Career in Plumbing

[Tim.A]

Hello, I'm looking into becoming a Plumber and how to go about it, would really appreciate your thoughts...

I'm 32 years old and considering starting the City and Guilds 6129 in September this year.

My question is: Once completing the above course, would it be possible to then gain the NVQ 6089 by myself, if I were to become self-employed, or what would be the chances of gaining a half decent wage from being employed by a Plumbing company?

Do you think that after completing the 6129, I would be experienced enough to go out and start plumbing on my own?

Many Thanks.T

 

[johnmess]

Johnmess waits for the torrent of abuse about not being real plumber becuase you have not done an apprenticeship.

Ok now I got that off my chest.

Its really about finding out what will work for you personaly for me it's train 4 trade skills but there are many many courses out there.

I would caution you on thinking that the course will leave you pre-paird for working on your own. On saying that i do not know what you have done in the past.

Instead use the course as a start into the industy, Make sure you enjoy doing plumbing as it will not be cheap to do a course and I will be something you might have to do for the rest of your working life.

What ever you chose to do you have my backing for what its worth.

Ohh and like I have said you will be trolled to death don't be disenchanted by it do what you think is right for you as at the end of the day its your life not ours.

 

[Tim.A]

Sorry I should mention that I will be training in my local college and the courses are over several years.

I dont like the idea of a fast track course, I want to learn the trade inside out which is why I want to go the college route.

 

[Dave]

John..we appreciate your comments but remarks like yours will intice troll like responses.....

We are trying to get this forum to be a more pleasent forum to visit....so lets try to get on and not encourage others to have a pop back.....

Good luck tim...and welcome..

 

[johnmess]

Sorry I should mention that I will be training in my local college and the courses are over several years.

Ahh well that will probably be good unfortunetly for me it was not an option or I would have taken that route myself.

Not sure if it will pre-pair you for working on your own but I am not sure what the course includes, I just know that the course I am doing will not give me the skills to work on my own to start with.

Dave thanks you are right I only thought about that after hitting the post button. Please acept my apoligies

 

[Tim.A]

Any thoughts guys?

 

[Proplum]

Hi Tim,
All I can tell you is from my own personal experience of changing my career at the age of 47 and doing an intensive full time course for the City & Guilds 6129 level 2 and then carried onto the City & Guilds 6129 Level 3 with ACS Gas Training.
I spent a long time looking at quite a number of different intensive course providers and being long in the tooth was not sucked in by a number who quite clearly were just after my money with the offer of a job after the course. Course time that could take me over a year and with charges if you do not pass there exams
To answer you direct question about going self employed after completing the 6129 level 2. I did and I must admit it was a bit of a shock from the Plumbing Academy's workshop environment to doing a job in a customer’s property. But, when you have some a couple of jobs your confidence grows and you realise that you know a lot and Joe public knows not a lot. Case in point called out to a customer who had changed a radiator DIY Style from B&Q and had fitted a TRV at both ends of the radiator.... When you have done your course Tim you will realise what this means... or you should!
You must realise the limitations of what you will be able to do after doing the C&G 6129 Level 2 course which, in my case was general domestic plumbing jobs from fixing taps, changing hotwater cylinders, installing radiators on existing systems, guttering, lead work (don't like) to installing a bathroom no problem at all at this level. This is what you will be able to do and you can make a living from this I was earning around £150 to £200 a day self employed and as The Plumbing Academy, as part of there course, provided a great lecture on going self employed, how to get work and what prices to charge it gave me a great head start to succeed and I have.
I have recently completed my City & Guilds 6129 Level 3, ACS Gas Training, Unvented certification, Water Regs Certification, Energy Efficiency Course, NVQ2 and NVQ2. I am on the path to building my Gas Portfolio for CORGI (or should I say the new Gas Safety Register) certification. If you want to be trained to tackle most if not all Domestic Plumbing work and want be able to become CORGI Registered for Gas then you should do the 6129 Level 2 and 6129 Level 3 with NVQ2 and NVQ3 + ACS Gas training... then you will be able to earn a very nice living... But you will have to work sometimes long hours and weekends and I wish I had done it years ago. Sorry to everyone for such a long post but it might help someone else. Good luck Tim!
Ps don't do any course less than 12 weeks full time for 6129 level 2.

 

[Tim.A]

Thank you Proplum. You've been very helpful.
T.

 

[Aqua Mechanica]

Hi ya, thought I'd chip in.

