Looking for Advice

[pgknott]

Hi, my name is Pete I am 46 yrs old and currently I am an HGV Driver for my sins. I have come to a point in my life where I realise I do not want to be driving for the rest of my working life.
I am considering a career in Plumbing and have been in touch with the New Career Skills and have been invited to enroll.I wondered if there was any body who has any inormation about them before I part with my cash, a rather large sum of, at that. Just need to know if they are ok, Thanks

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

do your research mate is what i can say

nothing wrong with doing a fast track course but be realisitic

you wont be earning £80k+ as often advertised

and after the 8 week course you really need to work with an experienced plumber to build on your knowledge

Good luck, this forum has loads of info on it

 

[leelister6]

Read the threads on here before you part with any cash matey. You can't just do a course and become a plumber. It's like you showing me where the keys to your wagon fit in the ignition and then me thinking I'm a lorry driver. Work is scarce and even well established firms are struggling to find work. I would consider doing a part time course or night school to learn the basics while you can keep working and earning on the lorries. If you trawl the forum there are literally hundreds of blokes in your position who have spunked huge amounts on fast track courses only to be left with a "qualification" that's worth nothing in the real world, and end up back doing their original job (if they're lucky!) or sat on the dole £6000 lighter

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi pete good advice above there are plenty of threads on here to keep you busy oh and welcome to the forums

 

[Mowgli82]

Hey Pete,

Im one of the less fortunate few who went and did one of these distance learning courses for around £4k - gave me insight, theoretical knowledge and confidence to have a go, but as ive learnt, nothing substitues experience, and working alongside someone who has it!
Ive been lucky so far and been able to find my way, but when I went to local college to find out about taking qualifications to the next level - they told me would effectively have to start over, although technically I am qualified to work on the tools, its just not the most up to date qualifacation i have so Id have to start over and undtertake the equivalent and fastrack it.
My advice (with 20/20 hindsight) would be to go to local college, course there at night school will set you back much much much MUCH less dough and will be the relevant courses recognised.
But above all else, find someone to work for/alongside and get that expereicne - you dont want to be in someone's home, hoping you have done the install right then finding an epic disaster on your hands...

Good luck - and remember, there are a lot of people out there who will knock you for wanting to retrain, tell you its not worth it, and you will never be a proper plumber etc. but if its what you want to do and you are willing to put in the effort - then you go for it mate. I have, and Im not regretting it one bit.

 

[pgknott]

Cheers Mate, this course is not what I would call extreme fastrack, as I have been told it will take from 12 to 18 months to complete. THere is quite a lot of learn at home with theory, then 6 to 7 weeks doing hands on stuff.The brochure looks all legite with NVQ level 2 for plumbing and heating and loads of BPEC qualifications in various elements. I understand that it would not be a stroll in the park to earning a great wage to start thats why this course I have chosen is also for a Renewable Heat Installer. THe other good thing on this particular course was I would be able to carrying on working the lorries to keep the money rolling in, then just take time off for a week of practical stuff, at each particular stage. I almost sound if I am convincing myself!! But as u know it is a lot a lot of dough to part with, hence why I am on here! The other so called benefits are that in the price is your tools and they supposedly help you with finding work. As a ahole it sounds good but it is cold feet setting in with apprehension of parting with that much money.
It is great that you are finding your feet and don't regret doing it, with more positive vibes from others like yours then I could be nearer to taking the plunge (forgive the pun).
Thanks again for the advice.
Pete

 

[leelister6]

Not trying to put you off matey,I just don't like to see people waste a load of their hard earned and end up back where they started £6000 worse off. This type of course sounds a lot better than the 4 weeks and you're "qualified" route. If you can get a plumber to take you on jobs (it will more than likely be unpaid!) to gain experience then you will learn a hell of a lot more a hell of a lot quicker. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[dontknowitall]

The cost of the course and the tools is only part of the expense.

The biggest expense is keeping yourself going when there's no work coming in. Last month was appalling around here and the merchants were really quiet. I had two or three small jobs. A chap I work with (plumbing for around 8 years) phoned me yesterday. For 3 years he has been working 6-7 days a week but he said he only had about 7 days for August and has now started doing various maintenance jobs until the plumbing picks up again. The lifelong plumber who lives opposite me has been at home nearly all summer - great for him though because he's got more time to do up one of his houses so then he can sell sooner.

Another expense is losing customers to other plumbers. When new, you'll come across a few jobs that are too much for you. The customer will find another plumber and that plumber has just found himself another person who is unlikely to come back to you. This is not a cost on your income but a loss for your future income.

What happens when a customer phones to say "My heating won't work."? Another course to learn boilers and then you have to have qualifications, which means another course or two to give you the qualifications necessary to work on boiler.

Other expenses are not necessarily huge but when put together they mount up. Public liability insurance is a good £300. Van insurance another £300 at least. A decent cordless drill will set you back £200. A van will be at least £3,000 or around £150 a month for two years then diesel at another £100 a month or more.

Weighed up against this is the jobs coming in. You might have an initial flush of friends who you can do jobs for to begin with but after that it will be fixing a tap in one week, then a WC in another week, then another tap. A tap will bring in £40 or so, less the cost the petrol to get you to and from the job.

I've been going for 4 years after a fast track course and my quiet weeks bring in £200 gross (nearer £80 net after all costs). I'm not complaining but that is the reality.

Going self employed after a fast track course can work. It worked for me and a few others on this forum. However, we started at least 3 years ago and managed to build up a customer base to help carry us through the last 18 months or so. Equally, in the last few weeks, one or two on the forum have been saying goodbye.

I'm not saying don't do it, nor are the people who've replied so far saying that. It's just that if you do go for it, don't come running back to us and start blaming us that we didn't warn you!!

Whatever you choose, best of luck!!!

 

[leelister6]

Exactly! If we sound negative, it's because it can be soul destroying sat by the phone while the bills keep dropping through the letterbox. I have over 20 years pipefitting/welding and plumbing under my belt and although I really don't want to get the big spanners out and go pipefitting through an agency, If things don't pick up then it's back to working away to get some brass in. When it's good it's great but when it's bad it's shyte!

 

[Paul Cockhill]

HI

Yes I agree with whats been said. I took the New Career skills route but be careful they will train you up to a NVQ 2 level but it will cost another £1000 to get the NVQ. Experience and confidence are important and if you can get some work with another plumber that is ideal. New Career Skills are good in that during and after your course they will try and place you with somebody who has graduated through the course already and it is great to go out on jobs with experienced people and start to learn the ropes. If I were you keep with your trucking and do the distance learning. I went self employed and some weeks your really busy and others you are really quiet, you need to be prepared for that. It is worth also going on a tiling course and registering with letting companies once you have qualified.

best of luck

Paul