Retraining in Gas

[PDS808]

First off hello all, first post and all that..
Anyroad, would just like a few opinions, i'm considering retraining as my trade (printing/newspapers) is basically on its arse, got made redundant last year and still can't get back in the game (currently work as a machine operator for a large manufacturer but hate it).
Been considering retraining in gas engineering, which will cost around 3 to 4 grand or so, thing is i am 39 and am concerned about the prospects of actually getting work once i'm qualified and on the gas safe register. Obviously i'd have the qualifications but little experience, so i'd be competing with people that would potentially have years more experience than me, if you get my drift.

Any working gas engineers here give me opinions on what my prospects could be? Or if there's any similar people here that have retrained in gas maybe give me an insight of their experiences.

Cheers in advance.

 

[safc]

Have you got any expeirance in the trade ? If not to get gas safe registered you will either need first a nvq level 2 min or put together a gas portfolio. So you will need to gain experiance first with a qualified engineer. All in all will prob take a few years. Hope that helps

 

[PDS808]

I expected to do the NVQ2 plumbing but have been told i can instead take an introduction to gas course, which consists of mostly theory (200 hours) and basic welding/pipes/working with steel course. This will give me the relevant certificate needed to take the gas engineering course. (Cost £600).

I'll get to put a portfolio together on the full gas engineering course (cost £2999), which also includes a certain amount of hours working with a fully qualified engineer on real jobs (as well as a certain amount of hours in the college workshop and 3 days of assessments), so i guess i will have a certain amount of experience. The course is quite intense as it lasts months rather than years, but unless i'm totally useless i'll gain a place on the gas safe register at the end of it. Still, i'll only have a few months worth of experience rather than someone who's had years.

 

[jpm]

You will only get on the GSR after passing ACS,then you pay,go to probationary period,then,register all gas jobs,then you need to be assessed by a GSR inspector in the first 3 months,according to the latest blurb from GSR.At least the dogs came to see you first but het ho

 

[PDS808]

I'll obtain the relevant ACS and assessments on gas engineering course, that's what i'll be paying the money for after all, and the portfolio is created during the course before assessment. It's all fully legit or i wouldn't be considering throwing 3 grand at it. It's just the time aspect that concerns me, i'd feel happier taking it over a couple of years as an apprentice or something, but that ain't going to happen at my age really. Taking advice from above i'd probably feel more confident gaining the plumbing NVQ first.

 

[migoplumber]

get your plumbing nvq first, see how you like it. shop around, google around, many training companies have got bad reviews. read the threads on here for a start

 

[PDS808]

I've just read a few interesting threads yeah, i've no doubt about the training company themselves (as they were recommended by a local colleges plumbing tutor i know, who incidentally also told me to get the level 2 NVQ), however it seems the sticking point is getting an experienced engineer or company who will let me train with them, the training centre said they will help me to find one, but i'd rather have that in writing before i part with any cash as suggested in some of these threads.

 

[NADSTER]

Listen my friend - don't let your age get in the way of your future. If you retire at 65 , that's still 26 years of working and making a valuable contribution to society. If anyone says your too old, ask them if they could spend the next 26 years in prison - it's a very long time!!

My situation is similar to yours except that I'm 44. Like you my industry has seen more buoyant times and I am going to retrain in gas next year. I just need to decide which training provider to use.

Who are you considering and which area are you based in?

PS Neil Armstrong was nearly 39 years old when he took his ' small step '

and what about Alan Shepherd? Well he was 47!!

 

[Puddle]

PS Neil Armstrong was nearly 39 years old when he took his ' small step '

It do'nt take that much to walk accross a warehouse,climb on a set and pretend to take the first step on the moon,thought his acting was not that good anyway

It will take alot more to get all the qualifications needed to become fully gas safe

Being a young 39 year old wiper snapper is not a problem,lots of time as retirement will probably be 80 by the time you get anywere near it

Experiance is a big thing but you can make up a bit of that by being very good at what have learnt and becoming knowlagable in back ground details
You should also get on some boiler and other manufactorers courses,and build up experiance/knowlage of how they operate and faults that occur and why
Also there are areas in the plumbing field that does not have alot of knowlagable/experianced people,like the renewables and green sectors,this could be an area to explore

 

[Bernie2]

Finding work or should I say customer's after your ready to go self employed, is no different than selling anything else.

