Fast track gas course

[Pickwickpick]

So these training centres are only good if you were to go out on your own self employed

Unless you have personal contacts in the industry then pretty much yes, there are so many of these training firms churning people out that the qualification is not what is in demand, its experience. Someone inexperienced could cost an employer way more than they bring in and they're not going to take that risk when they can employ someone with a track record.

As @scott_d says, the exception to that is people upskilling from plumbing. This is what I'm in the process of doing and I'd say the group I've been in is split roughly 50:50 between those that are already either gas/water and those from other backgrounds (they have do do an extra 4 weeks). The guys that are not from gas/water background are pretty demoralised at this stage, a couple of them seem to be planning on just doing landlord certs (which I think is wrong) but seeing as you now have to be on the register for at least 6 months before you can do your cookers & fires, I think they're going to struggle.

 

[Scott_D]

Unless you have personal contacts in the industry then pretty much yes, there are so many of these training firms churning people out that the qualification is not what is in demand, its experience. Someone inexperienced could cost an employer way more than they bring in and they're not going to take that risk when they can employ someone with a track record.

As @scott_d says, the exception to that is people upskilling from plumbing. This is what I'm in the process of doing and I'd say the group I've been in is split roughly 50:50 between those that are already either gas/water and those from other backgrounds (they have do do an extra 4 weeks). The guys that are not from gas/water background are pretty demoralised at this stage, a couple of them seem to be planning on just doing landlord certs (which I think is wrong) but seeing as you now have to be on the register for at least 6 months before you can do your cookers & fires, I think they're going to struggle.

Is that a recent change?

 

[Dougie2019]

Unless you have personal contacts in the industry then pretty much yes, there are so many of these training firms churning people out that the qualification is not what is in demand, its experience. Someone inexperienced could cost an employer way more than they bring in and they're not going to take that risk when they can employ someone with a track record.

As @scott_d says, the exception to that is people upskilling from plumbing. This is what I'm in the process of doing and I'd say the group I've been in is split roughly 50:50 between those that are already either gas/water and those from other backgrounds (they have do do an extra 4 weeks). The guys that are not from gas/water background are pretty demoralised at this stage, a couple of them seem to be planning on just doing landlord certs (which I think is wrong) but seeing as you now have to be on the register for at least 6 months before you can do your cookers & fires, I think they're going to struggle.

Thanks for the advice i thinking now the course would be a waste of money if i couldnt get i job after the training

 

[Pickwickpick]

Is that a recent change?

Yep applies to anyone who started training after October 2018. There's also now a minimum 10 week wait between finishing MLP (managed learning programme) and doing CCN1.

 

[Pickwickpick]

Thanks for the advice i thinking now the course would be a waste of money if i couldnt get i job after the training

No probs, maybe look into tiling as @townfanjon advised. The courses should be shorter (the tilingforum is a great resource), you'd still probably have to go self employed (although ask one the tiling forum I could be wrong) but its a much more viable option with limited experience than gas work and tilers seem to get paid decent money.

 

[Dougie2019]

Thanks for the advice think i will need to rethink and look futher into this before i book any courses

 

[Pickwickpick]

Best of luck with it all mate.

 

[Dougie2019]

Best of luck with it all mate.

Thanks

 

[Old Account]

Post #2 should say top right.

So true

 

[Aire]

If you really want to get into gas then you really need to work along side a good and competent enginner, believe me I know. I didn't go the usual route and although I'm employed and gas registered, i wouldbt class my knowledge as the same as most engineers and it has held me back. Have you tried British gas? I think they train their engineers up fairly quickly compared to the traditional route and would be a better choice than those training centres.

 

[Dougie2019]

If you really want to get into gas then you really need to work along side a good and competent enginner, believe me I know. I didn't go the usual route and although I'm employed and gas registered, i wouldbt class my knowledge as the same as most engineers and it has held me back. Have you tried British gas? I think they train their engineers up fairly quickly compared to the traditional route and would be a better choice than those training centres.

Yeah I have spoke to British Gas they just said keep looking on our job page for apprenticeship there never mention if they would take someone on who does a course like that have you done a course like that or did u go down a different route?

 

[Aire]

Yeah I have spoke to British Gas they just said keep looking on our job page for apprenticeship there never mention if they would take someone on who does a course like that have you done a course like that or did u go down a different route?

As far as I'm aware, British gas only like to use enginners they've trained up themselves.
The route I went down was long winded. I did 2 years of full-time college followed by getting a work placement with a gas registered company. I stayed with the firm for around 7 years doing alot of domestic gas installation etc but in that time my boss never allowed me back to college to complete my nvq2 and kept promising my I would get gas qualified through a fast track course instead. That never materialised and I left and joined my current construction firm. They have been good to me and paid for me to get my gas qualifications but it took them 4 years to actualy do it and in that time i forgot alot of what id learnt with my previous company. I believe it was around £4k for me to do it. I completed a Small portfolio followed by an access to gas course, which was literally a 2 day 1 on 1 assessment which basically bypassed my nvq3 so I then had the minimum requirement to do my acs which was another 2 days of training and 3 days of assessment. I'm greatful I'm qualified but I'm sure some enginners on here would be horrified at how easy I got it compared to how they did.

