hiring gas engineers

[plumb_know]

HI everyone,

well i have started expanding my business and after hiring some plumbers i am now ready to hire my first gas engineer, but i am not sure on a couple of things:

1) what sort of wage to get a decent/experienced gas engineer (based in kent, south east England), i am thinking £40k per annum, PAYE, holiday, pension we supply van, phone & PPE - mon-fri work - this seem decent?
2) how does it go with registering appliances with gas safe, i guess i will need to change status with gas safe and pay for business membership? but does this then mean that the company is held responsible if the fitter was to make mistake?? or does defect with installation still fall on the fitter? as i wont be there to check every flue joint etc
3) I have never been employed as gas engineer as put my self through tests, does the company usually supply gas analyser, pay for calibration & renewal of certs etc?? or would it be reasonable for the employee to pay for this them self as i will be hiring someone who has all this already in place before starting with the company??

I am still new to employing & management so appreciate any advise/wisdom anyone can offer.

Many Thanks

 

[Aquarius]

1, seems ok to me, but I’m north west based, and more money than I’m on now.
2, Not entirely sure how to answer all of it. Whenever there’s an issue where I work (social housing), eg where a riddor has been submitted by Cadent (esp) for exampl, the gas manager would bring the engineer(s) involved on that job to ascertain what exactly happened. If it was a flue joint badly installed, if it’s 1st time offence, then perhaps a written warning - you can jump discipline’s depending on the severity.
3, That all depends on how you advertise the job (I think), must have own tools including a calibrated analyser. Ours are supplied, calibrated, and pat tested, as are power tools (but company issued).

hope this is of some use

 

[plumb_know]

Thanks for this aquarius

 

[mfgs]

£40k per year is a good salary I would say. £35-40k seems to be the going rate.

When you have other engineers working under your company registration, when you register the appliance online you select the engineer who did the work. The fitter would be liable for their mistakes, but obviously reflects badly on the company too.

Yeah usually the company will supply the analyser, pay for calibration and also renewal of certs. I expect employees to supply all standard tools to do their job. I supply specialist tools which I class as core drill, analyser etc.

 

[plumb_know]

Thanks mfgs, i pay my plumbers 32k mon-fri, if i am supplying analyser and renewing certs then most likely make it £38k

thanks for the info

 

[mfgs]

Just out of curiosity, where do you look for staff to recruit? Its the one thing I struggle with the most. Finding good plumbers/gas engineers is very difficult.

 

[plumb_know]

I put advert on indeed and usually put it on facebook. But i only do the free adverts, found 2 good plumbers so far but did have to wade through a lot of rubbish to get them.

But do find there is a shortage of good plumbers, but thats why we are busy. I have just started advertising for this position now so will see how much interest i get.

 

[Aquarius]

I put advert on indeed and usually put it on facebook. But i only do the free adverts, found 2 good plumbers so far but did have to wade through a lot of rubbish to get them.

I take it you can’t upskill these 2?

 

[Harvest Fields]

If 32k is going rate for experience. What is nearly qualified going at?

 

[plumb_know]

HI Harvest, not sure. when my apprentice is out doing jobs, most likely be on 22k for first year or so until experienced

Aquarius, not got the time to train them up as we are needing some one yesterday. plus i wont be able to monitor them so need someone who has experience

 

[mfgs]

If 32k is going rate for experience. What is nearly qualified going at?

What do you mean by nearly qualified? As in still at college?

 

[mfgs]

I put advert on indeed and usually put it on facebook. But i only do the free adverts, found 2 good plumbers so far but did have to wade through a lot of rubbish to get them.

But do find there is a shortage of good plumbers, but thats why we are busy. I have just started advertising for this position now so will see how much interest i get.

I have tried indeed in the past and just get a load of time wasters or people applying who don’t have the required experience etc asked for.

Ive had so many people claim to be good plumbers/gas engineers with 10 odd years experience who can’t put a pipe up on the wall level.

 

[Harvest Fields]

What do you mean by nearly qualified? As in still at college?

As in just passed all test either through apprenticeship or fast track

 

[mfgs]

Personally if a fast track course I would be putting them on minimum wage as the qualifications mean nothing without experience.

Just out of an apprenticeship you will be looking at 20-25k. Although they all expect to be on 30k minimum instantly.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Personally if a fast track course I would be putting them on minimum wage as the qualifications mean nothing without experience.

Just out of an apprenticeship you will be looking at 20-25k. Although they all expect to be on 30k minimum instantly.

Thanks

 

[Scott_D]

Sorry doesn’t answer your question but I would be interested to know would be expect from someone you have employed on £40k. I’m self employed and have been thinking about going employed.
How many small jobs or services a day?
How long for a combi swap?
How long for a system conversion?

