Gas Safe Engineers - Manchester Training/Apprenticeship Needed

[rubberlips]

Hey everyone. :smile5:

35yr old male just coming to the end of nvq level 3 gas. College was mostly theory and basic pipe skills, but they did pre-warn us we should know a competent engineer who we could shadow and gain experience with. I have shadowed an engineer just recently, but he has now taken on a family member, and I have to look elsewhere.

I have made flue holes, notches in beams, sawn the flue down to size, filed it down, changed radiator valves, installed pipes into clips, bit of soldering, picked up on tool skills, worked in crawlspaces, etc.. All of this was under supervision of course.

So now I need an engineer who would be willing to take me on, so I can get competent enough to install 4 boilers installs or 4 boiler services, so I can be assessed by an ACS examiner. Afaik, I have 12 mths to do this within, once the nvq certificate comes and I apply.

Obviously I am willing to work for free to gain the experience, but can only manage 3/4 days a week, as I will have to bring money in from elsewhere on the other days. If I can get a decent wage, I could give 6/7 days up, but from reading around, I very much doubt anyone is willing to.

If there is anyone on here, or anyone who knows someone, would be very glad if you could point them in my direction.

Thanks for reading, and I pray something comes my way. :smile5:

 

[kris]

Welcome along rubberlips , theres alot of guys in similar circumstances as yourself, but good luck mate, alot of us on here could probably be done with an extra pair of hands , but keep looking something will turn up,

 

[Ermintrude]

Manachester? It's a bit too far for me goodluck

 

[northstar]

where are you doing your course at ?

 

[Killy Bing]

What are your plans after completion of the acs?

 

[village idiot]

Manachester? It's a bit too far for me goodluck

Welcome to the mad haws rubberslips.
It will help if you start by telling us where you are based, YES???

 

[rubberlips]

where are you doing your course at ?

North Trafford College.

 

[rubberlips]

Manachester? It's a bit too far for me goodluck

Thankyou

 

[rubberlips]

What are your plans after completion of the acs?

I was hoping to work with someone and gain experience, as I hear engineers are learning all the time, and hoping to either get into servicing or boiler installs and I think two engineers can bang them in and out quicker than one. BIIIG BUT, I am also on this forum to see other engineer's views on where I can go from here, as you lot know the game inside out. Doesn't seem like anyone wants to take anyone on from where I stand, or maybe I am too cynical.

I have read a few posts on here, and I thank the site owners for bringing like minded folk together.

I have a few landlords/estate agents in the family, and was initially thinking of doing services or trying to get work with them, but my bat senses tell me, that landlords are out there raping engineers on price.

Very good question Killy Errm was also looking into careers, seen meter changer salaries for 40 grand, and old to new boiler installs for like 100 grand salary, but from reading on here, I have a lot of experience to gain, and was hoping my peers could advise.

Was in the retail game before this, and finally decided to want a trade I could take anywhere. Had a bit of a bad life, and I am fighting to amend it

 

[rubberlips]

Welcome to the mad haws rubberslips.
It will help if you start by telling us where you are based, YES???

Errrm, not sure if you are being trying to be funny, as this is the internet, but I am based in Manchester as the title says, and you have also quoted my location from another member...

 

[Killy Bing]

Hmm slash those wages unless you are very very VERY good.
even then you wont be hitting 100k unless you're running the company yourself.

the reason i ask is many people just want their portfolio, they then leave, set up on their own or work for a competing company.

you might think that free labour is a beneficial reward to the engineer in return for evidence but in reality 19/20 you're a hinderence far more than a help.
most engineers write an apprentice off for the first 6 months before they pull any real weight, regardless of age.

you have to ask yourself why should someone train a competitor
You have to find a way of making the deal sweet.

 

[ckyens]

RE:Rubberlips


Did you get yourself any experience or know of any gas safe engineers (agencies) who are looking for an extra pair of hands?

I could do with some help too in finding a work placement.

Regards

 

[rubberlips]

I did a little with a guy, but not sure if it will be enough for the portfolio. One guy got his training with council gas engineers specialising in boiler changes, that sounded the best. I've not been too well, that's another story. So still looking, wish I'd worked with someone before joining college tbh.

 

[ckyens]

Re: rubberlips

These fast track gas courses that you pay thousands of ££ to do.

The student has to find their own workplacement or work experience thats the awarding bodies advice i.e city & guilds or citb construction skills.

A lot of gas fast track training companies say they will get you a placement in order for you to hand over your money.

Im in a position now where I have no placement after finishing the training course stage 1!

The course I took I have to now compete 30 gas safe jobs at 30 different properties whilst being mentored by a gas safe registered engineer.

Without the 30 job port folio I cant sit the final ACS exams!

Again Ive approached a lot of small local companies and other big gas companies for help and they dont want to know purely because they see you as competition and their general feedback is why should they help someone out full stop.

Let this be a warning to anyone thinking of handing over their hard earned savings. There are a lot of companies out there who will tell you anything to get your money.

 

[jase158]

North Trafford College.

I'm out, too close to the Red Devils!!
Not that I am anywhere near you anways!!