Where to next with work?

[Phillay]

Hi all,

I'm hoping some guys whomay have already been through it could give me some ideas on where Ican go next with the career I'm trying to kick-start.

Not knowing what I wanted, I chose A Levels instead of the apprenticeship route when I was younger...After 9 years working in financial services, I had the opportunityto change career and work alongside a local builder. I started outlabouring, cement mixing etc... and gradually built up my skills totake on tasks myself to a high standard.

After us building several extensions,refurbishing bathrooms and kitchens etc... I decided to get a tradeand as Plumbing seemed the most interesting and challenging, Ienrolled with my local college on the part time night course to do myTech cert level 2.

The recession obviously hit and I had topart ways with the builder and quickly got an office job to keep megoing financially and finish my tech cert. I then went on and gainedmy NVQ level 2 qualification by completing all the required evidenceduring the evenings, over the weekends and using my annual holidayentitlement.

Once qualified, I left the admin job I was in andset myself a little company to take on plumbing and some multi-tradeproperty maintenance. My intention was only to refresh my practicalexperience so companies or other plumbers would take me moreseriously when looking for work.

So my current situation isI'm 33, NVQ level 2 qualified, but still lack a lot of practicalexperience and confidence. I'm not looking to run my own business or have a desire to,I'mlooking to work for or with someone as that's more suited to me as aperson. The government seem to be changing the qualifications, so Ican even enrol to take on the level 3 tech cert and advance myselfthat way.

I'm not having much joy finding the opportunitiesand it's really frustrating as I consider myself a hard working,loyal, intelligent bloke, but have a horrible feeling things are happeningto late in my life for me to be able to pursue this career path. Doesanyone have any advice or good ideas they can offer?

Thank you!

 

[Simon F]

you could ask all the plumbing firms local to you if they need any help.
but with the trade skills and experience that you already have can you not go self employed??
focus on bathroom/kitchen installation mixed with general maintenance??
at the same time go back to college one day a week to get to level 3,
and maybe hope to get work on occasion with someone else to give give you more confidence.
or start advertising for work, doing od jobs weekend / evening, keep the office job until you get more work coming in??

 

[lame plumber]

do any small job, inc painting and decorating to get work and go from there. Not enough skills to be useful to most firms yet ie no acs, unvented etc. if you dont want to work for yourself, what makes you think an employer would want you? By that I am trying to get across, if you have the ability to earn for yourself, then you can earn for an vemployer and be of benefit to them!

 

[hammers4spanner]

question yourself this , why would an employer want to employ you at 33 years old with limited plumbing heating experience? there are many plumbs with several years of experience looking for work and with rates at a low these same plumbs are taking these jobs . As you said with the recession hitting large mechanical firms made redundant alot of skilled plumbs so alas its a very difficult trade to break into at the mo

 

[petercj]

Sounds like you have a wide range of skills, and while being well educated, that you are very realistic in your aspirations.

You've got the kind of track record that most youngsters don't have, and at 33, you are mature enough to make training a sound investment for someone, but young enough to give any employer a good return on their investment.

In a nut shell, you are very employable. But you need to be in the right place at the right time, and have the confidence to sell yourself as the good investment that you sound to be.

You need a good CV to get you some interviews - i.e. one that provides clear but concise evidence of your: Educational Achievements; Training, and Employment experience. Clean Driving Licence hopefully? One side of A4, and get it out to as many employers as you can - email is the cheapest way, but if you can drop it in to potential employers, that can be productive too. Send a copy to every employment agency in your area. Ask local merchants if they will leave a few copies on their counters, or stick it up on the wall.

Make up a folder containing copies of all your qualifications, references, and if have them, photographs of past work done.

Put a copy of your CV on Gumtree, with a description of the opportunities you are looking for, while stressing what you have to offer in the range of skills you have already. If you are flexible on hours, mention that too.

If you start doubting yourself because you don't find something straight away, get out your CV and your folder to remind yourself of all the reasons why an employer will want to employ you when you find the right one.

Good luck.

 

[sam51]

why does every one want to be a plumber.
the building trade is on its knees.there's no work.pay has dropped like a sack of poo.
the good days are gone,every tom dick and harry is a wannabe plumber.
the foreigners are at.
the plumbing trade was once a trade to be in,now there is no respect for us,
we are all a bunch of crooks.
we should have adopted the German method,
real apprentices, if you wanted to start your own business, had to get a masters certificate.
i'm 52 now,and would get out of this game tomorrow,but at my age what else can i do.

