Re: should government make it law to be qualified plumber to do plumbing work for mon
Interesting thread.
The Scottish approach has merits I think,and there's no doubt it's too easy to get 'qualifications'. I also think the early post about having to have a recognised qualification before being allowed to start up in business is good.
I certainly think it's true that the general standard of work was better when an apprenticeship was the only way into the trade.I started my apprenticeship in 1988 and qualified 6 years later(2 years improvers). The first 2 years at college were block release,4 weeks at a time,it stands to reason that this type of training will produce better standards(in all trades)Of course there were bad plumbers then also,but over the course of 4 years they would get found out and dropped by the wayside. It's far easier to stay the course and get qualified if it only takes 12 weeks!
There are still apprenticeships around but from what I see they are much scarcer these days,I do think that generally the cream rises to the top and if someone is dedicated and good at the job they will do well and end up in the job they want.
Smudger raises some very good points and I like the idea of investing more in vocational subjects at school, that should be explored further.
Ultimately customers need to be more discerning in who they employ and that will always be difficult when price is the overriding factor and quality comes a poor second.I can count on one hand the number of times I've been asked to show my Gas Safe or Oftec card!
I'm sure many in the trade would say we have enough regulation already and skilled as we are,the job isn't really comparable to,say, a pilot or a doctor,for whom the selection and policing has to be far more stringent. I do agree that we need to tighten up the standards within the industry however,and fast track courses are doing nothing to help achieve that.