 

[mfgs]

Scott, for me I would happily pay 40k a year for a good gas engineer. Someone who is a very neat installer and who has service and breakdown knowledge. Would need to have knowledge of bathrooms and be able to first and second fix to a high standard

My combi swaps all have a 1.5-2day allowance. Unless it’s a boiler that uses the same jig etc. 1 day for the install, 1 for the flush.

System conversions can vary massively, but 3-5 days depending on what’s involved. Would generally put an improver on the job too which would then speed it up.

Services I normally book 6-7 per day. Locations etc can affect this but try to plan for them all to be local.

Quality of the work is key for me.

 

[Scott_D]

Scott, for me I would happily pay 40k a year for a good gas engineer. Someone who is a very neat installer and who has service and breakdown knowledge. Would need to have knowledge of bathrooms and be able to first and second fix to a high standard

My combi swaps all have a 1.5-2day allowance. Unless it’s a boiler that uses the same jig etc. 1 day for the install, 1 for the flush.

System conversions can vary massively, but 3-5 days depending on what’s involved. Would generally put an improver on the job too which would then speed it up.

Services I normally book 6-7 per day. Locations etc can affect this but try to plan for them all to be local.

Quality of the work is key for me.

Sounds fair
I always allow 2 days for a combi swap to flush and tidy up properly.
Everyone seems to expect a 1 day swap

 

[Stanios]

Would be really interested to know if you had any success. We are London based, I've advertised for Gas Engineer on Indeed since November (5 months now) and Facebook for 2 months spending over £200 so far on ads. I am not kidding you out of just over 50 appliants I've only had two people who even remotely fit the frame. Everyone else fel into three categories : commercial experience, experience abroad, very little experience (less than 3 yrs on tools). The role came with absolutely everything in terms of tools van etc. and 35k plus standard holidays.
I realised too late, after looking at what competitors were advetising that everyone else is offering made up wages. This is an example of what I am talking about Really not sure under what circumstances they would up the pay by 50% from 40 to 60k but just have a hunch that its BS.

 

[mfgs]

I really don’t know what the answer is. The only way I have ever been successful in finding employees is by recommendations from people I know. They may have told me someone they know is looking to leave their current job etc.

 

[plumb_know]

HI everyone,

Bit surprised by lack of interest in the job to be honest, only had couple of applicants. one was not experienced enough the other i am trialling on Thursday.

I was speaking to BG engineers a month or so back, they are all leaving so cant see them paying that wage. ones i spoke to were on £32k plus bonuses for selling CO2 alarms etc.

Will let you know how it goes, might be looking for a new plumbing engineer as well shortly, current one is becoming un-reliable and popped in to see him at 4:10pm today and he had gone home and left two weeping ball-o-fix valve. he tried putting silicone on iso bit and decided to stuff some towels round it until the morning. took me 20mins to replace both, not said anything yet he will just see 2 new valves on it tomorrow morning, see if i get a call

 

[Harvest Fields]

HI everyone,

Bit surprised by lack of interest in the job to be honest, only had couple of applicants. one was not experienced enough the other i am trialling on Thursday.

I was speaking to BG engineers a month or so back, they are all leaving so cant see them paying that wage. ones i spoke to were on £32k plus bonuses for selling CO2 alarms etc.

Will let you know how it goes, might be looking for a new plumbing engineer as well shortly, current one is becoming un-reliable and popped in to see him at 4:10pm today and he had gone home and left two weeping ball-o-fix valve. he tried putting silicone on iso bit and decided to stuff some towels round it until the morning. took me 20mins to replace both, not said anything yet he will just see 2 new valves on it tomorrow morning, see if i get a call

Did you get a call? Sat waiting for your response. Ha ha ha .

 

[plumb_know]

Harvest, yes apparently you can turn invisible as you were on site all along whilst i was there as didn't leave until 4:30 and was no leak also i just wanted to waste my evening putting 2 valves on for no reason at all. Towels were just there to keep the pipe warm haha

 

[mfgs]

How did you get on with your search? I am still struggling to find anyone who is half decent.

 

[plumb_know]

Hi Everyone,

Hired a gas engineer through a agent in the end who approached me. attitude good and good at the servicing & fault finding but lacks in general plumbing and speed of installing. But as his attitude is good i can work with him.

Also got a plumber starting july from same agent, more experienced age bracket but seems to have the right attitude we will see how he goes.

But on speaking with people and feedback from the agent plumbers now seem to want around 40k so dont know what gas engineers are expecting around 50K i guess.

Will have to put all my prices up again if this is the case so i can hire the better engineers.

At the moment i am just seeing constant money leaving my bank account for all the improvements and systems i need to get in place to get everyone working how i want.

Anyone else had any luck??