 

[Heat Kent]

Hi Phillay,

I’m in a similar boat to you, so maybe I can offer some…opinion, based on my own experience over the past 12 months.

I’m 30 and have an insurance background. I quit working in insurance about 4 years ago to set up my own entertainment company and then I started to retrain as a plumber in April 2012.

I’m sure you have already looked into the financial implications of re training and no doubt you have your own reasons for wanting to be a plumber.The old school guys can sometimes be a bit bitter and they tend to assume you think you’re going to make a quick easy buck. Obviously that’s not the case and most of us are mature and intelligent enough to figure that out on our own.

In the last 10 months I have earned about £4,500.00 working full time on an apprentice wage, I am paying to do my NVQ 2, gas, unvented and regs courses this year at a cost of £6,500.00 (I start on 4 March so I’ll keep you posted on how I get on). I decided to get site experience and do the job before committing to the financial outlay. At the moment I’ve made a loss ofabout £2,000.00 and I don’t expect to earn any profit over the next 12 months taking into account tool/equipment costs, training and set up.

At 30 the average office salary is just over £30,000.00, jumping to £40,000.00 for a middle management position, so you need to be able to afford to loose a good £60,000.00 in income over 2/3 years just to cover the cost of training, tools and equipment – If that’s not commitment then I don’tknow what is.

Once you’ve decided to put your life on hold for two years and accepted the fact that you’ll have less of a disposable income than you did when you left school, all you need to do is pursued someone to give you that chance. I’m lucky to have a friend who is a site manager and he found me a great guy to work alongside on £30 a day, but you might have to take unpaid work to get the experience. Don’t send C.Vs in the post, get out there yourself and speak to plumbers face to face, use all of the contacts you already have. You need to make sure you find a good guy to work along side, someone you can really learn from and trust. Offer to work for a month for free and go from there, they’ve got nothing to loose. I earn my boss at least £100 a day on site, so why wouldn’t he want me?

Sam – In answer to your question “…would get out of thisgame tomorrow, but at my age what else can I do?”

At 52 you’re one of the lucky ones, you would have been earning good money in the boom and had the opportunity to buy a house in the 80s/90s for a fraction of the price our generation have to pay. If we can change career at our age with young families and huge mortgages, then what’s stopping you? If you’re not happy it will reflect in your work (no matter what it is you do) perhaps it is time to pluck up the courage and pursue a line of work that will make you happy? At least you’ve got plumbing to fall back on…

There are lots of plumbers out there, but there’s still is ashortage of GOOD plumbers. I see a lot of work both on site and in private homes that is simply appalling. Make sure you’re really good and build up your reputation, you’ll be fine.

My advise would be:

• Don’t be a Jack of all trades. Specialise in doing what you enjoy and are good at.
• Don’t let the old school guys put you off – I would rather take on you than some teenager who goes out on the lash every weekend and gets his mum to phone in sick on a Monday morning
• Set realistic targets
• Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts
• When you're ready go it alone and take on your own apprentice (Maybe a career change guy like us).

Good luck

 

[sam51]

Hi Phillay,

I’m in a similar boat to you, so maybe I can offer some…opinion, based on my own experience over the past 12 months.

I’m 30 and have an insurance background. I quit working in insurance about 4 years ago to set up my own entertainment company and then I started to retrain as a plumber in April 2012.

I’m sure you have already looked into the financial implications of re training and no doubt you have your own reasons for wanting to be a plumber.The old school guys can sometimes be a bit bitter and they tend to assume you think you’re going to make a quick easy buck. Obviously that’s not the case and most of us are mature and intelligent enough to figure that out on our own.

In the last 10 months I have earned about £4,500.00 working full time on an apprentice wage, I am paying to do my NVQ 2, gas, unvented and regs courses this year at a cost of £6,500.00 (I start on 4 March so I’ll keep you posted on how I get on). I decided to get site experience and do the job before committing to the financial outlay. At the moment I’ve made a loss ofabout £2,000.00 and I don’t expect to earn any profit over the next 12 months taking into account tool/equipment costs, training and set up.

