Training to be a plumber level 2&3

[Gary Lee]

Hi,

Ive just started my level 2 (C&G) plumbing course, after which i go straight into my Level 3 (C&G) ... Im hoping to complete the NVQ's once qualified. Im enjoying the course so far although we've not even started the practical side of things yet and we are only just touching on basic plumbing principles after spending the first few days on the overly boring H&S part.

I currently work for the NHS (Full time) as a painter and Decorator at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, so i am having a career change. I have no previous plumbing experience so am jumping into the deep end. Im also 38 so by the time i am qualitifed i will be 40....

The reason i have posted in this forum is for some general advice really, i would like to know how hard is it going to be for me to find work with no experience? Would i be better off going self employed? Would i be better off going into one field (Or a more specialist area) of plumbing or gas?

Where i work at the moment we do have a plumbing department which i could get transferred to once a position opens but i feel to work for them would be undervaluing myself as they open seem to unblock toilets and install sinks. I don't seed the point in spending the next 2 years at college and the £7000 fee to unblock toilets.

Any advice on anything to do with a plumbing career would be very much appreciated. Many thanks in advance

gary

 

[SimonG]

Welcome to the forum.

So you are on level 2, ignore my ignorance, all this nvq crud was after my time. Surely you cant progress to level 3 until you have done your practicals for level 2. Or is this just the mad world of training centres asking for blank cheques?

 

[kris]

Hi there Gary and welcome, firstly well done on starting the great journey and before thinking of gas just concentrate on your level 2 n 3 , once you've completed them you will have gained a lot more knowledge and will be able to answer your own questions but for now, stick in and good luck,

 

[Rickster123]

7 grand. Ouch! When did it start getting so expensive to become a grubby plumber??

 

[Gary Lee]

haha.. thanks (grubby plumber) .. Basically, yes... level 2 proceeds to level 3 .... i just booked both at once otherwise id have a big gap in-between both.... the NVQ is basically what most employees want.... its a qualification you can only gain on the job, so to sum up the C&G is where you learn and the NVQ proves you can do the job (your accessed on site once qualified). It sounds complicated but its quite simple really.

Yes the course is expensive. level 2 is £3000 and the level 3 is about £3400 ... but the course is paid on a monthly basis and the level 3 is funded by the government (Plus 24) although i have to pay back he fee once i start working, its only pennys apparently. Thing is i really cant se myself painting until i retire, I'm literally sick to the back teeth of it.

i think your right about leaving the gas for now, although I'm constantly told gas is where the money is.

 

[townfanjon]

I'm constantly told gas is where the money is.

Dont you believe it mate, too many doing gas, boiler installations are very cut throat .

 

[Ric2013]

£3000?

I'm paying £1800 for my level 2 NVQ including site assessments (but I have to do the work-placed assessment elsewhere i.e. at work with a friend of mine). Does your level 2 fee somehow include for paying a firm to take you on for the maintenance and workplace assessed parts as well?

Trouble is, you're paying London prices, but also getting London wages. I have to try to make a living in Wales.