Gas fitting and Plumbing are a service as regards the market.

I would read up on a salesman's training site, it may give you some ideas.

Incidentally, in most places, central heating companies are falling over themselves looking for work. So the market is price related as well as reputation related.

Learn from the big boys, competative fixed price seems the way to go, with add on's if required.

That basically means looking at the job first and giving a set price before you start. Its not unusual for some companies to ask for the price of the materials before they start.

 

[NADSTER]

Ha Ha Ha - the old ones are the best!!

Good advice though - much appreciated.

Merry Xmas to all!!

 

[the baker]

First off hello all, first post and all that..
Anyroad, would just like a few opinions, i'm considering retraining as my trade (printing/newspapers) is basically on its arse, got made redundant last year and still can't get back in the game (currently work as a machine operator for a large manufacturer but hate it).
Been considering retraining in gas engineering, which will cost around 3 to 4 grand or so, thing is i am 39 and am concerned about the prospects of actually getting work once i'm qualified and on the gas safe register. Obviously i'd have the qualifications but little experience, so i'd be competing with people that would potentially have years more experience than me, if you get my drift.

Any working gas engineers here give me opinions on what my prospects could be? Or if there's any similar people here that have retrained in gas maybe give me an insight of their experiences.

Cheers in advance.

Depending on the aera of the country you live in, there may be an over supply of Gas Registrants, the same goes for Plumbers.

In one area of the south west the Letting Agents pay £20 per house for a LGSC.

Some one, not you, gets to put the things right that you crabed, then for another £20 the Letting Agents invite you to recheck the entire property and sign it off.

So having spent a possible total of three or four hours and collecting £40 you may wonder why you bothered.

Thats not the problem.

The problem is those doing the job for little money and using the lack of payment as an excuse for scimping on correct safety proceedures when carrying out the work.

Tim

 

[RTPS]

First of all being Gas registered is not the 'be all and end all', Get a plumbing qualification first.
Then when you get your NVQ 2, get some time in then when ready go for Gas and believe me it aint that easy to do this on your own. You will need somebody expirenced to work with. being a gas engineer is not just about Gas, look at the big picture.

 

[andrewcplatt]

Renewables in 2010 and forward is the way to go.Study hard,get experience,Gordon is all for the reduction in greenhouse gases etc etc ....blaa blaa blaaaa....its the way to go,almost like the IT industry,you have to keep up with new technology.

 

[kirkgas]

Renewables in 2010 and forward is the way to go.Study hard,get experience,Gordon is all for the reduction in greenhouse gases etc etc ....blaa blaa blaaaa....its the way to go,almost like the IT industry,you have to keep up with new technology.

i dont agree that renewables will be an earner for many people, not enough customers will get renewables fitted in the first place to sustain repair guys, the basic problem is the install cost, yes people want to save the planet but if it going to cost them thousands more than a conventional system then they wont buy into it, i work in a college and if given the chance i will embrace the corses and get involved in training others as i am interested in it, but i honestly dont think i would pay for it myself with a view of getting into the install of it.

 

[oldplumber]