At 30 the average office salary is just over £30,000.00, jumping to £40,000.00 for a middle management position, so you need to be able to afford to loose a good £60,000.00 in income over 2/3 years just to cover the cost of training, tools and equipment – If that’s not commitment then I don’tknow what is.

Once you’ve decided to put your life on hold for two years and accepted the fact that you’ll have less of a disposable income than you did when you left school, all you need to do is pursued someone to give you that chance. I’m lucky to have a friend who is a site manager and he found me a great guy to work alongside on £30 a day, but you might have to take unpaid work to get the experience. Don’t send C.Vs in the post, get out there yourself and speak to plumbers face to face, use all of the contacts you already have. You need to make sure you find a good guy to work along side, someone you can really learn from and trust. Offer to work for a month for free and go from there, they’ve got nothing to loose. I earn my boss at least £100 a day on site, so why wouldn’t he want me?

Sam – In answer to your question “…would get out of thisgame tomorrow, but at my age what else can I do?”

At 52 you’re one of the lucky ones, you would have been earning good money in the boom and had the opportunity to buy a house in the 80s/90s for a fraction of the price our generation have to pay. If we can change career at our age with young families and huge mortgages, then what’s stopping you? If you’re not happy it will reflect in your work (no matter what it is you do) perhaps it is time to pluck up the courage and pursue a line of work that will make you happy? At least you’ve got plumbing to fall back on…

There are lots of plumbers out there, but there’s still is ashortage of GOOD plumbers. I see a lot of work both on site and in private homes that is simply appalling. Make sure you’re really good and build up your reputation, you’ll be fine.

My advise would be:

• Don’t be a Jack of all trades. Specialise in doing what you enjoy and are good at.
• Don’t let the old school guys put you off – I would rather take on you than some teenager who goes out on the lash every weekend and gets his mum to phone in sick on a Monday morning
• Set realistic targets
• Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts
• When you're ready go it alone and take on your own apprentice (Maybe a career change guy like us).

Good luck

i'm sorry but you will never make a good plumber,
back in the day you got a 5 year apprenticeship.taught by real plumbers.
not like you, a £6500.00 fast track course.
the class room is a million miles away from the real world.
i spend most of my life putting bad mistakes right from some wannabe plumber.
guess the public are to thick,they employ these Muppet's.
at 16 you probably don't know what you want to do,
but at 30,its a bit old to work that one out.
ill tell you being self employed is no bed of roses.
but Ive had a good life.
and ill carry on putting your mistakes right.
plumbing ain't rocket science,its when it don't work is the problem.and experience is knowledge.
i have 4 boys,who i taught at 8 years of age,when they were 16 they were as good as skilled.
none of them are plumbers.done something better,smart boys i have.
and sitting in your office on £40k with no stress,ain't bad.
be lucky,sam.

 

[stevetheplumber]

why does every one want to be a plumber.
the building trade is on its knees.there's no work.pay has dropped like a sack of poo.
the good days are gone,every tom dick and harry is a wannabe plumber.
the foreigners are at.
the plumbing trade was once a trade to be in,now there is no respect for us,
we are all a bunch of crooks.
we should have adopted the German method,
real apprentices, if you wanted to start your own business, had to get a masters certificate.
i'm 52 now,and would get out of this game tomorrow,but at my age what else can i do.

my sentiments exactly game is crap now no money and no fun any more

 

[Ray Stafford]

Ok, I'll chip in my two pennoth.

I'm not a plumber, but I sure know plenty of them, and have been studying plumbers most of my working life.

I reckon it takes FOUR things to make a successful self employed plumber.

Good technical knowledge and craft skill
Good interpersonal skills
Business acumen
The right character

If you are missing ANY of the four, you will struggle. I have lost count of the skilled blokes I have known who have suffered endless heartache and financial problems because technical skill isn't enough without the others.

It doesn't matter where, how or when you gain the technical skill. Sure, you are more likely to get a strong grounding if you do a proper apprenticeship combined with college, but its not impossible to gain those skills through other routes. One of the best plumbers I ever knew served 20 odd years as a fitter in the RAF and only started plumbing in his 40s when he came out. He was also a qualified electrician and ended up as a very skilled man. I know others that have been the long route and practiced for 30 years, but I wouldn't let them in my house to change a tap washer.

Without interpersonal skills, you will struggle. You can be the best plumber in the world, but if customers don't like you, they won't recommend you. Again, I know some very clever heating engineers who could never be self-employed, because they couldn't cope with the customers.

