looking to further my skill set by hopefully becoming a plumber.

[OllyT]

Hi ladies & gents.
my names Olly, I'v just turned 31!
im looking to add to my skill set by becoming a plumber.
I'm currently a composite technician/machinist.
im a little bored in my current job & looking for a challenge.
its not something Iv decided over night, it's something Iv thought about for a long time.
I'm currently looking to start the 6035 at my local college which consists of two evenings a week
for 2yrs.
As many of you know there're lots of fast track options out there? But I think the college routes best.
it would be nice to hear your opinions on that? Am I making the right choice?
secondly once Iv completed the 6035 would I be relatively attractive to a local plumbing firm? B/c I'd like to then complete the NVQ side?
im hoping to then move into full time.
Really appreciate some advise, thanks a lot people.
Olly

 

[Chalked]

The only trouble I can see is when you have "qualified" you are sharing the market with 19-21 year olds in the same position.
while you will be keener and be able to drive,
they will be easier to teach ( maybe) and they will be cheaper to employ. At 33 would you work for £5-£6 an hour?

my wife work at the local college and there are 2 full classes in the first and second year apprentices. Not one has a job!
they need one to progress into the third year.

 

[lame plumber]

dont forget the further 2 years to get the nvq 3 and other bits done

 

[gassafe]

It does seem a bigger risk for yourself at your age.

After 2 years of giving up your evenings you may not be able to get a job out of it competing against young government funded apprentices... I'm not sure what your current salary is but if you got a job at the end of your course it would likely be minimum wage as there is still a lot to learn 'hands on' so I would think about it carefully.

In my opinion there are a lot of colleges & fast track places making a lot of money out of plumbing courses these days!!

 

[OllyT]

Two full classes of apprenticeships with no jobs? Surely thats not an apprenticeship then?
Being an apprentice means that you have a "job" that includes gaining recognised qualifications whilst you are working and earning a wage, no?
I'm fully aware that i will be sharing the market with a variety of people including young & experienced plumbers.
i'm hoping to work full time in my current job while being taught over a 2year period, during that 2year period i'm going to work for free with friends within the trade at weekends to gain job experience. Hopefully after completing the 6035 level 2 i'll have a half decent amount of job experience.
if i'm lucky ill possibly join a local firm or friends & get my NVQ2 signed off asap & give it a crack & then look towards the NVQ3...
Hey I'm an Optimist
Could really do with some positive advice/etc here! ha!
Thanks.
Olly.

 

[lame plumber]

changing your career because you're bored isnt a very good reason for doing so imho. I started into plumbing having been in property development and could see that bubble disintegrating, so went down a complete change of income route utilizing what I had learnt over the preceding years. At 43 it was bleedin hard work, I needed income from other sources in order to build my new business and realised soon on that being a plumber wasnt going to keep me in tea and biscuits for long, neither was just working with gas as there are too many out there all trying to earn a crumb so specialized in other areas of heating and plumbing which some 10 years on is keeping my head above water, but I dont have a mortgage on my home to weigh me down and I dont bother with holidays etc. I do have a wife and numerous horses though so money just disappears in that direction, but thats my - sorry her choice think long and hard and see how others are doing before you try for this skil set, as mentioned about 5 or less out of the 45 that started at my college year are still working in the industry that I know of, 2 with their dads and 2 employed and me on my own!

 

[Chalked]

Two full classes of apprenticeships with no jobs? Surely thats not an apprenticeship then?
Being an apprentice means that you have a "job" that includes gaining recognised qualifications whilst you are working and earning a wage, no?
I'm fully aware that i will be sharing the market with a variety of people including young & experienced plumbers.
i'm hoping to work full time in my current job while being taught over a 2year period, during that 2year period i'm going to work for free with friends within the trade at weekends to gain job experience. Hopefully after completing the 6035 level 2 i'll have a half decent amount of job experience.
if i'm lucky ill possibly join a local firm or friends & get my NVQ2 signed off asap & give it a crack & then look towards the NVQ3...
Hey I'm an Optimist
Could really do with some positive advice/etc here! ha!
Thanks.
Olly.

i agree, it's not an apprenticeship if you have no job. The trouble is kids from 16 to 18 have to be in an apprenticeship or full time education.
the colleges fill the courses with people who have no real interest in the job. They mostly see it as a way not to be doing further education.
i think the way you are planning is the best way and gives you a good chance of a full time place when finished.
before you pay any money or go to college. See if you could ( for free) help a local plumber for a week or two. Put up a notice in local plumbers merchants.
It's blooming cold this time of year, so get some thermals.

all the best.

