Furure of working in Gas industry

[combo]

Hi,
What do ppl think the future holds for working in the gas industry. I've floated in and out over the last few years, usually doing some agency servicing work and safety checking for councils/maintenance firms. Over the last year or two ive been jumping on other jobs in engineering and doing a few weeks here and there, then returning to gas. I''ve cleaned up my finances by doing this and I was thinking about jumping full on into gas in the new year...continue with whatever agency work I can get, get a webiste, jump on some breakdown courses and try and make breakdown work my main area over the next year ot two.
I've been offered a full on job in another industry, fitting drive belts. Money aint great i nitially ( training period )but within a two years or so I should be pulling in 25k ( with 30 possible on o/T ). Trying to decide what to do.

 

[DaveTidy]

Gas will be around for some time yet. When I started 35 years ago it was due to run out in 2012 but here we are with new discoveries all the time, got to get through the gas to get to the new oil fields found so will certainly be ok for a few decades yet.

Renewables will come in slowly, I say slowly as the government keep coming up with new hair brained ways to mess up introduction of new technology e.g. the green deal, cert, eco, loose Kyoto targets and god knows what new ones.

As for technology and focus. As the boilers get better, breakdown rates lower hence longer guarantees, I think we will see the recognised split between a non specialised service only engineer and a more specialised repair engineer with greater skills around fault finding and electrical knowledge.

 

[stevetheplumber]

personally i wouldnt go down the breakdown route now long warranties on everything means only the big boys will get the legit work everyone else will be fighting for the small amout of boilers that didnt get registered which will be in the carp end of the market
ive seen the small works market in london decimated by the amount of people who have insurance cover which is the same, the bulk of the work is now for those without steady incomes to pay for insurance

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I’d say, will be all dead well before that.
And people will be digging for gas on the Moon and Mars.

I'd image my kids all under 9 will br long retired before we have to worry about no more gas.

 

[iain85]

personally i wouldnt go down the breakdown route now long warranties on everything means only the big boys will get the legit work everyone else will be fighting for the small amout of boilers that didnt get registered which will be in the carp end of the market
ive seen the small works market in london decimated by the amount of people who have insurance cover which is the same, the bulk of the work is now for those without steady incomes to pay for insurance

100% this...

Also Custards will not tolerate you learning on their appliances, especially when you make mistakes you will be lumbered with the cost of the part and lost time. The newer appliances have very expensive parts which quite often make people consider replacement over a costly repair. I believe the way of the market is to offer circa 10 year warranties with the view to replacement at the end of this period.
Obviously this is all IMHO.

I reckon if I had to start again I would get into high end bathroom installs.

 

[Millsy 82]

Me personally I can't see the long warranties going on for much longer. Now that things are steadily getting better I can see them bringing back down the warranty. They also can't be making a decent profit by only selling a boiler then not selling parts.

 

[newcastle phill]

The flip side to long warranties or warranties in general is everyones presuming people religiously have the boiler/heating serviced to keep warranty valid.
My backside lol
Out of everyone I know from bin men to school teachers to tv chef they are all out to save a few quid or forget.
a very small amount do, and thats even with me chirping on to try and make a few quid and do it cheaper.