Our file of bad debts is littered with good plumbers with good personal skills who lacked business sense. They end up expanding too quickly, taking on overheads they cant afford, or taking on jobs they havent priced accurately, or working for builders they havent credit-checked. Recipe for disaster.

Finally - it takes a certain personality type to be self-employed, often with only yourself for company, no fall back position, living out of a van. It suits some, but doesn't suit others. If its not right for you, don't do it.

There is no right or wrong answers. There are just successful plumbers and unsuccessful ones, good years and bad years.

Oh - and to the poster who said we had it easy buying houses in the 80s and 90s. Yep, houses may have been cheaper, but mortgages were several times more expensive than they are now. Those of us who lived through it remember getting the letters from the building society telling us the interest rate had gone up to 8, 9, 10 or 12%. On one occasion briefly it was 15%. Didn't look that cheap to me at the time.

 

[sam51]

my sentiments exactly game is crap now no money and no fun any more

thanks steve. back in the day i got the real deal.
the city and guilds of London certificates, 1,2,3, and advanced level.
when i look at these,its a proud moment,
now every one has an NVQ,in any subject.
i tell you what these should be,
NVQ/WNE.
NOT VERY QUILIFIED WITH NO EXPERIANCE.

 

[Deleted member 25704]

I'm not a plumber, but I sure know plenty of them, and have been studying plumbers most of my working life.

I reckon it takes FOUR things to make a successful self employed plumber.

Good technical knowledge and craft skill
Good interpersonal skills
Business acumen
The right character

I think you are probably right, and you make a good observation.

However, even if we had all four attributes there are still things that work against us.

Recently my local butcher went out of business, after running it successfully for decades, so they had some business sense. His wife was crying in the shop as she told us they could not go on because the rent, and other overheads concerned with paying off loans on their new fridges and meeting environmental health legislation. I remember her pointing across the street to the supermarket, saying 'I don't know how they manage to sell their meat so cheap'.

Now we know why, with regard to the fact their competitors were selling horse meat products. The products were not what was described in the package!

Long established businesses are folding around us, yet we experienced installers must be rough, stupid and lacking busines savvy because we can no longer make a go of it. I think it is something more than this!

Those thinking of setting up as plumbers should consider whether they are being set-up!

 

[plumb-tech]

I dont understand all these office workers wating to be plumbers. when i left school i did insurance for 2 years then got into plumbing as my dad was a plumber, been plumbing now self-employed for about 8 years and cant stand it, no work, crap money, moaning customers, everyone thinks your trying to rip them off and that your earning £60,000+. Im trying to get back into an office based job but am finding it difficult to get one.....

 

[Heat Kent]

i'msorry but you will never make a good plumber.

Like I said, an awful lot of bitter old school guys out there…

back in the day you got a 5 year apprenticeship.taught by real plumbers.
not like you, a £6500.00 fast track course.
the class room is a million miles away from the real world.

Quitting your office job and doing a fast track course with the expectation of a job isn’t the way to go. I never questioned the fact that you NEED experience over all else. My boss has been plumbing for 20 years and spent the first two years of that as a teenage apprentice doing nothing but guttering for a big firm – That’s not the best way for us to learn. Likewise, I’ve seen other young apprentices being barked at and abused (often referred to as the bi*#ch). I’ve done a year of hard graft covering everything the teenage lads take 3 years to do and I can confidently say that my standard of work is better than theirs (better even than half the “experienced” guys I see on site). I take great pride in my work and can assure you everything is spot on. However, much like the OP I do lack confidence and frequently need guidance and advice – Forums like this are great for that when people aren’t too busy shooting you down.

at 16 you probably don't know what you want to do,
but at 30,its a bit old to work that one out. .

At 16 I wanted to join the RAF like my mum, dad and granddads. Unfortunately I couldn’t pass the medical. By 18 I figured out I wanted to be a plumber, but with a baby onthe way I had to put my wants to one side and concentrate on earning better money than an apprentice.

I’ve had a good life and ill carry on putting your mistakes right.

Good for you, perhaps a little encouragement for those of us trying to pursue a career we enjoy? Whilst I appreciate the offer, I will manage just fine without you following me round. Over the next few years of working along side an experienced plumber, I’m sure I’ll pick it up as will the OP if he perseveres and finds a good mentor.