 

[basildog]

You can do it but as others have said it is a long road !
You can do an adult appreniship as self employed and if you have a mate in the trade they may be able to be your mentor ?
Good luck with it only you know what you really want to do .

 

[ladyzplumb]

Hi Olly
I like you am 31 and have just changed careers. It was very difficult financially to make the jump and leave my secure well paid job but I have a very supportive partner who has been the main breadwinner for the past year enabling me to train. I phoned around every local plumber in the area and begged them to take me on for experience. I got £20 per day for 3 months with a guy and in that time managed to pass my NVQ 2 at college. After that I have gone on my own although it's pretty scary as there is so much I don't yet know. . My advice is make sure that you have good support and don't let the knock backs from plumbers get you down. It took me over 30 phone calls to find someone willing to give me a chance... Stick with it, work hard and you can get the course done a lot quicker than 2 years!

 

[OllyT]

ladyzplumb thanks pal! A real confidents boost. I'm hoping my current skills contribute to plumbing, I'm a toolmaker by trade, plus I can weld spray & I'm pretty handy with wood.
Plumbing sounds a challenge & I'm definitely ready to give it a crack.
My current jobs pretty flexible and two evening a week work for me currently, plus weekends working with my friends in the business should build up a nice little bit of on job experience along the way.
you mentioned doing it a lot quicker than 2yrs???

 

[josh123]

Hi all,
in same position Ollyt im 19 and live in Bristol just finished 3 years at college and cant find a plumber for love or money.must have written to every plumber in Bristol and offered to work for free drive myself to jobs just to gain some experiance.
Left CVS at plumbers merchants ect ect.
City and guilds quilifications are useless and was not told untill end of level 2 that college had lost funding from government for the NVQ side of training so seems I have wasted 3 years of my life.
And as for Govs 800,000 aprentiships wot a load of... unless you want to cut somones hair or make beds all day.
good luck Olly I hope you find somone able to help you progress.
cheers Josh

 

[ladyzplumb]

Yes it doesn't take 2 years, I completed it in about 8 months but if you have good diy skills I'm sure you can do it quicker. I was on an apprenticeship course with all the kids at college although I had paid for an adult learning course and as long as you can read a book you can pass the 10 multiple choice exams. The practical classroom work can be done pretty quick too as long as you knuckle down and don't get distracted by the chat in the room. I have to admit tho, if you can multi task and work while you talk, 17 year olds chat in the classroom is hilarious!

 

[PhoenixServices]

If you do it, have the work side of it lined up before you even part with your hard earned cash to a college in my opinion.

 

[ladyzplumb]

If you do it, have the work side of it lined up before you even part with your hard earned cash to a college in my opinion.

Totally agree and make sure the course you pay for includes the NVQ. As ling as you can get 3 different addresses to be assessed at you can get signed off for the NVQ which is what u need

 

[OllyT]

Josh123 looks like you just need abit of luck mate, hang in there! no-doubt itll sort itself out! what have you achieved in the 3yrs at college? qualifications/etc?

 

[OllyT]

Kool. What did you have to get signed off at the 3 different location in order to achieve your NVQ2?
I'm hoping to achieve the NVQ after the 6035, hopefully a few months after gaining my 6035, fingers crossed. thanks olly.

 

[ladyzplumb]

I was signed off on 2 bathrooms as it covers most aspects of plumbing and drainage and then a heating job, putting in and changing rads. The majority of the on site assessment is- have you got a hard hat, a fluorescent jacket and a first aid kit? Right lets take pictures of you with them on a job.

I wasn't assessed working, just had a few photos taken, the assessor was there no more than half an hour.

 

[OllyT]

So after my 6035 along with employment there's a good chance of getting my NVQ2 signed off pretty quick? Thanks again!

 

[josh123]

Hi olly and Guys,
I was told by college we would finish college after 3 year with NVQ 2 and 3 but was told at end of year 2 NVQ funding had been lost?.
So after 3 years of college all class only has city and guilds 1,2 and 3 as there was no on the job training nvq was not possible.I am now looking to start again with an apprentiship although I am doing a bit of work for myself such as bathroom installs, blockages,leaks,ect ect just for family and friends its a shame I cant use the bits i am doing for NVQ but I night be a bit biased marking own work lol.
will keep plooding on no point in giving up and good luck to you too mate
cheers josh

 

[Rabbitman]

You seem to have a good attitude josh123 and i hope it all works out for you, it seemed much easier when i started out.........