Plumbing and Heating course advice needed

[leek1]

Plumbing and Heating Course Advice Needed

I am looking at a career change and in need of some advice! Bearing in mind i will need to do this course whilst still having a full time job ( i mostly get a couple of days off during the week 2 being the minimum and 4 being the max).

Can someone recommend a course that will

1. Enable me to learn in my own time/days off from a full time job
2. Not get ripped off with false information from a sales person
3. Enable me to gain an NVQ qualification so that i can apply for jobs as a plumber/heating engineer


Many Thanks
Lee

 

[gassafe]

What career are you in at the moment? And why choose plumbing...?

 

[SimonG]

What career are you in at the moment? And why choose plumbing...?

Because this game is a doddle and we get paid a fortune.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Woody ?

 

[kay-jay]

Gaining an nvq won't land you a job pal.
Only realistic option is to go it alone as self employed.

 

[mountainman]

Because this game is a doddle and we get paid a fortune.

Keep it to yourself Simon or everyone will want to do it.

 

[mountainman]

I received an email from a job site the other day, headed thus.

Train to be a Gas Engineer then Earn £1000 per week

I'm sure that some suckers will fall for it!

 

[leek1]

I am currently working as a Satellite Tv Installer which i have been doing for the past 5 years.

Back in 2003 i worked with my dad who was a heating engineer for just under a year as a plumbers mate which i enjoyed before i joined the armed forces for 4 years. Now that all these years have gone past and in a job that has become less satisfying i am looking for something that i will enjoy doing that could also open up more opportunities in the future.

 

[plumb_know]

If your dads still got his company or you have someone that will give you a job after then colleges offer part-time and evening courses. But I would not take the course unless you can guarantee a job after, most people that were in my class couldn't complete their NVQ as no one would take them on as a apprentice or even as labourer. I am finding it hard to get a job with my NVQ'S as don't have gas safe and not got much heating experience.

Hope this helps mate
Good luck

 

[PlumbBobBob]

of the ten on my course i only know for certain three are still on the job, one being me.

 

[Bushwacker]

If i had a choice, i wish i had been able to stick with data telecoms. Its easy and less stressful + more money unless you're smashing it as a self employed plumber.

NVQ level 2 will be the course you need to get yourself off the ground. I just wasted a year at college doing a level 2 tech cert diploma. If you wish to go for the NVQ level 2 you need to find a company willing to take you on as an apprentice (which will benefit them as they get a £1500 grant for the course) or pay for the course yourself which is about £1000.

Also the best safest and cheapest option would be to try and get on an evening course at your local college.

 

[NickiSnell]

Hi Lee, . My basic advice would be to do a lot of research first and make sure you visit the centre before paying a penny. To be able to class yourself as a 'plumber' you will need to achieve a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating, the most popular qualification being the City and Guilds 6189. However to complete this qualification you will need to be able to put together a portfolio of evidence showing an array of different plumbing jobs you have done yourself (alongside a qualified plumber). If you don't have the work placements opportunity then you are restricted to completing the Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing Studies ( C&G 6035), this covers all the practical and theory assessments but does not include the onsite portfolio(NVQ), this will enable you to work as a 'plumber's mate'. Be aware that some companies will offer you guaranteed work placements, this is most often a lie. Once you have completed the 6035 you could in future progress onto the 6189 and complete the final few units to fully qualify you. I would strongly suggest you search from training companies in your local area, who are Ofsted Inspected. I personally work for a training centre (although due to the rules of this forum I can't say who!), as we do some apprenticeship training courses which are funded by the government we have to go through rigorous inspections. If a training college doesn't have a government funding contract then they are pretty free to do as they like, which ultimately ends in unhappy customers. Specialist training colleges, such as ourselves don't always have the funds to do the big marketing campaigns so a little more research is needed to find us. I'd suggest asking some local plumbers- they are likely to go somewhere to do their courses for Gas, Oil, renewables etc and so should know who does plumbing training. Hope that helps!