I reckon it takes FOUR things to make a successful selfemployed plumber.

Good technical knowledge and craft skill
Good interpersonal skills
Business acumen
The right character

If you are missing ANY of the four, you will struggle. I have lost count of theskilled blokes I have known who have suffered endless heartache and financialproblems because technical skill isn't enough without the others.

It doesn't matter where, how or when you gain the technical skill. Sure, youare more likely to get a strong grounding if you do a proper apprenticeshipcombined with college, but its not impossible to gain those skills throughother routes. One of the best plumbers I ever knew served 20 odd years as afitter in the RAF and only started plumbing in his 40s when he came out. He wasalso a qualified electrician and ended up as a very skilled man. I know othersthat have been the long route and practiced for 30 years, but I wouldn't letthem in my house to change a tap washer.

Without interpersonal skills, you will struggle. You can be the best plumber inthe world, but if customers don't like you, they won't recommend you. Again, Iknow some very clever heating engineers who could never be self-employed,because they couldn't cope with the customers.

Our file of bad debts is littered with good plumbers with good personal skillswho lacked business sense. They end up expanding too quickly, taking onoverheads they cant afford, or taking on jobs they havent priced accurately, orworking for builders they havent credit-checked. Recipe for disaster.

Finally - it takes a certain personality type to be self-employed, often withonly yourself for company, no fall back position, living out of a van. It suitssome, but doesn't suit others. If its not right for you, don't do it.

There is no right or wrong answers. There are just successful plumbers andunsuccessful ones, good years and bad years.

Oh - and to the poster who said we had it easy buying houses in the 80s and90s. Yep, houses may have been cheaper, but mortgages were several times moreexpensive than they are now. Those of us who lived through it remember gettingthe letters from the building society telling us the interest rate had gone upto 8, 9, 10 or 12%. On one occasion briefly it was 15%. Didn't look that cheapto me at the time.

Agreed – My wife and I set up our first Ltd company in our early 20s to be more tax efficient. She does consultancy work for Barcap working the precious metals market and I managed to go self employed through the small firm of loss adjusters I worked for. We opened a bar when I quit and used it as a base to run the entertainment company from (I still have my entertainment company). Business is business and you can bet your bottom dollar someone who’s been on the tools since 16 will struggle more than someone who changes career later on in life.

 

[sam51]

Like I said, an awful lot of bitter old school guys out there…



Quitting your office job and doing a fast track course with the expectation of a job isn’t the way to go. I never questioned the fact that you NEED experience over all else. My boss has been plumbing for 20 years and spent the first two years of that as a teenage apprentice doing nothing but guttering for a big firm – That’s not the best way for us to learn. Likewise, I’ve seen other young apprentices being barked at and abused (often referred to as the bi*#ch). I’ve done a year of hard graft covering everything the teenage lads take 3 years to do and I can confidently say that my standard of work is better than theirs (better even than half the “experienced” guys I see on site). I take great pride in my work and can assure you everything is spot on. However, much like the OP I do lack confidence and frequently need guidance and advice – Forums like this are great for that when people aren’t too busy shooting you down.



At 16 I wanted to join the RAF like my mum, dad and granddads. Unfortunately I couldn’t pass the medical. By 18 I figured out I wanted to be a plumber, but with a baby onthe way I had to put my wants to one side and concentrate on earning better money than an apprentice.



Good for you, perhaps a little encouragement for those of us trying to pursue a career we enjoy? Whilst I appreciate the offer, I will manage just fine without you following me round. Over the next few years of working along side an experienced plumber, I’m sure I’ll pick it up as will the OP if he perseveres and finds a good mentor.



Agreed – My wife and I set up our first Ltd company in our early 20s to be more tax efficient. She does consultancy work for Barcap working the precious metals market and I managed to go self employed through the small firm of loss adjusters I worked for. We opened a bar when I quit and used it as a base to run the entertainment company from (I still have my entertainment company). Business is business and you can bet your bottom dollar someone who’s been on the tools since 16 will struggle more than someone who changes career later on in life.

nothing bitter about me pal.
with all your waffle about your company's,why do you want to be a plumber.
or is it you have failed at everything.
if you really do have any brains,take my advice get out of this country.
ozz is very nice at this time of year.

 

[TBServices]

I'm sick of seeing these threads tbh. The grass isn't greener over here.

