Some advice if possible please.

[Eftwyrd]

Before I start a little about me, when I was 16 I started an apprenticeship as an electrician, managed to get 236 part 1 which was my first year, unfortunately due to family issues I ended up leaving home and had to make more money to survive so had to quit it.

Then worked doing pretty much entirely manual jobs, electricians mate, labouring etc, as such I know how to chase a wall, bend pipe, use a drill, etc etc. (btw I'm 32 now)

Four years ago suffered a heart attack, which was a birth defect in my heart and have ended up as a full time Dad to my two year old with my wife working full time as a head chef.

OK that out of the way, sorry for the ramble just figured it best to give to much information than not enough.

I'm looking at training to be a plumber, with the idea of starting on my own, the bonus I have at the moment is I am fully aware I wont have work coming out of my ears to start with, but thats not an issue as currently I bring a big fat zero into the household, so ANY money will help, and if it takes a couple of years to build up knowlege and get the business going then thats all good and well.

So, my plan is, do a coarse with these people [DLMURL="http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theconstructioncollege.org%2Findex.asp"]The Plumbing & Construction College[/DLMURL] has anyone any knowlege on these?

My main problem is wether or not this is worth the money, it is just over 4k, but I cant see any other option to get into the trade, what else can I do? I couldnt do a fulltime college coarse as I wont have the time available, but I can do intensive coarse as my mother in law can look after our daughter some days and my wife can take other days off in the week, and also take holidays to give me the free time to do this type of coarse.

Basicaly I guess I am looking for advice on what to do, 4k is alot of money to me, and I think the only way to fund this would be through a loan, I dont wish to get into debt for something that isnt going to get me anywhere.

Any help, advice, suggestions, basicaly anything really is more than welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Plumber++]

Firstly: Hello, and welcome to the Forums.

Isn't there any chance that you could join a local college as maybe you can do it for free? Even at 32.

 

[Eftwyrd]

Hi thanks for the reply, and the welcome.

The only college coarse I can seem to find is a fulltime coarse over 2 years I think it is, which after readiong alot on here people seem to think is much better etc, but if you add up the actual hours spent its around the same, just over a much longer period of time.

I would be willing to do a 2 year coarse over a quicker coarse, but it will be much more difficult to fit it in, also if I can do a coarse that takes maybe 10 months to complete I will have the possability of 14 months working for myself, which I would hope will be time better spent, getting real experiance, making contacts etc.

Will definately look into this though, I'm not ruling anything out at this point.

Once again thanks for the reply.