Looking to become an apprentice (west of scotland area)

[gordonrennie10]

Hi there,

I have recently began the search for an employer to take me on as an apprentice. I graduated from my degree but the work in my degree subject is severely drying up as there have been thousands of lay offs in the sector this year. So I have decided to try and become an apprentice plumber. I have had positive signals off of two prospective employers but I will take it with a pinch of salt for now until something more concrete comes up. I have spoken with John Gillies at SNIPEF and he has made me aware of an intake for this January so the sooner I find an employer the better.

I am 27 years old I have had 2 years experience working as a labourer with a plasterer in terms of on site experience that is it. I have a diploma in sport psychology and a BA in Broadcast Production(TV) I have years of experience in management positions and I am generally a hard worker, determined, reliable, trustworthy, and a fast learner. Is there anyone on this forum from Glasgow or surrounding areas that would perhaps consider taking me on? If anyone would be interested I would be more than happy to take them out for a coffee to discuss it further.

Thanks in advance for any help or advise offered.

Gordon

 

[WaterTight]

And THAT - kiddies - is how you write a thread looking for an apprenticeship.

Good luck!

 

[Guest123]

Why do you want to become a plumber, when you have no experience in this field? Please don't believe the hype about plumbers earning 60k in their first year, it's all hype.

Best of luck to you and welcome to the industry if you do choose to pursue it as a career.

 

[gordonrennie10]

Thank you Watertight.

To be honest with you system3 I think that it is a job that I would enjoy. I have worked alongside a few plumbers and there job interested me more so than other trades. I am not being niave and expecting the world to just fall at my feet. Do you know of anyone in the Glasgow area that might be a possibility?

Thanks for the luck message too.

 

[Guest123]

Glasgow Council are part of a apprentice placement scheme funded by the Scottish Government.Google "Scottish Apprentice Scheme" or make an appointment at your job centre. Also call and ask about this with SNIPEF. If you become long term unemployed, the job centre will pay for your safety card and other courses to help you into employment. Ask EVERYONE! In this world if you don't ask you don't get.

Most small firms are really cutting back just now due to the current economic climate, so unfortunately job placements especially apprenticeships are hard to come by. If possible try to get employment with a large company as you'll have a better chance of completing your apprenticeship. Expect low wages though until you become a tradesman. Even then don't expect humungous salaries! Please don't come on here and advertise your services for free though as I find this derogatory and everyone should be paid their worth. Anyone that takes someone on for free is a chancer and should be kicked in the wee round things.

Best of luck to you and let the forum know how you get on with the Apprentice Scheme.

 

[kirkgas]

there seems to be a lot of money getting promised via the commonwealth games (is it the commonwealth i have no interest in it at all!!!!!) funding which will create places for construction apprentices, you will need to be glasgow based to benefit but look into it

 

[kirkgas]

there seems to be a lot of money getting promised via the commonwealth games (is it the commonwealth i have no interest in it at all!!!!!) funding which will create places for construction apprentices, you will need to be glasgow based to benefit but look into it

 

[gordonrennie10]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have contacted the apprentices department in the council and will hear back from them at the beginning of next week. I might have been lucky today with a few companies that I was recommended too and with some name dropping it might come through so I will keep the thread updated.

Would either of you consider taking on an apprentice?

 

[tamz]

There are very few opening into the trade. The construction industry is in a severe recession as you may have heard. This recession will continue (don't listen to the politicians as they are terrified of the truth) for at least the next 5 years and will never get back to the crazy times of 5 years ago.
Yes there is still work around because even when things are bad and times are hard, people still need to have their plumbing and heating systems seen to but more and more are doing it themselves or waiting until it is unavoidable.
Every man and their dug wants to be a plumber because there is a lot of nonsense and hype spread about in the press (the opinions of a few unknowledgeable journalists) about how good it is to have a trade where we can name our price and the ads for the stupid and gullible on radio etc to fleece them of their redundancy money.
As a 27 year old apprentice, unless you know someone who can get you a break you have no chance unless the likes of a council will take you on.
Up here (Scotland) there is a lot of big stuff going on but you won't get a shout because there are 1000's of experienced guys sitting watching Jeremy Kyle who will be in front of you. IF they start boys they are school leavers.
Small firms workloads rise and fall so it is hard to give a permanent placement and if they had one it will be offered to a boy. Bigger firms are generally not interested either unless you want to work for about £3 50/ hr. That is just the way it is.
Go your own road at great expense and still no one will touch you. You have no experience to be trusted so you have to join the masses of the self employed, bumming around from day to day.

I am an employer and at this time i am stacked out with work. I am fully booked untill mid November and more comes in every other day. But. I am only busy like this because i have laid 3 guys off which believe me was not easy to do. 1 had been with me for 9 years. I was off the tools in the late 90's but i'm back on them now and working as hard as i did 20 years ago just to keep earning a crust.
If i am really busy some weeks i call on one of the guys i laid off (who are still signing on) and pay them cash. Such is the way it is.

