second opinions on courses please

[skilled plumber]

I have now started my level three i wish to progress to do my acs and get myself on the gas safe register asap, do i NEED to have my on site nvq assesments to do this and do i NEED to get my level 2 assesed and verified to get my level 3 signed off, or can i just work from my techincal certificates and progress to my acs , help please as i do not trust asking colloeges/assesors as they obviously have the angle of charging you for this

also unrelated to this thread i am also looking for somebody to work with preferably a gas safe engineer to obtain experience, money no object am willing to work for free if necessary

many thanks in advance for your help

 

[Deleted member 25704]

help pleaseas i do not trust asking colloeges/assesors as they obviously have the angle of charging you for this

What world it has come to, when we cannot trust an educator!

The fact that you are seeking a second opinion, and that you have worked out that there seems to be a lack of trust in education, tells me that you have some savvy.

Do a bit more research into the plumbing industry

Are fast-track plumbing courses just money down the drain? | Money | The Guardian

I don't think you require qualifications to be gas safe registered, because the ACS is a competence based qualification, hence if you can prove competence then that it is it - sad but 'probably' true. The requirement that some centres are asking for is 40 days of work experience, so don't get too carried away with your free work. In addition, gas safe do a probationer level, so as many 'competent' people as possible can join the register.

Another route is British Gas

65,000 chase 600 British Gas apprentice jobs - Times Online


So you have chosen a career where there is a lot of competition, so good luck with the job hunting and the courses.

 

[fuzzy]

What world it has come to, when we cannot trust an educator!

The fact that you are seeking a second opinion, and that you have worked out that there seems to be a lack of trust in education, tells me that you have some savvy. I would phone a college

Do a bit more research into the plumbing industry

Are fast-track plumbing courses just money down the drain? | Money | The Guardian

I don't think you require qualifications to be gas safe registeredYes you do, as you go on to say you need your ACS, because the ACS is a competence based qualification Are not all quals designed to test competence? You say it as its a bad thing. Anyway the ACS is there to judge safety and gas legislation, not competence in fitting a boiler, hence if you can prove competence then that it is it So you consider it sad that once somebody has proved they can do the job safely they are allowed to work on gas? - sad but 'probably' true. The requirement that some centres are asking for is 40 days of work experience, so don't get too carried away with your free work. In addition, gas safe do a probationer level, so as many 'competent' people as possible can join the register. Do they, never knew that, what does it entail?

Another route is British Gas

65,000 chase 600 British Gas apprentice jobs - Times Online


So you have chosen a career where there is a lot of competition, so good luck with the job hunting and the courses.

I would phone many colleges and ask their opinion, then post your results and request feedback

 

[skilled plumber]

i thought everyone was on a probationary period once gas safe registered and they come to check your work again onsite before you are fully put on the register ??

#clanger as for your last sentence reading "So you have chosen a career where there is a lot of competition, so good luck with the job hunting and the courses" and your choice links to disheartening material and not forgetting that you kindly mentioned that what i have written tells you i have some "savvy" my savvy tells me that you seem to be wanting to put me off the idea as urself you have some savvy and are trying to keep what work there is availible for yourself!!!! hmmmm!

i am not here to disillusion anyone or post negative feedback myself as i think this defeats the purpoe of a usefull forum ( plus my if u got nothing constructive to post keep it to urself attitude!) and i do believe i have found an good centre to acheive my qualifications and can do all of these in one centre its just realise it wd be bad buisness practiceto offer me the cheapest route hence i am making my own enquiries!!!

thanks #fuzzy but when i tried phoning round colleges with the vast array of "equivilent" quals and entry requirements made matters a bit confusing

 

[fuzzy]

yes it can be confusing, but im here to help with any questions. anything you need ot know just ask

some people can be negative but i dont think most people try to put you off to keep work for themsleves, even if it seems that way

 

[Deleted member 25704]

yes it can be confusing, but im here to help with any questions. anything you need ot know just ask

some people can be negative but i dont think most people try to put you off to keep work for themsleves, even if it seems that way

Sorry for disheartening post.

Negative and Positive are always viewed through the lense of the perceiver, so some might find my comments useful, although dower.

My advice would be phone some plumbers/gas installers by using the gas safe post-code search in your area, for a more balanced opinion than just colleges alone. FE colleges are generally very good, and as fuzzy points out will be able to help you further.

The entrant categories for Gas are here, the provides some useful reading with regard to new entrants [DLMURL="http://www.igem.org.uk/news-events/igem-news/have-your-say-on-new-entrants-to-gas-industry.aspx"]IGEM, gas safety, industry, gas, promoting gas safety in the home and industry - Have Your Say On New Entrants To Gas Industry[/DLMURL]

My intention is not to discourage you from being a plumber. My business was declining some five years ago, and didn't recover after thirty years of trading - but I wasn't such a good businessman - more a guy that liked doing the job - which isn't enough nowadays.

Another area that you might want to consider is commercial fitting or plumbing. Generally the commercial companies are good for training, and the government are paying larger firms to take on more apprentices than they need (expansive apprenticeships doc, 2009), which will see those working for larger firms sitting pretty (unaffected by what happens in the domestic sector).

I do wish you well, and perhaps advise checking out professional bodies such as IGEM (gas) CIPHE (plumbing) and IET (electrical). They have junior memberships and usually free local technical events.