If you look at the most successful plumbers, even on this board, the vast majority have been in the game since they were 16 and are now in their 40s. That's how long it takes to gain the necessary experience and skills, and build up a successful and profitable business.

You can't fast track and be successful overnight. The only people who manage this are first contact types, way out of their depth, doing shoddy work for too much money, giving the rest of us a bad name. These types of businesses generally don't last long before they're down the pan, leaving a wave of angry customers in their wake.

And no one will employ a fast tracker for a decent wage without experience under their belt.

I'm sick of going to terrible jobs, cleaning up crap work by guys who shouldn't be on the tools in the first place, yet taking away job opportunities for the actual skilled tradesmen around. The trades gone to s***. Excuse the pun.

 

[Koogatubac]

Sam......

Your awsum! Haha! Reading your posts are just making me laugh!

I dont see why people want to be plumbers these days neither, we dont earn that much and i work at least 12 hours a day...
If i could turn back time i certainly wouldnt of gone into the building trade...

 

[TimeServed]

Earn £50k+ per year by becoming a plumber today! Fast track courses starting now at just £5k!
Sick of seeing these adverts, but people fall for them.

 

[gasmanrob]

This is all getting a little heated.

I LOVE Plumbing and boiler breakdowns earns me more then enough to get by without the rest of associated work.
Yes the game is tough at the minute but you speak to anyone every industry is going through a hard time but the strong survive and the savvy can judge what's round the corner.

I own a lovely home drive a nice car treat the wife and sprog when I can,
yes my knees get sore yes I have bad days sometimes I go a day or two without earning a penny but I have put money aside for that.

Would I do it all over again?
To ruddy right I would. I'd just be slightly wiser.

 

[TimeServed]

I'm sick of going to terrible jobs, cleaning up crap work by guys who shouldn't be on the tools in the first place, yet taking away job opportunities for the actual skilled tradesmen around. The trades gone to s***. Excuse the pun.

Very well put.

 

[Heat Kent]

As you can see Phillay, the problem is everyone assumes we’re looking for green grass and expect to earn incredible wages. There’s so much negativity out there that you’ll find the brick wall gives you a headache.

It seems to me, you can make a good honest living (not a killing) doing a job you ENJOY. The suggestion that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is ridiculous. You need to put in several years graft with an experienced plumber and if you can stay working with them long term then that’s just great. The public know nothing of your experience or qualifications, they’re looking to buy into you. They need to see an honest, trustworthy guy, giving good advice and quoting a fair price. Once you’ve got the job you need to have the skills to do it well and there’s nothing to stop you from gaining those skills. Sure it’ll take you several years to build up contacts, experience and a good reputation, but remember experience doesn’t necessarily make you good! Whatever you do in life do it because you enjoy it – That seems to be where these guys went wrong

nothingbitter about me pal.
with all your waffle about your company's,why do you want to be a plumber.
or is it you have failed at everything.
if you really do have any brains,take my advice get out of this country.
ozz is very nice at this time of year.

I’ve not failed in business – We no longer need the Ltd Co as my wife has taken a permanent position and I don’t work in insurance anymore. My entertainment business is successful and I still run it on the weekends.

I have always wanted to be a plumber – Not for the money, just because I enjoy it. I don’t get why that’s so hard to understand and why people have to be so negative? With a good business background behind me, the right support and training from my mentor and a positive attitude… What can go wrong? :smiley2:

 

[Phillay]

Thank you everyone for your comments and opinions. It's certainly made for interesting reading! My apologies if my initial post has stirred up issues, it was purely to grasp as much advice as possible.

I can respect what everyone has had to say, I really can.

Not sure where the fast track route came up as I haven't actually gone down there, but granted I haven't gone the traditional route either and I fully appreciate that although I may have a 'qualification', I do lack a good ten years of experience I would have held having gone through an apprenticeship.

I left office work behind purely as I'd done it a long time and I wanted a career change and to try and make something more of myself. So when the opportunity to work and learn with an experienced builder came up, I took it.

I spent 3 1/2 years working in the building trade, starting out carrying bricks and filling a cement mixer, but moving on to more competent work as my skills increased. It was then that my father-in-law (a fully qualified Plumber, in his mid 50's and went the traditional route), suggested I look at a trade and that I should seriously consider Plumbing.

