A couple of weeks ago i did a Hetas (Solid Fuel) training course. Due to the rise in the number of customers, friends and family members that have been asking for solid fuel installations and advise i decided it was time to get qualified and learn more about what i can offer my customers rather than passing work on to other companies. Having only installed a couple of solid fuel systems as an apprentice with a experienced engineer i did not really have enough knowledge to answer the questions i was being asked or comment of existing installations.
After a little research on the Hetas Website HETAS : Homepage i decided i wanted to do two course's. H003 Dry Appliance Installer and H004 Wet Appliance Installer. They have full details of all the course's and training providers on the Hetas website. This once i register with hetas will allow me to install dry and wet solid fuel appliance's and be able to self certify.
The training center i went to was Gastec at CRE, based in Cheltenham Welcome to Kiwa GASTEC at CRE , mainly chosen due to its location and training dates. I am happy to report i was not disappointed with either the course or the training center. The course was very simular in structure to the ACS gas course i have done over and over again. Basically it included training, written and practical assessments. Assessments are the same, 100% correct answers on the written papers and practical difficulty was about the same level as the gas. You can use all your course books and notes in both assessments.
One thing i did not know untill i got to the training center was that its basically next door to the Hetas head office. They also not only provide training but also do product testing for manufactures among other things (see the website). Which i think showed in how knowlegable the trainers were.
All reference material, books are provided as part of the course for you to keep. Basically Hetas's own reference materials including copies of the building regulations that apply to the course. Also provided was lunch, very nice sanga's thanks to Mavis and free tea and coffee.
Our trainer for the 4 days was a very plesant man named Martin. A walking encyclopedia, but not in the boring way. One of the better trainers i have had, he made the atmosphere in the class room relaxed and as informal as you would want. He made what i suppose could have been a boring few days fly by. I normally go to sleep doing these things, its just what i do, but i kept awake and alert.
Rather than spend his time trying to force rules and regulations into our brains we were treated like adults and actuall encouraged to discuss things and ask as many questions as possible. It was very enjoyable.
On assessment day i was confident i had been given what training i needed to do well. Only 1 answer wrong on each written paper first time round and got through the practicle with no major problems. You can either put that down to me being very inteligent :smug: (yeah right) i think it was more down to how well the course was run. The assessor a man named Andy was very calm and positive, unlike some i have experienced on other courses which helped keep any nerves down.
The course cost a total of £1120 including vat. I dont know how that compares to other hetas training providers?? so i cant give much of a view on value. I paid so i was happy enough. I went on the course with a mate, he arrange the course and checked other centers prices and they were simular in price from what he told me.
So if your think about getting into solid fuel, etc... you will not go wrong doing your training course at Gastec at CRE. They also offer other Hetas courses, bio mass, Chimney Sweep,Flue Design. Take a look. Either way if you want to get into solid fuel installs i highly recommend the hetas training courses.
Welcome to Kiwa GASTEC at CRE
HETAS : Homepage
mods, if this is in the wrong forum please kick it over the the right one pleeeese!
After a little research on the Hetas Website HETAS : Homepage i decided i wanted to do two course's. H003 Dry Appliance Installer and H004 Wet Appliance Installer. They have full details of all the course's and training providers on the Hetas website. This once i register with hetas will allow me to install dry and wet solid fuel appliance's and be able to self certify.
The training center i went to was Gastec at CRE, based in Cheltenham Welcome to Kiwa GASTEC at CRE , mainly chosen due to its location and training dates. I am happy to report i was not disappointed with either the course or the training center. The course was very simular in structure to the ACS gas course i have done over and over again. Basically it included training, written and practical assessments. Assessments are the same, 100% correct answers on the written papers and practical difficulty was about the same level as the gas. You can use all your course books and notes in both assessments.
One thing i did not know untill i got to the training center was that its basically next door to the Hetas head office. They also not only provide training but also do product testing for manufactures among other things (see the website). Which i think showed in how knowlegable the trainers were.
All reference material, books are provided as part of the course for you to keep. Basically Hetas's own reference materials including copies of the building regulations that apply to the course. Also provided was lunch, very nice sanga's thanks to Mavis and free tea and coffee.
Our trainer for the 4 days was a very plesant man named Martin. A walking encyclopedia, but not in the boring way. One of the better trainers i have had, he made the atmosphere in the class room relaxed and as informal as you would want. He made what i suppose could have been a boring few days fly by. I normally go to sleep doing these things, its just what i do, but i kept awake and alert.
Rather than spend his time trying to force rules and regulations into our brains we were treated like adults and actuall encouraged to discuss things and ask as many questions as possible. It was very enjoyable.
On assessment day i was confident i had been given what training i needed to do well. Only 1 answer wrong on each written paper first time round and got through the practicle with no major problems. You can either put that down to me being very inteligent :smug: (yeah right) i think it was more down to how well the course was run. The assessor a man named Andy was very calm and positive, unlike some i have experienced on other courses which helped keep any nerves down.
The course cost a total of £1120 including vat. I dont know how that compares to other hetas training providers?? so i cant give much of a view on value. I paid so i was happy enough. I went on the course with a mate, he arrange the course and checked other centers prices and they were simular in price from what he told me.
So if your think about getting into solid fuel, etc... you will not go wrong doing your training course at Gastec at CRE. They also offer other Hetas courses, bio mass, Chimney Sweep,Flue Design. Take a look. Either way if you want to get into solid fuel installs i highly recommend the hetas training courses.
Welcome to Kiwa GASTEC at CRE
HETAS : Homepage
mods, if this is in the wrong forum please kick it over the the right one pleeeese!
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