gas portfolio

[1967skyblue]

hi all,
i am looking for a bit of advice or preferably some help on achieving my gas portfolio. i completed my C&G L3 in gas in 2010 at Warwickshire college, however although i have managed to gain some gas work experience for my portfolio since 2010, i find being self employed (not full time) and reliant on a gas engineer to sign off my work most customers who are understanding don't want to wait until i have sorted out a time that suits them & my engineer and me for their ch/boiler to be repaid its just easier for them to find another engineer. hence loss in earnings.

from next Monday 29th i have a free week, is their any gas safe engineers in the Coventry or surrounding area willing to let me work with them for that week to help me get more experience and photos & copy's of certs etc for my portfolio (gas fires, cookers & boilers). im not looking for any financial gain, just the chance to build up a good level of experience for my portfolio. all i ask is upon the portfolio completion for you to sign off my work that i do with you.

thank you for taking the time to read this post.

 

[1967skyblue]

cant believe i have offerd my services for a week for free,, all i asked for in return was a little help to get my portfolio sorted

 

[Masood]

cant believe i have offerd my services for a week for free,, all i asked for in return was a little help to get my portfolio sorted

It is difficult getting portfolio experience, but don't give up. Look at it from a different point of view - you're finding it hard to believe that you offered your services for a week and nobody took you up on it, Any GSR taking a portfolio candidate out is taking quite a risk - either watch them like a hawk to make sure everything is done right, and thus be very slow and lose money, or risk mistakes and subsequent liability for them. Don't get angry or hurt, just persevere. Good luck!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

also anyone local to you will see you as a potential competitor

 

[theanalyst]

also anyone local to you will see you as a potential competitor

Bingo. I've been there. Helped a friend out who was made redundant and lives in the same area (let him do his work experience and build his portfolio with us as he was doing a quick course), since then have lost out on a bucket load of work.
Would never do it again, for anyone!!
It's too competitive out there , need to look out for number one, sad as it may be.

 

[1967skyblue]

the thing is i do agree on what you all say however in my own humble opinion if i was able to help in that way with plenty of experiance to pass on i would rather try and get someone to be qualified gas safe, and help remove all the illegal gas fitters out their who i think are a bigger threat to the core buisiness and reputation.

btw not to seem arogant i am 45 and not a school leaver but still have the desire to learn & improve although only been in the industry properly since 2006

 

[PlumbBobBob]

what about looking out of your area for someone then perhaps they wouldn't see you as competition

 

[Orry Clayton]

Seen it happen where people have got their family members through the ACS, and then they have gone off and taken work off them.

 

[jase158]

I have just received gas experience, in return the engineer asked for 2 days sub-contracting (at a low rate) plus one day working for free on gas experience.
May seem bad, but I am getting a regular income and experience of gas.
can fit my own work in on days off from engineer and I now find myself fully booked for next 3 weeks and getting my portfolio started