From there I signed on at my local regional college, spent 2 years of classroom/practical training, doing the same City & Guilds course that all the young apprentices take these days. I then spent a further year working on site, completing evidence that was observed and marked by my assessor (who was a time served Plumber & now a college tutor), even completing a load of lead weathering! haha. Total cost of £2k that went to the government, not a privately funded company.

I feel proud of myself for obtaining the full C&G NVQ 2 certificate, more so than gaining my A Levels if I'm honest.

I'm now just trying to build some form of a career in Plumbing. I'm not dreaming of large salaries and being my own boss, and if I don't feel confident I could do a job correctly to current standards, I don't do it. I've had to turn down a few jobs and stick with a bit of maintenance & repair for just family and friends. I'm just looking to work alongside some highly experienced guys, learning from them, building my confidence and to hopefully make an honest living for myself while being a good, trustworthy employee.

I'm not looking to steal clients, make quick money and I've never listened to the "IT Manager leaves £60k year job to become a Plumber" stories. Hopefully I find the right person and opportunity to fulfill my ambition and maybe one day, I may then be able to pass some form of knowledge and experience on to help someone else out.

But if the building trade continues to collapse, or it appears I have left it too late, then I'll just have to explore other avenues... Once again, I apologise if my initial post has caused trouble amongst forum members, but thank you very much for some of the very positive ideas and suggestions.

 

[Blake]

Absolutely no need to apologise pal or explain your reasoning for wanting to be a plumber.

 

[plumb-tech]

Wait till next January when all the Romanian and Bulgarians come over, then we'll see even less work...
I'm getting out while I can

 

[gasmanrob]

What are you going to do instead?

 

[plumb-tech]

Well I was gonna go back to uni but not now as its too long and no guarantee of a good job, so have decided to do an accountancy course as I would like an office based job in the finance industry. Just gonna be hard to get experience, will have to do some voluntary work. Shame cos bout 6 months ago I spent £1500 on my acs course but never completed the portfolio, just had enough of plumbing, and it's changed a lot since I started...

 

[northstar]

Well I was gonna go back to uni but not now as its too long and no guarantee of a good job, so have decided to do an accountancy course as I would like an office based job in the finance industry. Just gonna be hard to get experience, will have to do some voluntary work. Shame cos bout 6 months ago I spent £1500 on my acs course but never completed the portfolio, just had enough of plumbing, and it's changed a lot since I started...

what area do you live in ?

 

[plumb-tech]

Just outside of London, hertfordshire

 

[Deleted member 25704]

Well I was gonna go back to uni but not now as its too long and no guarantee of a good job, so have decided to do an accountancy course as I would like an office based job in the finance industry. Just gonna be hard to get experience, will have to do some voluntary work. Shame cos bout 6 months ago I spent £1500 on my acs course but never completed the portfolio, just had enough of plumbing, and it's changed a lot since I started...

If you don't have ties, university is free in Germany and some other Euro states. In Holland, its about 1k a year tuition fee to do Law Degrees in English! in top 200 World Universities such as Gronigen and Maastricht. If you get a job doing 8 hours a week of work (burger king etc) the Dutch government will pay you a grant of just over 3k a year. Holland has lowest unemployment rate in Europe so jobs are easy to get compared to here, and nearly everyone speaks English.

We have people here learning plumbing for the future, when these jobs will be taken by the foreign competition anyway because they are more qualified, more experienced and better trainined.

Expect a mass exodus of students the other way to learn professions - go for it!

 

[plumb-tech]

Yea I have to stay in the uk as I have kids and my partner wouldn't want to move abroad otherwise I would of left this country years ago. I was gonna start a business/finance degree with the open university which was gonna take 3 years and cost £15k but not sure if its better to just do a couple of quick courses and get an entry level job and work my way up.

 

[Deleted member 25704]

Yea I have to stay in the uk as I have kids and my partner wouldn't want to move abroad otherwise I would of left this country years ago. I was gonna start a business/finance degree with the open university which was gonna take 3 years and cost £15k but not sure if its better to just do a couple of quick courses and get an entry level job and work my way up.

University applications down in the UK. Professions will suffer their own skills shortages but don't believe anything sector skills councils say about skills shortages - look at what happened to plumbing.

If you can get into university then go for it, but be cautious about doing a degree through FE and paying top dollar. Admissions are down in the 3rd rate universities so pick out those in red brick or russel group to take out an investment on.

