Plumbing Trade slowing down or growing ?

[graythedon]

Hi Everyone

could you please give me you opinions on what is happening in the plumbing trade ?

im currently inrolled in a course (learn from home) and was promised job prospects after completion.

this dosnt seem to be the case infact all i keep hearing is plumbers going out of bussiness, and not enough work around.

could everyone please write a small note on how this trade is doing so i can put my case foward into canceling this course.

a simple note will do like not enough jobs or loads of jobs dont worry.

thanks again.

will take results to citizens advice tommorrow morning.

 

[wnjswozo]

things start slowing down now,but we are in a recession,so not as much work about,i would,nt like to be startig out

 

[A1P]

There are loads of threads related to short courses costing thousands.The general opinion is it is cheaper and better to go through college although this takes a lot longer and it is not easy to get on a course.No funding for students over 24 i believe.The main problem is that whichever way you attempt to get your qualification there is very limited access to real work experience which is essential to get NVQ 2 which is linked to C+ G 6129.I believe you have to get both,you cant simply get a theory qualification which in itself is only the very smallest step on the ladder.There is so proper system of apprenticeship to enable you can become a 'time served' plumber.People are sucked into colleges which offer fast-track courses and tell you there is a shortage of 30,000 plumbers and you can earn £50,000 a year.There never was a shortage and in recent any slack in a city/town was taken up by the famous'Polish Plumber'.A self-employed highly qualified plumber who has built his own business would be very happy with £50,000 before taking off all expenses.The forum is full off people begging to get taken on for no wages to meet NVQ requirements and get experience.Many on the site are sympathetic but why would anyone take people on ,even for free,when there is no financial incentive.You are training your competition as self employment is virtually the only option,Companies want highly qualifed,experienced workers.How is this possible from these short courses.? The wage with such firms will be about £24,000 for a top operative.a friend of my son who was fully qualifed has recently been made redundant.Some people have been able to exploit legal loopholes to end their course as well as the fact they have been lied to.Look at Courses threads.I am very sorry if this is entirely negative and I had better add allegedly re- my summary of comments!!If you have trade contacts where you could join them you have a chance but self employment is hard and does not suit everybody.I am sure others will add their comments.

 

[quality]

Taking work on into feb 2010

 

[Robtheplumb]

I have been plumbing for 5 years self employed, I have now employed someone else as my work load was high, I have enough work for 2 people running 2 vans, If I was starting out now I wouldn't be to worryed, Work hard, do the best job, and word will spread and the work will roll in. Most people who have little or no work always seam to be the ones in a dirty van, with ripped cloths and just "scruffy" If you turn up like this then your customer isn't going to be to confident in you or your work so things will be slack

 

[obseen16]

this year 2 of my plumber mates have gone bump. met some new guys in the merchants this morning. they only just set up a few weeks ago

 

[graythedon]

thank you all for your replys.

i understand what you mean by training your compertition.

i feel as though i have been wronged (im a bad speller) so i need as many people to tell me if the trade is dieing or if its growing like they suggest.

keep replying guys need quiet a few replys before i can take this and plea my case

 

[graythedon]

Wow

I don’t know what to say ?? 119 views and only 5 replies.


Is it growing as the training centres' claim (30 000 job prospects)?
Or is it slowing down as many other people are suggesting on this forum.

I need more than 5 replies to get an idea guys please help.

So again if i am wasting my time doing the course then tell me and help me cancel this course by voting or putting your view across.

[FONT=&quot]And if the plumbing trade is growing that’s even better ill keep studying and find a job placement through the centre or with a plumber as his mate[/FONT]

 

[Phil]

I did a 10 week course in 2007 and been self employed nearly two years (where does the time go?), I am very, very busy and booked up until March . At the moment I seem to be doing constant big projects/bathroom refurbs etc.

I have to say the stress is getting to me a bit lately, with working to constant deadlines and problems but I enjoy my job and wouldn't want to do anything else.

Before I did the training I had plumbing knowlegde and experience though, so when I went self employed I wasn't a complete novice like (I'm sad to say) most of the ones that fail are.

Robtheplumb is correct about the unreliable, unkempt guys struggleing.

 

[johnmcginty]

Finish the course mate as you will never get your money back. Buy a van , get some outlay , book a few ads in the local paper and try to get as much experience in the real world working with plumbers as possible . Good luck

 

[graythedon]

Thanks for your Encouragement guys.
I think you guys are right and as seen as all iv seen since posting this thread is good things about the trade I think im on to a winner.

Might not have plumbing experience yet but will look in the short future to get a placing with someone.

Possibly in the new year.

Thanks again for your comments.