I have been working for myself for 16 years and i have always had an apprentice employed. The last one came out his time in the summer and i would normally have started another but not this year. The last "boy" is lucky he is still working as there are times when i think i should get rid of him and take back a more experienced guy but i need to watch the acas thing.

You want the realities of being a plumber i'll tell you them.
You will spend most days stressed out your nut running around like a headless chicken for very little reward but when you go to the pub you forget all that and tell all your mates about the good and the funny things that have happened (usually 10 years ago).
After you have been at it for 20+ years your knees will be shot (no white finger or industrial deafness type cases for that) you will probably be getting arthritic, you will ache in places you never knew were there. If you were fast you may be still kinda fit and slim but your joints will ache every time you move.
You will work for people who look down on you and are on speed dial to claims are us at any opportunity.
All for around £12 an hour ( a bit more if you are really good) when your time is out. Great stuff. The grass is no greener here and most do it because it is all they know.

Having a bit of broadcast experience may be an advantage thou if you ever want to stick some antics on youtube
aprentice plumber trying to change valve. Live !!! - YouTube
Bet they had a good story on the friday in the pub to inspire perspective plumbers.

Btw if you want it enough it will happen.

 

[kay-jay]

There are very few opening into the trade. The construction industry is in a severe recession as you may have heard. This recession will continue (don't listen to the politicians as they are terrified of the truth) for at least the next 5 years and will never get back to the crazy times of 5 years ago.
Yes there is still work around because even when things are bad and times are hard, people still need to have their plumbing and heating systems seen to but more and more are doing it themselves or waiting until it is unavoidable.
Every man and their dug wants to be a plumber because there is a lot of nonsense and hype spread about in the press (the opinions of a few unknowledgeable journalists) about how good it is to have a trade where we can name our price and the ads for the stupid and gullible on radio etc to fleece them of their redundancy money.
As a 27 year old apprentice, unless you know someone who can get you a break you have no chance unless the likes of a council will take you on.
Up here (Scotland) there is a lot of big stuff going on but you won't get a shout because there are 1000's of experienced guys sitting watching Jeremy Kyle who will be in front of you. IF they start boys they are school leavers.
Small firms workloads rise and fall so it is hard to give a permanent placement and if they had one it will be offered to a boy. Bigger firms are generally not interested either unless you want to work for about £3 50/ hr. That is just the way it is.
Go your own road at great expense and still no one will touch you. You have no experience to be trusted so you have to join the masses of the self employed, bumming around from day to day.

I am an employer and at this time i am stacked out with work. I am fully booked untill mid November and more comes in every other day. But. I am only busy like this because i have laid 3 guys off which believe me was not easy to do. 1 had been with me for 9 years. I was off the tools in the late 90's but i'm back on them now and working as hard as i did 20 years ago just to keep earning a crust.
If i am really busy some weeks i call on one of the guys i laid off (who are still signing on) and pay them cash. Such is the way it is.

I have been working for myself for 16 years and i have always had an apprentice employed. The last one came out his time in the summer and i would normally have started another but not this year. The last "boy" is lucky he is still working as there are times when i think i should get rid of him and take back a more experienced guy but i need to watch the acas thing.

You want the realities of being a plumber i'll tell you them.
You will spend most days stressed out your nut running around like a headless chicken for very little reward but when you go to the pub you forget all that and tell all your mates about the good and the funny things that have happened (usually 10 years ago).
After you have been at it for 20+ years your knees will be shot (no white finger or industrial deafness type cases for that) you will probably be getting arthritic, you will ache in places you never knew were there. If you were fast you may be still kinda fit and slim but your joints will ache every time you move.
You will work for people who look down on you and are on speed dial to claims are us at any opportunity.
All for around £12 an hour ( a bit more if you are really good) when your time is out. Great stuff. The grass is no greener here and most do it because it is all they know.

Having a bit of broadcast experience may be an advantage thou if you ever want to stick some antics on youtube
aprentice plumber trying to change valve. Live !!! - YouTube
Bet they had a good story on the friday in the pub to inspire perspective plumbers.

