Plumbing Franchises

[Scott-Plumb]

What do you guys think about plumbing franchises as a route into the industry?

I have been looking at all the different training course with OLCI, Train 4 trade skills, Able Skills etc for months and still can't decide which is the best option, but as I am contemplating a complete career change and trying to start out in a new industry without any real experience, there is definately some benefits to the franchise route.

I'm going to a franchise open day this month to get more information, but if anyone has any thoughts/experience with plumbing franchises it would be good to get feedback.

 

[moony]

are the prices determined by them ?
start up costs?

have you any information on this ?

 

[ubend]

I checked out various franchises last year as a hope on getting out of my current work position and hopefully into a trade and a more secure enviroment even in the current climate

I looked at both "React Fast" and "Local Services"

React Fast, £38.000 seemed a a little steep for a franchise and their offices and training dept were a shambles.(They have since sold out)i believe.

Local Services, complete opposite, alot cheaper, nice offices and a well organised set up but again that gut feeling kicked in and several months later i discover on this website and by checking at companies house that they are in liquidation!

By all means go to the Franchise exhibition but dont put any money anywhere until you have done your homework.

I have decided to go the long way round and start with a 6129 tech course with olci which i paid for a while ago and have just re started, followed by part time college courses in my area to hopefully complete NVQ 2 and 3.

best of luck

 

[Gedpen]

Hi ubend and others do not go for the 6129 as not valued by most of industry go for N.V.Q level 2. You can do this free through train to gain. Contact train to gain or your local college. 6129 Is worthless

 

[moony]

you have to do the 6129 as part of an nvq level 2 so its not that its worthless doing it, is just that its not a full qualification.

 

[dontknowitall]

My feeling is you have to put as much effort into a franchise as your own business (whatever the trade whether plumbing, catering or what have you). The marketing and logo and some administration support might be there in a franchise but any customers you pick up on your own (from recommendations) will generally have to be put through the franchise books or else you'll probably be breaking the original contract. This means a good chunk of those profits will return to the franchiser instead of you.

Of course I might be wrong but then franchisers are in the game to make money and will ensure their preference will make to make their money rather than be concerned with your profits.

 

[Gedpen]

Hi
I Know that the theory part of the n.v.q. is the same as the 6129, but what i meant to say that most of these training places claim just doing the 6129 will make you a plumber which is not true. So you must or should do the n.v.q. which does contain elements of the 6129, but it is truly recognised by the whole industry. And at the moment in many parts of the country train to gain are offering it free with selected colleges.
Hopes this helps anyone looking at fast track colleges to be careful about the wording of qualifications.
All the best.

 

[oldplumber]

Can we get something straight here. 6129 level 2 and 3 is the theory side of training done at your college. The nvq 2/3 is the work based training/assessment done on site and assessed by a nvq mentor through your college. You need both to gain any depth of knowledge and if your lucky enough to gain a place on an apprenticeship scheme this would be what you do to qualify as any half decent plumber.

 

[themyth3]

Where are you based Scott? I know it shouldn't matter as long as you get the best training, but there is a reason for why I'm asking.

 

[Scott-Plumb]

Thanks for your thoughts - I too felt the cost of the franchises I looked at seemed pretty steep but want to go and see what they have to offer before making an informed decision on the best route.

I've been out to look round the OLCI set up in Livingston aswell but was put off committing to anything due the large number of negative posts on the board.

I'm based in West/Central Scotland - Glasgow area.

 

[tony.bac]

Hi Scott. I think the franchise route is something you’d have to think about very carefully before you went for it – that’s a hell of a lot of money and judging by what ubend says you could be shelling out a fortune and then be left with nothing if they go out of business. I did my 6129 L2 with OLCI, and arranged my onsite assessments for the NVQ through them as well. I was happy with them, and it was an intensive course so I got through the 6129 in a couple of months.

 

[WHPES]

For the little bit of extra effort, I would go alone rather than being tied to a franchise contract.

 

[Scott-Plumb]

Tony.bac - did you do your 6129 at OLCI livingston? if so, could you supply some feedback on the course/trainers - where you happy with the training, how much did you pay and where there any issues?

I went through to see the OLCI a Livingston a few months ago and was quite impressed with the set-up there. I've also just had their latest promotion posted to me, offering 4 free courses in Green Skills and Tiling when you sign up to their 'Become a qualifed plumber' course. Not sure if these are really worth anything in the real world but the offer does sound decent (Solar Thermal Domestic hot water, Unvented hot water storage systems, Domestic Heat & Pump installer and Ceramic Tiling)

To give you an update on the franchise situation, I went down to the open day last weekend and there are definite benefits to the franchise route such as the 24/7 techincal support (especially useful as there is no way you'll know enough after an 8 weeks of training for your 6129), extensive marketing (which is much more strategic than just sticking an advert in the local paper and posting leaflets through doors), a good solid business plan etc and it may well be a good way to move into the plumbing industry having no plumbing backgound, but the finances involved are still puting me off - I think I could get my training, van and tools sorted for half the franchise fee and go it alone without having to pay a royalty on every job completed, plus my background is in marketing, so would hopefully be able to use this to promote and make a success of my own business.

 

[simont]

hi tony i am in the same boat with regards to looking for franchise,local services have since been taken over by service solutions based in preston who are a group of various companies under the same 'umbrella' (including 1 seemingly succesful franchise operation),they deal with a lot of insurance work and have since sold a share of there business to a big investment company,i have been to meet the team and they seem very profesional,they have identified where where locl services went wrong and have great plans for the 'local' brand,and the good thing is the price is now £9995 plus vat,you can source your own van (less ten 3 years old) and sort your own training if you like (or use there school),it seems like the best of both worlds but im busy trying to research a bit more,feel free to get in touch if you need a 'research mate' as i know i could do with one