Apprentiship or full course

[Ben15stoke]

Hi i am currently in year 11. I have 5 gsce including maths english and science what i achieved a year early in year 10 . I was wondering what is better. Should i get an apprentiship in plumbing or do a full 1 year course of gas and installation at my local college . I have the required grades for both of these courses. I have a plumber who my family knows and he said once i have done my year at college he would offer me a chance to join him. Im kind of learning towards the full course but not 100% sure yet

 

[Deleted member 25704]

You may be in a very good position, but my advice would be have a chat with the family friend and ask if you could start work with him as an apprentice.

The government has just announced that your employer may be in for a grant:

Government support for apprentice and training schemes | News | Heating and Ventilation News

Many of the full-time plumbing courses are problematic to say the least, so avoid these if possible. If your family friend takes you on, then you will join the day release group and your learning of plumbing will be more understandable, because you will be getting the work based learning experience. Even if he says he can only give you two days a week - jump at it.

Thus, try to get him to give you a chance now - not in the future.

Good luck!

 

[tamz]

If you are offered the chance of an apprenticeship, jump at it. You will be put through all your plumbing NVQ's and probably gas ACS as well, for free and you will have a job and wages.

If you went for a plumbing course at collage it will learn you very little and make you no more employable.

 

[Blackcatgas]

Apprenticeship every time, I was going to sugest staying on and doing your A levels then Uni but nowadays unless your dads Richard Branson.....
Fair play to you Ben, best of luck mate, let us know how you get on.

 

[jase158]

Apprenticeship
Apply to loads of companies they are looking for school leavers, don't leave it 3-4 years as you will regret it.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Cheers i think the apprentiship is the way forward . Its better to get a skill for life than spend thousands of pounds and come out with nothing. Do any of you think i will stand a good chance of getting an apprentiship if i cant get on with the plumber i no . Im thinking of applying for a building firm as a back up plan

 

[jase158]

Try plumbers first, they will give you more experience, builders will be more labouring rather then plumbing.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Okay thanks

 

[jase158]

forgot to mention though, keep your options open, but don't be taken for a mug.
2 years making tea and getting tools is fine, but 2 years carrying bricks and painting walls aint gonna help you be a plumber.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Should i be looking for a level 2 apprentiship or would it be better to do a level 3 advaced apprentiship

 

[jase158]

May have to start at level 1 construction, level 2 city and guilds tech cert in plumbing, level 2 NVQ in plumbing, Level 3 tech cert in plumbing, level 3 NVQ in plumbing, then ACS.

Not sure what you mean by level 2 apprenticeship, but apprenticeship should cover whole lot.

You need to be looking at 5 year apprenticeship with Gas Safe registration at the end.

If you get offered 2 year apprenticeship then take it, you can then move to somewhere else if need to or they may keep you on after 2 years. like I said keep your options open.

 

[jase158]

Just realised what you mean, colleges won't let you go straight onto level 3 (unless you have proven experience) best to start at the beginning in my opinion.

Level 2 covers basic plumbing
Level 3 advanced plumbing,
So like i said best to do it all.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Yes the apprentiship at the local college is a 2 year course . I am thinking of doing gas after the plumbing

 

[Ben15stoke]

Thanks for the help . Yes i will apply for the level 2

 

[tamz]

If you can get someone willing to take you on as a proper apprentice (it is called an indentured apprenticeship) you will have a 4 year apprenticeship which when completed will leave you fully qualified to move into the big world should you choose to.

I know from speaking to some youngsters that there is a lot of nonsense and bad advice being given out to young people by school careers over the choices they should make.
Times are hard atm and not a lot of companies are taking on but if you are willing to put in the effort it will be rewarded.

Good luck in your efforts. I hope it works out for you.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Cheers i will put the effort on . The plumber who we no who might take me on said he will basically train me and then once qualified he will employ me full time. He all ready has 5 lads working for him and he has just qualified a lad who was an apprentice for him. He says he will be ready for one by the time march comes . So im in a pritty good sitation . I will keep working and keep my options open .

 

[Ben15stoke]

Just out of curiosity . I no the min wage is £95 a week do they increase that wage as time goes on . Do you work 4 days a week as i no you go college 1 day a week or do you do you work based learning a few days a week

 

[tamz]

You are in a better place than most with an offer from this guy. I would take it up if the offer is followed through but as you said, keep you options open.

 

[jase158]

Just out of curiosity . I no the min wage is £95 a week do they increase that wage as time goes on . Do you work 4 days a week as i no you go college 1 day a week or do you do you work based learning a few days a week

Depends on your employer, they might be generous they might not, speak to them. but think £95 per week, if you can stay at home, will be £95 a week with no bills, then you will be a lot more employable then other people who have done "fast track" courses. most plumbers will not employ "fast track" plumbers, so you will apply for a job, 50 will apply but you will be the one who gets the job. Set you up for life.

So look at the bigger picture.

 

[tamz]

Just out of curiosity . I no the min wage is £95 a week do they increase that wage as time goes on . Do you work 4 days a week as i no you go college 1 day a week or do you do you work based learning a few days a week

There is no minimum wage for apprentices.
This is the rates you can expect to make in your years training but if the company is not affiliated to the JIB they will pay different rates.
[DLMURL]http://www.unitetheunion.org/pdf/IssuedPayRates20112012Prom163A3.pdf[/DLMURL]

How the college stuff goes varies. Some do day release where you work 4 days and have 1 day at college but others do block release where you work for 3 weeks then spend a week in college.

 

[jase158]

There is no minimum wage for apprentices.
This is the rates you can expect to make in your years training but if the company is not affiliated to the JIB they will pay different rates.
[DLMURL]http://www.unitetheunion.org/pdf/IssuedPayRates20112012Prom163A3.pdf[/DLMURL]

How the college stuff goes varies. Some do day release where you work 4 days and have 1 day at college but others do block release where you work for 3 weeks then spend a week in college.

College told me that you need to be paid £95 per week, be insured and working at least 3 days a week, don't quote me on this, best place to go is employer and local college.

 

[Ben15stoke]

Thanks guys you have really helped . I will also try and do foriegners the Odd weeked once i have picked up some of the basics like taps and that. As soon as iv Got enough money i am thinking of going into my own buisness with the help of my dad. He works in computer security and gets companies to contract with his company he works at . He said he will work on the phones trying to get contracts aslong as i get the workforce

 

[tamz]

Learn to walk before you run :wink:

 

[Ben15stoke]

I will that what i said before was only the dream scenrio. Haha.

 

[fuzzy]

Hi i am currently in year 11. I have 5 gsce including maths english and science what i achieved a year early in year 10 . I was wondering what is better. Should i get an apprentiship in plumbing or do a full 1 year course of gas and installation at my local college . I have the required grades for both of these courses. I have a plumber who my family knows and he said once i have done my year at college he would offer me a chance to join him. Im kind of learning towards the full course but not 100% sure yet

defo an apprenticeship. everyone gets a full time course
if grades good and no job go the professional route