Btw if you want it enough it will happen.

one hell of a post that tamz! spot on though!

p.s do you have a secretary for typing these long posts?:smiley2:

 

[GQuigley67]

sadly i cant offer you an apprenticeship mate i am barely making a living myself

 

[gordonrennie10]

There are very few opening into the trade. The construction industry is in a severe recession as you may have heard. This recession will continue (don't listen to the politicians as they are terrified of the truth) for at least the next 5 years and will never get back to the crazy times of 5 years ago.
Yes there is still work around because even when things are bad and times are hard, people still need to have their plumbing and heating systems seen to but more and more are doing it themselves or waiting until it is unavoidable.
Every man and their dug wants to be a plumber because there is a lot of nonsense and hype spread about in the press (the opinions of a few unknowledgeable journalists) about how good it is to have a trade where we can name our price and the ads for the stupid and gullible on radio etc to fleece them of their redundancy money.
As a 27 year old apprentice, unless you know someone who can get you a break you have no chance unless the likes of a council will take you on.
Up here (Scotland) there is a lot of big stuff going on but you won't get a shout because there are 1000's of experienced guys sitting watching Jeremy Kyle who will be in front of you. IF they start boys they are school leavers.
Small firms workloads rise and fall so it is hard to give a permanent placement and if they had one it will be offered to a boy. Bigger firms are generally not interested either unless you want to work for about £3 50/ hr. That is just the way it is.
Go your own road at great expense and still no one will touch you. You have no experience to be trusted so you have to join the masses of the self employed, bumming around from day to day.

I am an employer and at this time i am stacked out with work. I am fully booked untill mid November and more comes in every other day. But. I am only busy like this because i have laid 3 guys off which believe me was not easy to do. 1 had been with me for 9 years. I was off the tools in the late 90's but i'm back on them now and working as hard as i did 20 years ago just to keep earning a crust.
If i am really busy some weeks i call on one of the guys i laid off (who are still signing on) and pay them cash. Such is the way it is.

I have been working for myself for 16 years and i have always had an apprentice employed. The last one came out his time in the summer and i would normally have started another but not this year. The last "boy" is lucky he is still working as there are times when i think i should get rid of him and take back a more experienced guy but i need to watch the acas thing.

You want the realities of being a plumber i'll tell you them.
You will spend most days stressed out your nut running around like a headless chicken for very little reward but when you go to the pub you forget all that and tell all your mates about the good and the funny things that have happened (usually 10 years ago).
After you have been at it for 20+ years your knees will be shot (no white finger or industrial deafness type cases for that) you will probably be getting arthritic, you will ache in places you never knew were there. If you were fast you may be still kinda fit and slim but your joints will ache every time you move.
You will work for people who look down on you and are on speed dial to claims are us at any opportunity.
All for around £12 an hour ( a bit more if you are really good) when your time is out. Great stuff. The grass is no greener here and most do it because it is all they know.

Having a bit of broadcast experience may be an advantage thou if you ever want to stick some antics on youtube
aprentice plumber trying to change valve. Live !!! - YouTube
Bet they had a good story on the friday in the pub to inspire perspective plumbers.

Btw if you want it enough it will happen.

I appreciate your blunt honesty, I really do. My reality is worse though in the present climate. It will involve near enough apprenticeship time on terrible money to gain experience and then at the end there will be a job at about £9 per hour and no scope to even contemplate working on my own. With the digital advancements every year it is cheaper and easier to make programs and short films which affects advertising revenue which makes it harder for broadcasters to pay the same money to make programs hence why the BBC are going for major cut backs and playing repeats.

The recession has affected the entire job market and their is a massive shift in the world job market and it seems as though not many people are sure where the work will lie in the future. Having said that I came to my decision to chase a plumbing apprenticeship not because of any adverts, articles or false belief on how much they make per year. My decision was based purely on the economics where there is still a massive shortfall of housing in Scotland which may take years to bridge the gap, the trade itself is needed throughout bad times cos if a boiler goes or their are problems in winter they need to get fixed whereas tilers and alike are more decorative and people wont get a new bathroom as easily when they have no work/credit or no worries of keeping there job. I am also intrigued by the work of a plumber as it is very skilled and I have nothing but respect for them.

I have said earlier I don't believe myself to be a niave young guy and I realise that you need to work harder than the rest, turn up earlier and stay later than the rest to succeed. I have no problems with aches and pains at all and the £12 per hour is a damn lot better than working asda for £6, working in a sales job for £250 a week or doing what I have been doing the last few weeks and driving a taxi for 6 days and making £110 for myself. Times are severely hard in every game and haven taken advice from several people I really want this and will get something sorted and I don't mean the short courses.

Thanks though for your honest opinions and insights into your business. I hope it turns around for you and can only say thanks on behalf of the young people in the country for taking on apprentices and not shying away.

 

[gordonrennie10]

And the video is hilarious

 

[tamz]

Good luck in your endeavours to get into the trade. It can be done but is not easy to get a break.

 

[WHPES]

I was originally (and still am if asked to do it) a Masters qualified engineer specialising in pipeline design and installation, fluid transfer and industrial / commercial heating. However I have had to move into the domestic and light commercial market as much of the commerical work has dried up. Pay isn't as good but I spend less time travelling so I do have more of my life back now.