[FONT=&quot](p.s. if anyone knows people in the Bedford area drop me a msg if you interested in a hand one day)[/FONT]

 

[radswilldo]

Remeber this, there are two things effecting the trade currently, one is obvious, the recession, every yard I know has missed its targets for most of this year, since sept though they have picked as expected for the winter, though its all down compared to previous years. Those of you saying your booked until march(like me), great you should be, the problem will be april through to oct. Next year, whoever wins, will be upping taxes with job losses throughout the public sector, if we lose our triple A rating that would be horrendous. Secondly, the amount of people trying to get into plumbing is spreading the work load very thinly, in both 2008 & 2009 I had recieved 40 calls for apprentiships before the end of May, stopped taking note afterwards. I wish you luck, but do not be under any illusions otherwise you will come a cropper.

 

[graythedon]

thank you for your advice i will take into account what you have said.
i guess ill do the course and if the trade isnt right for me i guess its another feather in my cap, (motor trade and now currently electrician auto and components)
im not under any illusion as to how hard it will be getting into or doing well in the plumbing trade, i guess its a dog eat dog world out there as it is in any other trade.
lets just hope after the course i get a placeing with a plumber who can show me the ropes.

thing is i dont mind been a part time plumber helping out people that are busy, and doing somthing els when they not.

thanks agian everyone for your coments and good luck for the new year

 

[sy74]

hi im training as a plumber with access2trade,and im paying for it 5k ish, I finish my second week mid dec which also means im looking for a plumbers m8 job but have been trying 2 find work for 8 weeks. I have my fingers crossed as i would love 2 be in a job very soon, I really hope there's a plumber out there willing 2 take me on ?????? any 1 interested im for Bath.Ive also offered 2 days free of my time 2 help out and see if they like me ??? is this a good idea ?

 

[andrewcplatt]

Its go go go go for 2010.Renewables.

 

[Renewable M]

Renewables is growing off the scale. heat pumps, thermal stores, solar.

Everyone is trying to do something about their billls, and people WILL spend to save.

We have seven projects to price for our installers that came in on monday and tuesday. All for heat pumps and/or solar.

And lets face it, heat pumps are a lot easier to get your head around than a gas boiler..... mains cable, flow, return.

good luck anyway

Its growing and changing. There are more opportunities than ever but they lie to one side of traditional oil-gas-bathrooms type plumbing. renewables are in a boom.

So its just natural restructuring thats going on. The ones who havent kept up are starting to fall by the wayside.

You still hear bone head comments like "Heat pumps dont work" which they base on one ten year old horror story. How many gas installer horror stories are there? loads.

 

[radswilldo]

Never heard anyone say heat pumps dont work, if you said cost effective then I,d agree. I've been following renewables since late 04, have never heard any manufacturer (worcester, nu-heat etc) advise the replacement of a natural gas supplied system with any renewables with out telling the customer that it would'nt be cost effective. Have to ask, are you an installer or an industry rep, as you talk the language of a sales rep

 

[Renewable M]

I'm technical for a heat pump company. I have in all honesty had calls put through to me, asking "these heat pumps then, do they work?"

I agree what you're saying about gas. Cost for cost, If they can't afford the extra price of a heat pump, its gotta be a good quality condensing boiler. Thats what I advise customers. It would be a disaster to have one ring back in six months complaining.

The only other side to that cost coin is... with a HP theres no annual service and no flue gas. So you get the green people who will fit one anyway, and the housing associations who want to reduce the cost of breakdowns and servicing on old boilers.

While germany is pursuing CHP like theres no tomorrow, we've got out of work plumbers & heating guys who could be out fitting green technology, but get bogged down in the mystical "ows that gonner heat yer house?"

Heat pumps are not the answer to everything, but they are an answer.

cheers

 

[Southend]

I'm training with T4TS well my thoughts have changed about it from what i've seen on here. I'm working with a local Plumber. As i'm still under 18 i'm looking into getting myself out of it and on to an Apprenticeship, don't care what poeple have said such as "you won't get your money back" etc. I will seek legal advice and if need be will take these numptys to court. I was completly miss-lead when I was gullable enough to sign onto this course as told pretty much the same as everyone else (must have script). The main put off for me is no 6129? i'm pretty certain any well respected Plumbing company will tell you to toe it without the 6129. If anyone could give me a few pointers let me know.

 

[Renewable M]

It's tough out in the world.

Our installation companies are booking work in, and a lot of it but there is a big B U T.

The customers want the world on a stick more than ever and are taking ages to decide. All the firms are saying the same.

I suppose it's easier for us in renewables because it isnt just about what heating costs, it's about what customers can save and benefit from, but as i say, even in our fortunate bubble it's dog eat dog.

Good luck, but prepare to start gritting your teeth.