Want to retrain as a plumber?

[Howsie]

Read this first, useful insight: http://www.installeronline.co.uk/world-plumbing-day-march-11th/

 

[Heat Kent]

Doh!:disappointed:

 

[petercj]

And yet there's so much work around just waiting to be done!

Obviously these people are just not trying to help themselves!

I dunno!

 

[Deleted member 25704]

I would never rule out the self interest of plumbing organisations, but some seem to be more self interested than others in terms of education and training.

At least this organisation seem to have been consistent in their message over the past few years. Here is a statement from their previous CEO on the City and Guilds 6129:

Blane Judd, (former) chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, says the qualification many fast-track courses provide is inadequate for anyone who wants to be a plumber. "The City & Guilds 6129 was never intended to be a standalone qualification," Judd says. "It is a technical certificate which assesses the academic component of plumbing only. The difference between this and an NVQ is like that between a doctor doing a few months' theoretical training and spending five years in a hospital."

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

 

[Heat Kent]

And yet there's so much work around just waiting to be done!

Obviously these people are just not trying to help themselves!

I dunno!

Was that for me you cheeky monkey?

I’m one of these career change people, I start my 6 week C&G 6035 course on 4 March. I’ve been working for £30 a day for the past year and I’ve just found out (literally half an hour ago) that the firm we do most of our site work for is going under.…. I can either huff and puff and give up or I can put my experience in business to good use and make it work for myself. I maintain, anyone can help themselves if they’re willing to make sacrifices and work hard. My glass is always half full, I just have to be better and work harder than the competition.

If all else fails at least I have the benefit system to fall back on ;o)

 

[Deleted member 25704]

Heat Kent,

From your other posts, it sounds like you have the most important ingredients for success in this business, which are an attitude for hard work and learning, and access to work experience in the company of a qualified mentor.

Don't worry about the courses, you sound home and dry!

Good Luck!

 

[Subby]

Kevin Wellman, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), is urging anyone who is thinking of spending their redundancy money on fast-track training to become a plumber, to reconsider.

Basically saying fast track courses are a rip off and useless to the student.

 

[petercj]

Don't be put off, it's just millionaire plumbers protecting the goldmine!

Plumbers only work a few hours a week, and get paid in cash so they don't have to pay any tax.

They get loads of money from scrap metal to pay for foreign holidays!

You'll be able to retire when you're 40!

I know this is right because it said so in the Daily Mail!

Good luck!

 

[Blake]

Damn, and I was just in the process of starting up a training centre as there aint much plumbing work about

 

[Kimou]

At least this organisation seem to have been consistent in their message over the past few years. Here is a statement from their previous CEO on the City and Guilds 6129:

The message is consistent, yes! But the message isn't worth the paper it's written on because nobody regulates the industry. What I find comical to the point of hypocrisy is that there are gas engineers complaining about protecting the industry who aren't qualified plumbers yet still undertake the works. As link goes on to say- "plumbers are at the forefront of health". How many gas engineers that are trained in gas safety really know about the regs of plumbing that safeguard the public's health? Bit of a 'have your cake and eat it' situation, eh?! Just an opinion.

 

[Deleted member 25704]

The message is consistent, yes! But the message isn't worth the paper it's written on because nobody regulates the industry. What I find comical to the point of hypocrisy is that there are gas engineers complaining about protecting the industry who aren't qualified plumbers yet still undertake the works. As link goes on to say- "plumbers are at the forefront of health". How many gas engineers that are trained in gas safety really know about the regs of plumbing that safeguard the public's health? Bit of a 'have your cake and eat it' situation, eh?! Just an opinion.

I think you have a valid opinion, and make a good point!

 

[Kimou]

I'll even go as far to say that they complain about the fast track plumbers competing for their work. That's like a muslim complaining about the price of beer these days lol

 

[Blake]

Interesting point but maybe a little insulting to time served plumbers who have then gone on to gain there gas.

 

[Kimou]

Not really. If they're plumbers, then they're plumbers. I'm not intending to insult anyone. I just come across this kind of complaint and think it funny, is all.

 

[Blake]

I'm only playing chap, I don't even like plumbers. They are like rats, you are never more than 6 feet away from one.

 

[Kimou]

lol then you're in a rats' forum as the name states. So I guess the gas engs are like the fleas and parasites off the rats' back.

 

[deandive]

Im one of the aforementioned gas engineers, with no plumbing qualifications who undertake plumbing work, I have however taken it upon myself to learn as much as possible about plumbing having worked alongside a plumber for a few years prior to taking my ACS. The truth is Joe Public have little knowledge of the industry and many see Gas Safe as the regulatory body for plumbing also. As long as there is no regulatory body for plumbing I dont see there is any need to gain plumbing quals ( I dont intend working on sites so a lack of CSCS card is of no consequence) I certainly will not be spending a fortune on a tech cert. I will however take any work that comes my way regardless of whether it is wet or dry........................On the other hand anyone fancy helping me through an NVQ lol