I'm at the end of my 6129 Plumbing Technical Cert Level 2 and 6089 NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing; after two years at Bexley College in Kent - I have enjoyed my time there and learnt a hell of a lot during that short period of time.

I would say that working in the industry from the very first day of my course has aided me massively as any hands on experience in any field would. Desperately seek out a company to get this experience as it will aid you massively and be invaluable. you will definately find work in the london area should you brave the very low wage. Best bet is to get a job as a Plumbers mate or as a labourer for a plumbing company. just network and find friends who are in the industry or people who can point you at people in the industry, literally comb the area for work.

It takes a lot of dedication but is very easy to dedicate yourself if this is something you are enthusiastic about like I was and still am.

I am now 28 years old and started plumbing in May 2007 aged 26 after quiting work in sales for a bathroom company. Plumbers always rang me for help and it annoyed the hell out of me that they asked so many questions when they were on two and a half times my wage.

Nothing beats the feeling of being a skilled trade with intricate knoweledge (I did a bricklaying course in 2001 and left after 1 and a half years through complete mind numbing boredom) and also the feel of a job well done and being able to work anywhere you want and seemlessly pull work out your backside when you simply tell someone what you do for a living and they say "Oooh, I need a plumber!".

This is a great career to get into, especially at this point in history as the new Carbon Emission regulations come into play and push new and exciting technologies and big ideas out onto the market.

I found the Technical certificate to be a good challenge as it teaches you the basics of plumbing and associated subject and then tests you, whereas the NVQ is simply a portfolio of the work you complete in the real world to collect evidence to say you can do what you claim to do and thus extremely easy if already competant in the field. literally it has taken me four weeks to fill in and get my NVQ folder signed off (took a lot of time and effort but i wanted to get in done and dusted)

My college does a Plumbing Intermediate and advanced course which means that it is the 6129 and the 6089 combined and both are completed at the same time.

if you have any questions or need any help what so ever, feel free to message me here and I will happily help you out or mentally prepare you for what you are about to face.

Hope this helps you

Ben ;-)

From another post I did: -

Anyone looking to become a plumber should aim for these

Firstly (4 Years Day Release or Fast Track Company in about 24 weeks in total): -
6129 Plumbing Technical Certificate Plumbing Level 2
6089 City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 Plumbing
6129 Plumbing Technical Certificate Plumbing Level 3
6089 City & Guilds NVQ Level 3 Plumbing

Then (The Short Courses): -
Unvented Domestic Hot Water Storage Systems
Water Regulations Certification
PART L Energy Efficiency
PART P Electrical competence Scheme
Disinfection of Water Systems
Solar Domestic Hot Water Heating

Your Gas : -

Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Gas Fitting Operatives (Known as the ACS), which includes: -

-CCN1 Core Domestic Gas Safety Assessment, Natural Gas (Compulsory and first of all)
-CoNGLP1 Generic Fuel Change Over Core, Natural Gas to Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) (optional)
-CoLPNG1 Fuel Change Over Core, LPG to Natural Gas
-CKR1 Gas Cookers (optional)
-HTR1 Gas Fires and Heaters (optional)
-WAT1 Instantaneous Water Heaters (optional)
-LAU1 Laundry Appliances (optional)
-CEN1 Wet Central Heating (optional)
-DAH1 Ducted Air Heaters (optional)
-LEI1 Leisure Equipment (optional)
-MET1 Dometic Gas Meters (optional)
-CKHB1 Range - Cooker Boilers (optional)
-HWB1 Water Boilers (Swimming Pool) (optional)
-DFDA1 Forced Draught Gas Burners (optional)

Then register yourself with Corgi (or Capita from April 2009)

Thoughts for the Future: -

*NVQ Level 3 in: -

-Supervision
-Estimating
-Buying

*NVQ level 4 in: -

-Design
-Service and Maintenance Management
-Site Management
-Owner Management, Business management and Development

Building Services Engineer Career Path (Building Services are Water, Gas, Electric, Air Conditioning, etc)

*National Diploma in Building Services Engineering
*National Certificate in Building Services Engineering
*Higher National Diploma in Building Services Engineering
*Higher National Certificate in Building Services Engineering

And buy this book!!

Plumbing NVQ & Technical Certificate Level 2…Amazon.co.uk: JTL, John Thompson: Books

 

[Tim.A]

Thank you Aqua Mechanica, very helpful.
T

 

[Xengstu]

Great Post Aqua Mechanica, clear and easy to follow with lots of good information.

Maybe the mods should sticky it?