Apprenticeships and trades are less than minimum wage potential, because there is nothing else. Alternatively there is a gap in the higher education market openning up, with low interest loans and no need to pay it back if you do not earn anything - its a no brainer if you have A levels.

 

[plumb-tech]

I just don't know weather to spend 3 years studying to then not be able to get a job because I will be 32/33 year old graduate, do you not think its better to try and get an entry level job and work my way up

 

[Phillay]

It's interesting to read mate, here I am having spent 9 years working in the financial industry and then IT... and I've been trying to break away from it for the last 4 years to move into construction, hence me starting this thread.

Yet it appears there's alot of guys like yourself plumb-tech who want to go the other way and leave construction for the office industry.

Obviously the experienced plumbing guys here say the grass isn't greener and it's funny because it's the same thing I'd say for those moving out of construction into other areas.

The harsh reality of financial services (unless you're really qualified), is working for a salary of between £15-18k (that's midlands based, so will obviously be higher under London weighting), all your work is unit timed, you're expected to work at a speed of 110 mph without making mistakes, managers treat you like your 5 years old, and you have to suffer alot of office politics... It's fast paced and there's a lot of headache and stress.

But provided you can get with the right company and work with good people, you can progress and make a handsome salary, some of my mates earn circa of £30k, but it's a lot of responsibility. My suggestion would be to look at evening courses/qualifications with a local college, something you can do alongside your job, then hopefully start applying for some starter jobs, they'll take you more seriously (and you're not spending out too much money upfront).

It's very hard to obtain work in the construction trade when your office based and very much vice versa, trust me I know first hand, employers really struggle to take you seriously if you haven't had a proven background.

 

[Deleted member 25704]

I would go for the 3 year graduate qualification because it has currency for life

A plumbing NVQ3 is regarded poorly in the construction sector and has worthless currency because anyone can do an ACS in weeks and become registered. After five years you are paying for it again.

The long term value of a degree is proven - for existing vocational qualifications you are speculating.

If have a history degree, geography or anything you can teach - there is 30k a year and it doesn't have to be in your first subject area.

In addition, if you don't get a job, then you don't pay back the loan.

Those adult students thinking of spending £thousands should take note, that they can also apply for a student loan and pay it back when you earn over 21K - which will be never!

However, this is seen as some as scandalous, it is one way of financing your investment in training on the cheap if not for free:

UCU - University and College Union - Apprentices will have to pay to work

 

[plumb-tech]

I have thought about this a lot in the past 3 years, i started as a plumber back when i heard all these stories about how much they earn and as my dad was a plumber i thought id go for it, worst decision i ever made. Its very hard to make any money in plumbing these days unless you have a very large and loyal customer base. I dont know what its like in the midlands but down here you've got the ever increasing traffic everyday (very stressfull). A lot of polish builders claiming to be plumbers and doing jobs for half the price. If you dont speak fluent polish you will not be able to get a job at a site. And now they have said in jan 2014 were letting all the bulgarian and romanians over and guess what industry most of them are gonna work in??? (construction). There average wage in bulgaria is £20 per day so what you will have (like we had with the polish) is they will come over with there wife and kids, get a council house for free as they will say the wife is on her own, and then undercut every decent plumber trying to make a living, if they earn £40 per day they will be happy as they will not have any outgoings so will be sending £20 per day home to there savings account and spending the rest at there bulgarian supermarkets which will start popping up ( like the polish did). I know this as i have a couple of polish friends that done this for the last 8 years they have now gone back to poland bought businesses and live a comfortable life while we continue to struggle. I dont blame them i blame us because if someone said to you go to france for 5 years and you will come back with loads of money you probably would.

Anyway apart from that you cant retire now until your 70, can you imagine yourself under sinks or climbing through lofts at that age, im 29 and ive already had a knee operation and back hurts like hell. when i started i thought id run my own company after a while and employ people, cant see that happening now, I struggle to make £20k a year.
The stress in running your own plumbing company is huge, im actually on prescription drugs because of this and got receding hair line....

Im not saying for anyone not to do it if it is something you want to do, but dont o it just for the money as i did because thats long gone, the only ones making money are those who have done it for 30+ years which if you did an office based job for that long you should be making good money.

Being filthy all the time, not what i enjoy i would rather be in a nice warm office and just ignore the ****s with there office politics.