 

[Dougie2019]

As far as I'm aware, British gas only like to use enginners they've trained up themselves.
The route I went down was long winded. I did 2 years of full-time college followed by getting a work placement with a gas registered company. I stayed with the firm for around 7 years doing alot of domestic gas installation etc but in that time my boss never allowed me back to college to complete my nvq2 and kept promising my I would get gas qualified through a fast track course instead. That never materialised and I left and joined my current construction firm. They have been good to me and paid for me to get my gas qualifications but it took them 4 years to actualy do it and in that time i forgot alot of what id learnt with my previous company. I believe it was around £4k for me to do it. I completed a Small portfolio followed by an access to gas course, which was literally a 2 day 1 on 1 assessment which basically bypassed my nvq3 so I then had the minimum requirement to do my acs which was another 2 days of training and 3 days of assessment. I'm greatful I'm qualified but I'm sure some enginners on here would be horrified at how easy I got it compared to how they did.

If British Gas were to train you up you I would think they would want someone younger rather than someone in there 30s that’s why I was wanting to do fast track course as the apprenticeship takes four years and most company wouldn’t employ a 30 year old apprentice the training course am looking at gives you 7 weeks work placement to get your portfolio built up

 

[Chuck]

I'm sure some enginners on here would be horrified at how easy I got it compared to how they did.

You showed a sustained interest in gas work over more than a decade and did the training and passed the tests as and when your circumstances permitted. It doesn't seem like you had it particularly easy to me.

 

[Aire]

You showed a sustained interest in gas work over more than a decade and did the training and passed the tests as and when your circumstances permitted. It doesn't seem like you had it particularly easy to me.

I have committed to the trade since I left school at 16. But as I've mentioned in another thread, my portfolio consisted of 6 boiler installs and that was enough to do my access to gas followed by acs. In my opinion I didn't feel I knew enough to pass, and if the assessment was closed book I likely wouldbt have done.

 

[Aire]

If British Gas were to train you up you I would think they would want someone younger rather than someone in there 30s that’s why I was wanting to do fast track course as the apprenticeship takes four years and most company wouldn’t employ a 30 year old apprentice the training course am looking at gives you 7 weeks work placement to get your portfolio built up

The trouble you may have is completing that portfolio in 7 weeks and that all comes down the company they place you with and how many different scenarios they can give you. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, some learn quicker than others. But £7500 is alot of money so I would thourougly look into the course and get it in writing what you will end up with at the end of the course.

 

[Dougie2019]

The trouble you may have is completing that portfolio in 7 weeks and that all comes down the company they place you with and how many different scenarios they can give you. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, some learn quicker than others. But £7500 is alot of money so I would thourougly look into the course and get it in writing what you will end up with at the end of the course.

They have emailed me over all the information what you do on the course and what you get out it if you pass i know its a lot of money to do the course i just weigh up the pros and cons if i could get a job after the etc and its 6 months course going to be enough especially when apprentices do it in four years and are still learninng after that

 

[Aire]

They have emailed me over all the information what you do on the course and what you get out it if you pass i know its a lot of money to do the course i just weigh up the pros and cons if i could get a job after the etc and its 6 months course going to be enough especially when apprentices do it in four years and are still learninng after that

Well if you pass and struggle with employment you can always register with gas safe yourself and become self employed. You'll find the first year after qualification the hardest as you try to get your name out there but if your committed then nothing should stop you making a success of it. Just don't expect it to be easy that's all

 

[Dougie2019]

Well if you pass and struggle with employment you can always register with gas safe yourself and become self employed. You'll find the first year after qualification the hardest as you try to get your name out there but if your committed then nothing should stop you making a success of it. Just don't expect it to be easy that's all

I know it wont be easy am up for the challenge just dont want to be waste a lot of money down the drain thats another thing see if i passed can i apply to be gas safe or do i need a company to do that ? Thanks for the advice

 

[Aire]

I know it wont be easy am up for the challenge just dont want to be waste a lot of money down the drain thats another thing see if i passed can i apply to be gas safe or do i need a company to do that ? Thanks for the advice

What qualification does the course say you will leave with upon completion? That will determine whether you can register with gas safe.

 

[Dougie2019]

CCN1 – This is the core gas safety certificate which all gas operatives must have to work in the domestic gas industry.
CPA1 – Characteristics of combustion and use of a flue gas analyser.
CENWAT – Installation, service repair and commission of domestic central heating boilers and water heaters.
CKR1 – Installation, exchange, disconnection, servicing and repair of domestic gas cooking appliances.
HTR1 - IInstallation, exchange, disconnection, servicing and repair of gas fires and wall heaters.

Qualifications and Training Added to the Course:
Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems – Installation, servicing and maintenance of unvented hot water systems from 15 to 500 litres.
System Design and Fault Finding – Our own system design and fault-finding course aimed at giving you a better understanding of how central heating systems and boilers work.
• Basic Plumbing
• Basic Electrical Appreciation
• Safe Isolation

 

[Aire]

Well if you come out of the course with the mentioned qualifications then yes you will be able to register with gas safe yourself and become self employed. I would recommend that as a last resort though and least try to get a couple of years with a firm to get your experience up.

 

[Dougie2019]

Well if you come out of the course with the mentioned qualifications then yes you will be able to register with gas safe yourself and become self employed. I would recommend that as a last resort though and least try to get a couple of years with a firm to get your experience up.

Thats what i was looking to do get in with a firm get some experience and take it from there do i not need to be with a firm to register as gas safe ? Is there any other qualifications you would recommend?

 

[Aire]

No you don't. If you've got the qualifications you can trade as a sole trader and register with gas safe yourself. As for other qualifications, if your sticking with domestic you shouldn't need anything else. Depending on where you live you can do lpg if there is demand for it in the area.

 

[Dougie2019]

No you don't. If you've got the qualifications you can trade as a sole trader and register with gas safe yourself. As for other qualifications, if your sticking with domestic you shouldn't need anything else. Depending on where you live you can do lpg if there is demand for it in the area.

The plan is just to do domestic and see where that goes tbh am hopeing to get a job with one of the bigger companies to get the experience