 

[Proplum]

You are very welcome, if you nned any other info drop me a line.
Am just about to take my ACS Gas Exams next week so, keep your fingers crossed for me...

 

[sirgordonzola]

Proplum, great post about your history with learning and working, it really gives us newbies more hope. I wish you all the luck in the world, and posts like yours are more the type we need to read on here, instead of these miserable posters.

 

[Proplum]

Proplum, great post about your history with learning and working, it really gives us newbies more hope. I wish you all the luck in the world, and posts like yours are more the type we need to read on here, instead of these miserable posters.

Sirgordonzola, thanks for your kind reply. Just to update I have passed my ACS Exams and have applied to get my CORGI Registration last Friday..... My business doing great and I will be taking on a career changer who has just recently passed his City & Guilds 6129 course from The Plumbing Academy in Edenbridge Kent. I know he will be well trained as I have done the course myself. So, it can be done, getting into plumbing using a so called fast track route and there is plenty of work out there if you know how to market your company which, again and sorry to bang on about them The plumbing Academy course taught me how to do this. In summary starting from scratch with little or no experience I have my C&G 6129 Level2 Technical Certificate, NVQ2, Unvented Certificate, Water Regulations Certification, Energy Certificate, Unvented Certificate, C&G 6129 Level 3 Tech Certificate, NVQ3, ACS Gas Training and Certificate and hopefully CORGI Registration by the end of this month! This has taken me around 9 months in total with 12 weeks on a full time course (C&G 6129 Level 2 course) then 20 weeks on The Plumbing Academy's 20 week, 2 days a week (worked the other 3 days of the week) C&G 6129 Level 3 and Gas course. I have spent around £13,000 a lot I know but well, well worth it! Own boss is great and as it is snowing today I don't think I shall bother going to work and no boss to call! Just looked in the mirror and went.... No work today I think!
If anyone needs any help or advice drop me a line I will be more than happy to help, if I can.

 

[HTB]

Well done Plum, congrats on the ACS.

 

[Tim.A]

Gee thats alot of money.
I hope it pays for you.

 

[fuzzy]

you wont do well with an attitude like its snowing i wont work. how long before you pay your 13k back?

 

[Waxer]

Hi Tim,
All I can tell you is from my own personal experience of changing my career at the age of 47 and doing an intensive full time course for the City & Guilds 6129 level 2 and then carried onto the City & Guilds 6129 Level 3 with ACS Gas Training.
I spent a long time looking at quite a number of different intensive course providers and being long in the tooth was not sucked in by a number who quite clearly were just after my money with the offer of a job after the course. Course time that could take me over a year and with charges if you do not pass there exams
To answer you direct question about going self employed after completing the 6129 level 2. I did and I must admit it was a bit of a shock from the Plumbing Academy's workshop environment to doing a job in a customer’s property. But, when you have some a couple of jobs your confidence grows and you realise that you know a lot and Joe public knows not a lot. Case in point called out to a customer who had changed a radiator DIY Style from B&Q and had fitted a TRV at both ends of the radiator.... When you have done your course Tim you will realise what this means... or you should!
You must realise the limitations of what you will be able to do after doing the C&G 6129 Level 2 course which, in my case was general domestic plumbing jobs from fixing taps, changing hotwater cylinders, installing radiators on existing systems, guttering, lead work (don't like) to installing a bathroom no problem at all at this level. This is what you will be able to do and you can make a living from this I was earning around £150 to £200 a day self employed and as The Plumbing Academy, as part of there course, provided a great lecture on going self employed, how to get work and what prices to charge it gave me a great head start to succeed and I have.
I have recently completed my City & Guilds 6129 Level 3, ACS Gas Training, Unvented certification, Water Regs Certification, Energy Efficiency Course, NVQ2 and NVQ2. I am on the path to building my Gas Portfolio for CORGI (or should I say the new Gas Safety Register) certification. If you want to be trained to tackle most if not all Domestic Plumbing work and want be able to become CORGI Registered for Gas then you should do the 6129 Level 2 and 6129 Level 3 with NVQ2 and NVQ3 + ACS Gas training... then you will be able to earn a very nice living... But you will have to work sometimes long hours and weekends and I wish I had done it years ago. Sorry to everyone for such a long post but it might help someone else. Good luck Tim!
Ps don't do any course less than 12 weeks full time for 6129 level 2.

Thanks for all the info, that is fantastic. Who did you train with? Oops The Plumbing Academy..

£13000? That'll take a couple of years to earn back?