Retraining in Gas

[PDS808]

First off hello all, first post and all that..
Anyroad, would just like a few opinions, i'm considering retraining as my trade (printing/newspapers) is basically on its arse, got made redundant last year and still can't get back in the game (currently work as a machine operator for a large manufacturer but hate it).
Been considering retraining in gas engineering, which will cost around 3 to 4 grand or so, thing is i am 39 and am concerned about the prospects of actually getting work once i'm qualified and on the gas safe register. Obviously i'd have the qualifications but little experience, so i'd be competing with people that would potentially have years more experience than me, if you get my drift.

Any working gas engineers here give me opinions on what my prospects could be? Or if there's any similar people here that have retrained in gas maybe give me an insight of their experiences.

Cheers in advance.

 

[safc]

Have you got any expeirance in the trade ? If not to get gas safe registered you will either need first a nvq level 2 min or put together a gas portfolio. So you will need to gain experiance first with a qualified engineer. All in all will prob take a few years. Hope that helps

 

[PDS808]

I expected to do the NVQ2 plumbing but have been told i can instead take an introduction to gas course, which consists of mostly theory (200 hours) and basic welding/pipes/working with steel course. This will give me the relevant certificate needed to take the gas engineering course. (Cost £600).

I'll get to put a portfolio together on the full gas engineering course (cost £2999), which also includes a certain amount of hours working with a fully qualified engineer on real jobs (as well as a certain amount of hours in the college workshop and 3 days of assessments), so i guess i will have a certain amount of experience. The course is quite intense as it lasts months rather than years, but unless i'm totally useless i'll gain a place on the gas safe register at the end of it. Still, i'll only have a few months worth of experience rather than someone who's had years.

 

[jpm]

You will only get on the GSR after passing ACS,then you pay,go to probationary period,then,register all gas jobs,then you need to be assessed by a GSR inspector in the first 3 months,according to the latest blurb from GSR.At least the dogs came to see you first but het ho

 

[PDS808]

I'll obtain the relevant ACS and assessments on gas engineering course, that's what i'll be paying the money for after all, and the portfolio is created during the course before assessment. It's all fully legit or i wouldn't be considering throwing 3 grand at it. It's just the time aspect that concerns me, i'd feel happier taking it over a couple of years as an apprentice or something, but that ain't going to happen at my age really. Taking advice from above i'd probably feel more confident gaining the plumbing NVQ first.

 

[migoplumber]

get your plumbing nvq first, see how you like it. shop around, google around, many training companies have got bad reviews. read the threads on here for a start

 

[PDS808]

I've just read a few interesting threads yeah, i've no doubt about the training company themselves (as they were recommended by a local colleges plumbing tutor i know, who incidentally also told me to get the level 2 NVQ), however it seems the sticking point is getting an experienced engineer or company who will let me train with them, the training centre said they will help me to find one, but i'd rather have that in writing before i part with any cash as suggested in some of these threads.

 

[NADSTER]

Listen my friend - don't let your age get in the way of your future. If you retire at 65 , that's still 26 years of working and making a valuable contribution to society. If anyone says your too old, ask them if they could spend the next 26 years in prison - it's a very long time!!

My situation is similar to yours except that I'm 44. Like you my industry has seen more buoyant times and I am going to retrain in gas next year. I just need to decide which training provider to use.

Who are you considering and which area are you based in?

PS Neil Armstrong was nearly 39 years old when he took his ' small step '

and what about Alan Shepherd? Well he was 47!!

 

[Puddle]

PS Neil Armstrong was nearly 39 years old when he took his ' small step '

It do'nt take that much to walk accross a warehouse,climb on a set and pretend to take the first step on the moon,thought his acting was not that good anyway

It will take alot more to get all the qualifications needed to become fully gas safe

Being a young 39 year old wiper snapper is not a problem,lots of time as retirement will probably be 80 by the time you get anywere near it

Experiance is a big thing but you can make up a bit of that by being very good at what have learnt and becoming knowlagable in back ground details
You should also get on some boiler and other manufactorers courses,and build up experiance/knowlage of how they operate and faults that occur and why
Also there are areas in the plumbing field that does not have alot of knowlagable/experianced people,like the renewables and green sectors,this could be an area to explore

 

[Bernie2]

Finding work or should I say customer's after your ready to go self employed, is no different than selling anything else.

Gas fitting and Plumbing are a service as regards the market.

I would read up on a salesman's training site, it may give you some ideas.

Incidentally, in most places, central heating companies are falling over themselves looking for work. So the market is price related as well as reputation related.

Learn from the big boys, competative fixed price seems the way to go, with add on's if required.

That basically means looking at the job first and giving a set price before you start. Its not unusual for some companies to ask for the price of the materials before they start.