Advice Required please

[willfairclough1]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone out there could help me out:

I have decided that i would like to train as a plumber and was wondering what the quickest way about this was. I have researched the internet and I have today contacted OLCI regarding their courses. I have been advised that the quickest route would be to take the 6129 course, followed by an ACS. The course would be 8 weeks full-time. Upon completion of these i could then start up my own business as a plumber, or work for someone else to start off with.
I have no experience whatsoever and plumbing is all new to me therefore i am a little sceptical that say 12 weeks training sounds to good to be true. They have advised me that C&G recommend that the 8 weeks timescale is sufficient thterfore that is what OLCI work to.

If there is anyone out there who could help and advise as to what route to go down i would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Will

 

[obseen16]

hi mate,

I did my 6129 about a year ago and i can tell ya it doesnt teach you everything you need to know to go out there and start up a business, i went full time with a local plumber and i am still finding out new things almost on a daily basis at times.

if you can get into a local college you will take longer to do the course but it will not burn a hole in your pocket like olci will. my local college is offering me the level 3 for £1400 over 2 years instead of about £6k at places like olci and btsc.

good luck either way mate.

 

[mikef68]

Hi there Will. Obseen’s right in some ways, it wont teach you everything, and you’ll always come across new things, but the course is good place to get started. I couldn’t realy take the time to wait for a college so I did 8 weeks intensive. That’ll get you the skills you need for the job, and the rest will come with experience I’d say.

 

[obseen16]

Hi there Will. Obseen’s right in some ways, it wont teach you everything, and you’ll always come across new things, but the course is good place to get started. I couldn’t realy take the time to wait for a college so I did 8 weeks intensive. That’ll get you the skills you need for the job, and the rest will come with experience I’d say.

Well said mike. how long have you been going for mate? did you go self employed or get in with another plumber?

 

[leakylea]

nice to see all you fast trackers having a bit of a love in!
Please be aware the experienced lads might like myself often treat you with a bit a sceptercism,been doing it now 27 years, iwould like to believe i am not too bad at it really, i truly believe the government are trying to flood the trade with men in an effort to create instability and produce a cut throat attitude to pricing
Without your experience you will find yourself,at no fault of your own pricing jobs far too low and giving a price to suit,theres a locaol lad tpo me, who to be fare is not bad at his work to a standard, but i have put right two jobs and in as conversation with him and his client was gob smacked that he was working his nuts off for a third of my cost with the excuse he wanted work!
He,ll get all the work he wants but will have to work three times harder to earn my wage

god my spelling is off today, apologies

 

[buffy27]

ya , i agree with lee.i am at it 5 yrs and had the luxury of serving my time with a brilliant plumber.he was an animal for work with a great head.

what do ye [fasttrackers]do when ye come across things that ye don t know about. lads there is so much in plumbing.as an example-my dad is great with his hands . he can plumb no problem,what i mean by plumb is he could fit a bathroom,run 1st fixings,swap a copper cylinder,hang rads.but lads he's basically a very good d i y er.in my opinion thats what the fast track courses achieve.in my opinion u need yrs and yrs of plumbing experience to advertise as a self employed plumber.come on lads get real here. i wish all in the trade luck,but to be out there with a good reputation luck does not come into it,knowledge knowledge knowledge.i understand these lads are trying to earn a living and admire their will.
i regard these courses as a mere first rung on the ladder to self employment.u need yrs and knowledge some thing i don t have enough of and i have a college education prior to serving my time.[engineering diploma].so get real fasttrackers,u must get with a good plumber for at least 3 yrs.

 

[BDS]

Been on my own now for 2 1/2 years plumbing (not gas) and tiling and doing really well loads of work etc and make a good living,i did one of said courses (never again) most of time i used my own tools,and wasn`t even shown some of the theory stuff that we needed for the practical assesments etc and so on(oh and stupid old idiots) ,so bad experience for me,(AND A MASSIVE HOLE IN MY POCKET WHERE MONEY USED TO BE) that said there is a couple of good one`s out there BUT believe me guys you`ll not start learning till you start working thats when your career starts,,,,i was in a good situation when i started cos i`ve friends in the trade(6),from 1 of my friends and his dad who between them have 60 years XP,and then other friends who are X BG,etc etc so if i ever needed to bend an ear at all there was always some1 there to help out,and i always pass the work on that i cant do (gas,part P) etc..but because i`ve had help if i`ve ever needed i always try and help anybody i can but dont be fooled in to thinking you`ll know it all after a few weeks,plumbing isn`t EASY ,if this forum is as good as the tilers then we`re here to help in anyway shape or form without critism as to how long or how you trained.as long as you train properly (not a week or 2 course) do the job properly and dont set out to rip the general public off or give them substandard work then good luck in your new career.

 

[REDSAW]

just like learning to drive,
you pass your test now your ready to learn.