Looking to retrain

[wolverine79]

Hi, I'm looking to retrain as a plumber, I don't have any experience, im 32 and want to get into this field of work, I'm unsure how to, I've looked the work from home course but as I have a young family money is tight and I can't afford the 6000 pound that they want to do the course, can anyone help and give me advise on how and where I can train, I'm in the Portsmouth area. Thanks for you time Paul.

 

[pippins]

Hi, I'm looking to retrain as a plumber, I don't have any experience, im 32 and want to get into this field of work, I'm unsure how to, I've looked the work from home course but as I have a young family money is tight and I can't afford the 6000 pound that they want to do the course, can anyone help and give me advise on how and where I can train, I'm in the Portsmouth area. Thanks for you time Paul.

Hi Paul.

I'm in the same position, I was caught between 2 minds whether to do a 5-7k course or attend evening classes, basically down to the length it takes to gain the qualification.

Financially, the evening college class £410 is a no brainer I have also sent off a few emails, made a few calls to try and gain some work experience - I think potentially you could go the same way, it's experience that counts, although qualifications are required, I believe fast track is frowned upon in the industry.

Good Luck!

Chris.

 

[jtsplumbing]

If I was you i would be looking to retrain as somthing else, Plumbing is proberly the worst thing to get into, worst paid and very few jobs about, dont belive what you read about Plumbers earning 50/60k more likely to be 18k thats if your lucky enough to get a job,

 

[Kyle87]

Don't spend 6000 on a course. So many people regretting it. Try your local collages. You can do the level two diploma but you will need an employer. You used to just need a plumber to give you access to the work site. Work under his supervision to gain an nvq. But now im told it has to be full employment. This could be wrong but it is what I'm told by my college.

 

[chris watkins]

Why is it that people think "I know I will train to be a plumber" O & it wont cost any/much money & I wont need to spend two much time learning it either (couple of weeks should do it). Why O why do they think it is so easy to do ??? I know no other trade that is so complected, requires so any different skills sets to do to any sort descent standard & yet everybody thinks they will be able to master it!!
Are there people out there that think in the same way "a know I will be - a plaster, electrician or a carpenter"
It is starting to pee me off !!!!

Just wait until they can get a City & Guilds 6035 plumbing & heating diploma to Level 2 / 3 at there local college (no plumbing work away from college required) there will be nothing stopping them, as they will be fully qualified. GOD HELP US !!!

 

[SimonG]

I'm afraid I'm going to be harsh here, as I would like to be an astronaut, it's just a pipedream.


Face facts, in your current situation it will be impossible, you want to be a plumber, but you want to keep earning to provide for your family.

Pick one cos you won't do both.

Oh and welcome to the forum.

 

[SimonG]

Just wait until they can get a City & Guilds 6035 plumbing & heating diploma to Level 2 / 3 at there local college (no plumbing work away from college required) there will be nothing stopping them, as they will be fully qualified. GOD HELP US !!!

Trouble is Chris is that it's probably just around the corner.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Tote'y agree Chris, all they see is someone driving around in a new van thinking thats looks like an easy job, only got to learn how to join pipes together, and Ive already fix'd Mums tap washer ! Why even bother going to college just get a van ,Hand full of tools & off you go! be earning thousands B4 you know it, and all paid in cash (Acording to MP's) May pop up local hospital for a job as a Doctor tell them iv'e done a 2 week fast track course and no -one can read my handwriting do you think I will get the job ???

 

[chris watkins]

O yes Simon, C&G rushing it through now so that the colleges will have it for September, places on these courses are already sold. (dont try to look for it on their web site though as it is not there).
All this to ensure that the revenue for the colleges & training providers can be maintained & sod the rest of us.

 

[chris watkins]

Tote'y agree Chris, all they see is someone driving around in a new van thinking thats looks like an easy job, only got to learn how to join pipes together, and Ive already fix'd Mums tap washer !

I have a pipe dream, it's to drive a new van !! not even a big one, still one day a.

 

[Simon F]

Hello Paul and :welcome: to the forum,
if you have read this far the previous posts will have left you less optimistic than you were before.
sufficient to say it would not be an easy venture to entertain.

You say you have no experience with plumbing,
my suggestion then would be before spending loads of money or booking a long course, try and get some work with a local plumber or book yourself onto a short course maybe over say a week or a couple of weekends.
That way it wont cost the earth, you might quickly decide that you hate it or that you want to go the distance.

 

[mountainman]

Problem is that some aspects of plumbing are really simple.
That perception is being used to measure the whole business and ancillary trades.

 

[mjt]

The fact is on some jobs too is that you actually do 15% plumbing the rest can be joinery, plastering, tiling ..... Needlework, basket weaving etc etc

 

[SimonG]

Where's the op gone?

 

[tamz]

Just wait until they can get a City & Guilds 6035 plumbing & heating diploma to Level 2 / 3 at there local college (no plumbing work away from college required) there will be nothing stopping them, as they will be fully qualified. GOD HELP US !!!

Things have gotten bad enough in the past few years as they are Chris but god help the customers of the future if this becomes a reality.
What kind of "educated" people think up this rubbish as an improvement to standards and more so just shows what little influence the trade bodies are excreting?
Just another way to undermine the trades and keep the cash flowing.

 

[chris watkins]

What kind of "educated" people think up this rubbish as an improvement to standards and more so just shows what little influence the trade bodies are excreting?
Just another way to undermine the trades and keep the cash flowing.

Accountancy (bean counters) run colleges (& government) now days & if the college don't make money their little empires will fall, so if they tell C&G they must have a course to teach. They do not care about our trade, as for trade bodies I am not so sure they understand or care to much, it is the plumbers on the ground who are finding out just how bad it is, by the time the rest of the population does there will be nothing left of the plumbing (apprentice trained) trade. Rise up brothers & fight, I say !!
but seriously we do need to try something, any suggestions ???

 

[Veggie Dave]

The fact is on some jobs too is that you actually do 15% plumbing the rest can be joinery, plastering, tiling ..... Needlework, basket weaving etc etc

Heh! That certainly came as a bit of a shock to me! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[gasmanrob]

tell you what give me your 6k ill provide you with work experience and training for 1 year, youll be better trained then any that come out of a fast track course you'll have a portfolio for when you wanna do your gas.

This will solve my cash flow problems and you can sleep at night knowing your money wasnt wasted on a 2 week this is how to tighten a compression fitting course.

Oh and :welcome: