Gas training recommendations?

[Hotair]

Hi All,
Am new to this forum so please go easy on me!
Am considering 'retraining' and am interested in gaining qualifications to be 'Gas safe'. I have worked in the industry but was many years ago.
I have specialized in refrigeration since about 1994 but feel I would like to get back into the heating game.

I hold a Britsh gas certificate of achievement for "Gas combustion/safety" which I took in 1993 so my employer at the time could adhere to the regulations in force at the time.Would this be any 'use' now.
I also read somewhere that refrigeration C & G allowed for some exemptions but cant recall where I saw this; if anyone could advise on this I would be grateful.

Have seen many 'training' company's advertising on the net but not sure how to identify which would be best. I would also need 'on the job' ( for portfolio)training set up for me & some 'training establishments seem to arrange this.
Think Ive found a good one .

Finally, how long does it realistically take using this route to be Gas safe registered?

All replies gratefully recieved

Hotair

 

[Jeff Taylor]

There are many companies out there offering you the route into a 'lucrative' business. But it's only lucrative if you're earning. The jobs are definitely out there, just Google for a Gas Safe jobs.

The hardest part though is building your portfolio and without it you're stuck. You've got two choices here.

You can look around for a friendly engineer to oversee and guide you through the process. But although a cheap option it can take a lot of time making it not so cheap in real terms. They may not have the jobs required or the time to dedicate to you.

Or you can go to a training organisation to help you. But even these do not always provide a dedicated service, they take your money but may not really speed the process up. Do a lot of phoning around and get a provider who will give you a trainer AND crucially the jobs to go with it. When you build a portfolio there are certain minimum criteria so you need to cover them all in as short a time as you can.

Ask them if you will get a trainer from day one who will be with you all the time and have access to the range of jobs required and also ask how long it would realistically take with them.

Remember also that you need a portfolio of evidence, so you need someone to show you how to build and present it in the best possible light.