The training minefield

[Steve_P]

I've been looking through the minefield of training centres and am still no closer to finding the right one. I'm in South East Cornwall and a lot of these places are quite a way away. The local colleges are for people in the trade only so it's going to have to be a commercial training centre. I've looked at a few, Access2 trade and OLCI included but there's a nagging doubt about both of them - they seem to offer the moon on a stick. Had a look at a company called SWAAT but they seem to be for people in the trade and already qualified. Does anyone know of anywhere in this part of the world that's worthwhile?

I know that I'm not going to come out the other end of any course knowing it all but I want to find the best I can to give the best grounding so that I can get out there in real world and start learning the the trade.

Can anyone give me a pointer? Please?

 

[Steve_P]

Anyone?

 

[EASMECH]

Always go and check the college and suroundings. there will be a massive differencre in the standard of colleges. Also, when you are looking around, speak to the learners who are already there. even wait for there break and have lunch with them.

 

[CharleyVince]

Steve P - I am in exactly the same situation and it's still not clear.

I have read on this forum that qualifications are going to change this year so that might be worth taking into condieration.

I'v visited OLCI in London but after reading stuff on the forum have concerns about them, the courses, and what you actually achieve at the end.

For me personally, I feel it'll be more important to get contacts / potential work first as coming out with a basic qualification is not going to be hugely useful.

 

[Steve_P]

Cheers anyway, I haven't been to the training centres yet but do have one in mind that a mate did his sparky stuff at and raves about it.

It also seems that everyone

One of the immerging problems here is that everyone seems to be plumbing, the builders do most of their own, the fishermen turn their hands to it in the winter and sparcs I know who are trying to pass stuff on to the plumbers are being told that the home owners are doing what they can themselves too! So to actually make any sort of living isn't going to be easy. Having said that, if life were easy it'd be boring.

 

[EASMECH]

Cheers anyway, I haven't been to the training centres yet but do have one in mind that a mate did his sparky stuff at and raves about it.

It also seems that everyone

One of the immerging problems here is that everyone seems to be plumbing, the builders do most of their own, the fishermen turn their hands to it in the winter and sparcs I know who are trying to pass stuff on to the plumbers are being told that the home owners are doing what they can themselves too! So to actually make any sort of living isn't going to be easy. Having said that, if life were easy it'd be boring.

Well Steve,

if you have doubts then dont do it.

You must be prepared for alot of adjustments if you are going to change career. including the posibilty of not having work untill your name is out there, so to speak.

 

[Steve_P]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going into this without a clean windscreen, headlights on full and eyes WIDE open. There is always going to be some sort of struggle setting up with anything new. It's more a case at the moment of finding the best training to get ahead of the rest, if there is such a thing out there. From what I can see, in this area anyway, it's difficult to get much without gas, so I go for that too but whether to add renewable to it? Is a C&G on its own enough or do you need the NVQ 3 to go with it? Is adding the NVQ at a later date an option? Or as someone who wants to eventually be self employed in the trade, do I really need the NVQ and instead get the training in the real world rather than the classroom?

Fortunately we havel a shop and the re-train would be initially to supplement what we get from the shop. So buiding a customer base fast wouldn't really be too much of a worry. The main thing is to get the right training at the right place.

 

[CharleyVince]

Amen to that Steve - my connundrum too

 

[Steve_P]

If it's any help, I'm finding quite a lot out from the local builders by getting to the local Royal British Legion and working mens clubs in the area. Good excuse for a beer too. Still not getting much further on the training front though. Making some good contacts for the future is always a start mind.

 

[tony.bac]

Hi Steve. I’ve been there myself, it’s not easy deciding where to go. I agree with the other guys, you should definitely go and check out the centres and see what you think. I trained with OLCI before for my 6129 and my NVQ 2, and I only have good things to say about to them, have gone back for my Level 3 and ACS so that tells you what I think! As far as I know they have a place Devon, although not sure where exactly. As I say, maybe try and visit their centre and see if you like the look of it.