Scotland Training course with Skillstg

[gary atkinson]

Has anyone one here trained with this lot and if so have any feedback or advice in general about the training and whether it was worth doing etc.
co link is We take being job ready seriously | Skills Training Group

Self employed tiler about 10 years ago but gave it all up after the crash and been driving since.....i hate driving....looking for a way back in and much prefer self employment.....appreciate its a tough gig out there but if anyone has any comments about the course etc from first hand experience that would be great

cheers
gary

 

[Harvest Fields]

Not me.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Why are you not getting back to tiling? I have used Cardonald College for most of my assessments. Never heard of that mob.
I struggle to get a tiler. So my advice is go back to what you know.

 

[Dan]

My advice would be to go visit the training centre. If it's one of those dodgy ones that were knocking about years ago avoid it like the plague. They all had 'skills' and 'training' in their names.

Go to your local college and ask there for a start.

 

[JCplumb]

Nope.
(First non-Dan post on new forum!)

 

[Deleted member 32524]

From memory Reid Kerr college do courses. Cardonald College, city college.

 

[gary atkinson]

i went for a visit of the training centre today...Its the usual unit on an industrial estate ...i spoke to the guy who delivers the training.....he seemed very genuine but much of what he talked about was pretty unknown to me so i just had my impressions to go on......Surely someone has gone through these or knows someone who has.....I know its a self employed entrance route but i,m just trying to figure out if the course contents are relevant or sales waffle.......appreciate someone having a browse through the course contents from this link and giving their opinion please.....I live in dunfermline so courses over west arent really suitable......Thanks

Gas Foundation Course - Full Time | Skills Training Group

Our comprehensive gas foundation course allows beginners to learn the fundamentals and kickstart their career as a heating engineer. Learn more here.

www.skillstg.co.uk

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Key thing is having a mentor. Looks like they offer that? Find out who, when, where and why!! It is mega money!! Will take you a good 2 years to make any money after that and set up costs. Nobody is likely to take you on fresh from "school", unless this mentor is a side business of the training centre and you are exceptional at it then.....maybe they have enough work to take you on, but I think they would maybe prefer the people who pay to work on site for them? Speculation saying that.

 

[gary atkinson]

Apparantely the firms they use for work placement changes and the head office in paisley matches companies up with trainees......I,m pretty certain there is a financial carrot dangled in front of these firms.....In fact part of the fees for the course is just that.....but if this 7 weeks of work gets you an on the job portfolio then i guess this is pretty priceless in regards to the gas safe certificate......? I,m not naive enough to think this will lead to a big job with a industry leader but my position is i,m driving HGV and hating it......i,m earning around 25k so in some ways my bottom line would be to match that as a minimum and have a "trade" and opportunity to do something more interesting and worthwhile.....i,m not specifically chasing money but nor do i want to find out 25 weeks and 10 grand or so later that this course was a waste of time.....

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I'm doing my unvented course in either Glasgow College or in Nationwide Training in Livingstone. Both are highly recommended and I'm still trying to decide the one to go with.

 

[gary atkinson]

The nationwide training course is identical to the one ran by Skillstg.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

The nationwide training course is identical to the one ran by Skillstg.

I did my gas with Nationwide. They are very good. Based in Livingston.

 

[gary atkinson]

I did my gas with Nationwide. They are very good. Based in Livingston.

I went in to see nationwide today... he seemed genuine but wasn't very convincing about the placement with a gas fitter. . Very vague about it Which had alarm bells ringing.... they do a week at their centre then 3 weeks doing work with a firm but if you don't have a firm to work with it seems your snookered? Did they put you with anyone..
He kept saying a firm in Glasgow was looking to take trainees on but was pretty sketchy about it when I asked if I could speak to them ... what was your experience with them. Which course did you do
Thanks
[automerge]1565719754[/automerge]

I did my gas with Nationwide. They are very good. Based in Livingston.

You also said in previous post you were deciding who to go with then say you did your gas with nationwide....?

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I went in to see nationwide today... he seemed genuine but wasn't very convincing about the placement with a gas fitter. . Very vague about it Which had alarm bells ringing.. they do a week at their centre then 3 weeks doing work with a firm but if you don't have a firm to work with it seems your snookered? Did they put you with anyone..
He kept saying a firm in Glasgow was looking to take trainees on but was pretty sketchy about it when I asked if I could speak to them . what was your experience with them. Which course did you do
Thanks
[automerge]1565719754[/automerge]

You also said in previous post you were deciding who to go with then say you did your gas with nationwide..?

You must have someone on the Gas safe register to work with after you've completed your course. This is for testing and evaluation. I did mine with a mate.
The course I'm going to be doing is my unvented g3 course and it's either Glasgow college or Nationwide. I have not decided yet. A G3 course is over 2 days, sometimes only a day and doesn't require you to work with someone else. You'll definitely need to find someone on the Gas safe register to work with after your course and it's best to find someone first before you start.

 

[gary atkinson]

You must have someone on the Gas safe register to work with after you've completed your course. This is for testing and evaluation. I did mine with a mate.
The course I'm going to be doing is my unvented g3 course and it's either Glasgow college or Nationwide. I have not decided yet. A G3 course is over 2 days, sometimes only a day and doesn't require you to work with someone else. You'll definitely need to find someone on the Gas safe register to work with after your course and it's best to find someone first before you start.

Aye that's the issue......I know noone up here so am a bit stuck.... the course works by doing a weeks training in the centre then a week or so with a fitter then some time off to earn some money if you wish then back to a week in the training center for a week and so on for 6 month's approx

I'll put a post on here but I'm not hopeful of finding anyone....I won't leave my full time job until I'm certain u have someone to work with

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Aye that's the issue....I know noone up here so am a bit stuck.. the course works by doing a weeks training in the centre then a week or so with a fitter then some time off to earn some money if you wish then back to a week in the training center for a week and so on for 6 month's approx

I'll put a post on here but I'm not hopeful of finding anyone....I won't leave my full time job until I'm certain u have someone to work with

Basically you'll have to offer your services for free if you want to work with someone who is Gas Safe registered. This way, they'll help with your training and evaluation and you become qualified in return. It's going to be a difficult choice if you have a full time job. Another thing is that there's loads of Gas Safe engineers in Central Scotland, in fact too many in some areas and they're all cutting prices to compete and get work. Some of these courses make ridiculous claims about high earnings, when the reality is anything but. A G3 unvented course is a better prospect as there are fewer plumbers here that are G3 qualified.

 

[gary atkinson]

Basically you'll have to offer your services for free if you want to work with someone who is Gas Safe registered. This way, they'll help with your training and evaluation and you become qualified in return. It's going to be a difficult choice if you have a full time job. Another thing is that there's loads of Gas Safe engineers in Central Scotland, in fact too many in some areas and they're all cutting prices to compete and get work. Some of these courses make ridiculous claims about high earnings, when the reality is anything but. A G3 unvented course is a better prospect as there are fewer plumbers here that are G3 qualified.

Very much appreciate your advice and I'll look into what you say ... cheers for now

 

[Mattjam567]

Just stumbled on this thread Gary and I read that you live in Dunfermline. You do know the college at halbeath do a 10 month gas course? It's paid by the government as long as your unemployed so you won't be fleeced out of 7 grand unlike the private courses. Plus you ll get a bursary and some help with mortgage/rent costs.The course itself is really good. Please ignore if you're already sorted as I see it's from aug last year.