39 is no problem, i worked in building industry generally for several years before concentrating on plumbing, did 1 day a week at college for 2 years to get a level 2 plumbing certificate fm C & Gs. Then took a break to renovate/convert flats fm an old hotel, then back to college for 2 years day release for level 3 certificates fm C & Gs, completing nvq2 in 2 months, then nvq 3 in the next 3 months, whilst working as a general plumber. Whenever possible I worked with another RGI to get experience on gas work/sign off portfolio. Took all the acs quals , registered with gas safe register and got inspected after 4 weeks and signed off. Then I hit 50, my knees dont work so I prefer servicing/repairs to full installs but you cann't be choosy. It took me t least 3 years to build a customer base that gives repeat business. Youve got to consider whether you are going to be happy working on around 25 different boiler manufacturers products, with all their different models after 3 months experience mostly in college. You can specialise in one or two manufacturers but in the beginning beggars cant be choosers. Unless you have other contacts to call on when youre sat at a broken boiler wondering why nothing has worked you can look pretty daft to the customer. My advice would be to take it slow, do night classes twice aweek to see how it is, work weekends to get basic plumbing experience and make contacts in the trade and train alonside apprentices in a college. Short and concentrated courses are there to make the suppliers a quick buck from hopefuls who want a quick way into a trade. I have seen ex service personnel on these courses working with other plumbers in my area, both times the poor mutts have been promised a career after three months traing but are unable to do a decent end feed joint but are trying to hang a combi already. Without seemimg rude and I'm sorry if this is abrupt "a fool and his money are soon parted"
If you really want to train as a gas engineer there is only one option and it takes time and a lot of effort. The job isnt a bed of roses, you dont all earn£80,000 a yr as the papers mention occassionally. If you are ok and your customers like you, you can pay your mortgage and have holiday sometimes, still want to be a gas engineer?

 

[REDSAW]

39 is no problem, i worked in building industry generally for several years before concentrating on plumbing, did 1 day a week at college for 2 years to get a level 2 plumbing certificate fm C & Gs. Then took a break to renovate/convert flats fm an old hotel, then back to college for 2 years day release for level 3 certificates fm C & Gs, completing nvq2 in 2 months, then nvq 3 in the next 3 months, whilst working as a general plumber. Whenever possible I worked with another RGI to get experience on gas work/sign off portfolio. Took all the acs quals , registered with gas safe register and got inspected after 4 weeks and signed off. Then I hit 50, my knees dont work so I prefer servicing/repairs to full installs but you cann't be choosy. It took me t least 3 years to build a customer base that gives repeat business. Youve got to consider whether you are going to be happy working on around 25 different boiler manufacturers products, with all their different models after 3 months experience mostly in college. You can specialise in one or two manufacturers but in the beginning beggars cant be choosers. Unless you have other contacts to call on when youre sat at a broken boiler wondering why nothing has worked you can look pretty daft to the customer. My advice would be to take it slow, do night classes twice aweek to see how it is, work weekends to get basic plumbing experience and make contacts in the trade and train alonside apprentices in a college. Short and concentrated courses are there to make the suppliers a quick buck from hopefuls who want a quick way into a trade. I have seen ex service personnel on these courses working with other plumbers in my area, both times the poor mutts have been promised a career after three months traing but are unable to do a decent end feed joint but are trying to hang a combi already. Without seemimg rude and I'm sorry if this is abrupt "a fool and his money are soon parted"
If you really want to train as a gas engineer there is only one option and it takes time and a lot of effort. The job isnt a bed of roses, you dont all earn£80,000 a yr as the papers mention occassionally. If you are ok and your customers like you, you can pay your mortgage and have holiday sometimes, still want to be a gas engineer?

ON THE HEAD!
good facts.

 

[PDS808]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I gotta say though i'm not contemplating this move for the money, if i was so easily led i'd be throwing money at one of the many 'earn 60k in I.T' jobs you see advertised, thinking i'd be sat in a cosy warm office earning a mint. It's more to gain a new skill, i can pay the mortgage and have a holiday on my now crappy 20 grand a year machine operator job, earning anymore than that would seem a step up to me now! (plus i wouldn't feel so useless turning 40 in unskilled work). I just want to have a skill again really (as printing is dying on its ar*e), yeah i'd like to gain full time employment eventually, but seeing as i'm looking into retraining alongside my current job, just gaining a skill, or a usefull skill would make me feel a lot better (helping out/doing jobs friends and family etc). I've looked into the gas angle as i don't know a single gas engineer and never have, most of my mates are fitters/sparks/mechanics etc, though there does seem to be a lack of plumbers in my social circles, i'm thinking more in that direction now, and cold always branch off into gas at a later date.