have asked for better support — explained everything clearly, worked around my shifts, and made the whole process straightforward. Passed first time, and got my card sorted quickly. Top instructor — highly recommend.”
“Did my SVQ Level 3 in Site Supervision with CTS alongside my MEWP and harness training. Mark is patient, knowledgeable, and actually understands how sites work — not just textbook answers. Flexible sessions and great guidance throughout. Passed with distinction!”
“Never done formal training before — was nervous about the SVQ process. Mark put me at ease straight away. Broke everything down into simple steps, gave honest feedback, and helped me build a portfolio I was proud of. Passed first go — now fully qualified and confident on the machines too.”
“Completed my SVQ Level 2 in Lifting Operations plus my refresher training with CTS. Mark knows his stuff inside out — practical advice that you actually use on site, not just what's in the book. Quick to reply, flexible dates, and genuinely wants you to succeed. Wouldn't go anywhere else for my training.”
“We've used CTS Training for all our plant and machinery training across our sites in Scotland. Mark always delivers clear, practical training that our operatives actually remember. Flexible scheduling, competitive rates, and certificates issued on the same day — highly recommended.”
“CTS provided confined space, working at height, and vehicle marshal training for our infrastructure teams. Professional, on-site delivery that fitted around our shift patterns. Mark's industry experience comes through in every session — our staff felt confident and properly prepared.”
“Reliable, knowledgeable, and great with trainees of all experience levels. CTS delivered MEWP, excavator, and banksperson training across our remote Highland sites — no job was too remote. Competitive pricing and excellent communication from booking to certification.”
“We've worked with Mark at CTS for over 3 years now — overhead crane, slinger signaller, and manual handling training for our whole site team. Always punctual, professional, and the training is spot on. Our operatives leave with a clear understanding of safety and best practice.”
Where we train
On-site training across Scotland & the UK
We don't run training centres — every course is delivered at your own site, using your machines and your working environment.
Scotland
Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and everywhere in between
Our instructors deliver on your own premises across the whole of Scotland, from city sites to remote yards.
North of England
Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and the North West
Regular on-site courses for civils, construction and industrial clients throughout northern England.
UK wide by arrangement
Your yard or site, anywhere in the UK
We bring assessors, equipment and course materials to you — evenings and weekends included.
Get in touch
Ready to get started?
Send us the course, the number of people and the dates that suit you. Our booking team replies within one working day — or book a slot online and we will confirm it.
- 07909967224
- 7 days a week, 8:30am – 6pm
- CTS, Glengarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland