Rate my business plan

[CHRISX]

Appreciate this info Chris. This is quite enlightening to me. I had always been of the impression that if the work was done to regs and someone was willing to check it over and certify it as such then it was considered OK.

Probably more concerning is that I have mentioned this before to various training providers and no one has pointed out this not being OK.

Time the reconsider my position I think. Thanks for the info guys.

Hello again Jamesjamie,

I could not reply to your message quoted above immediately because I was having a late Dinner.

I am not trying to labour my previous points - but regarding your comment here:

QUOTE:

I had always been of the impression that if the work was done to regs and someone was willing to check it over and certify it as such then it was considered OK.

END OF QUOTE

It is exactly because the Gas works would NOT have been carried out `to the regs` that makes it illegal for a registered Gas Safe Engineer / Installer to `Sign it off`.

The MAIN Regulation is that ALL Gas works must be carried out and `Signed Off` by a Gas safe registered Gas Engineer / Installer.

Chris

 

[Riley]

I fear we are wasting our breath here the OP seems to think it’s an easy trade to get into so good luck to him

 

[Zippymark]

I'm going to try and be a bit more positive, if you went by the advice of most here no one would ever come in to this trade. It sounds like you're in a fairly good position in that you're not so reliant on the income and have people you can learn from. It's almost certainly going to take you longer to get to the point you want to, it just takes time. From me actually starting to train to being a self employed gas engineer took around 5/6 years in total, but got there in the end. What i'd say is only take on jobs you're comfortable with at first, say no to stuff that you feel is too much. I did a 20 week gas course (after level 2+3 college), plus going out with engineers to build the portfolio and after that you're still not quite ready until you've got a bit more experience, so i'd say maybe offer to help the guys you know at a low rate. Also once you're qualified go on all the boiler manufacturer's free courses. Be wary of how the course phrase the placement with an engineer, it sounds like you're just mirroring them to learn so should be ok, but i knew a course that guaranteed a job at the end but it was just an interview, which no one ever got the job for.

As others have said signing off other people's work isn't legal so don't base your plan around that. One other thing i'd say is a gas course will teach you nothing other than gas, so you're going to need to learn the overall workings of a heating system, even how a boiler really works from elsewhere. Unless you work for a big firm you can't really just work on gas, people will just tell you their heating doesn't work, they won't know if it's the boiler or something else causing it.

 

[Riley]

What you say is fair point but still not realistic to many people who think they are going to learn an apprenticeships worth of knowledge in 20 weeks. No one is debating it cant happen but there are so many people trying to run before they can walk and talk as if plumbing is a simple trade that anyone can get into, when truth be told it’s just not. The problem with these courses is they dumb down the trade further and as such you get bad jobs for poor money, the customer knows no different so the cycle continues

 

[Jamesjamie]

I'm going to try and be a bit more positive, if you went by the advice of most here no one would ever come in to this trade. It sounds like you're in a fairly good position in that you're not so reliant on the income and have people you can learn from. It's almost certainly going to take you longer to get to the point you want to, it just takes time. From me actually starting to train to being a self employed gas engineer took around 5/6 years in total, but got there in the end. What i'd say is only take on jobs you're comfortable with at first, say no to stuff that you feel is too much. I did a 20 week gas course (after level 2+3 college), plus going out with engineers to build the portfolio and after that you're still not quite ready until you've got a bit more experience, so i'd say maybe offer to help the guys you know at a low rate. Also once you're qualified go on all the boiler manufacturer's free courses. Be wary of how the course phrase the placement with an engineer, it sounds like you're just mirroring them to learn so should be ok, but i knew a course that guaranteed a job at the end but it was just an interview, which no one ever got the job for.

As others have said signing off other people's work isn't legal so don't base your plan around that. One other thing i'd say is a gas course will teach you nothing other than gas, so you're going to need to learn the overall workings of a heating system, even how a boiler really works from elsewhere. Unless you work for a big firm you can't really just work on gas, people will just tell you their heating doesn't work, they won't know if it's the boiler or something else causing it.

Thanks for the feedback.

At what stage did you feel confident enough to carry out services and give landlord certificates?

 

[Riley]

That’s the point. It’s one thing doing a landlords gas certificate it’s quite another doing it properly as required by gas safe. To many it’s slam in the fga turn on the hob and be out the door before any questions are asked.

 

[Welder]

That’s the point. It’s one thing doing a landlords gas certificate it’s quite another doing it properly as required by gas safe. To many it’s slam in the fga turn on the hob and be out the door before any questions are asked.

There are none so blind as those who do not want to hear Riley...

 

[Jamesjamie]

There are none so blind as those who do not want to hear Riley...

I'm listening....... What's your advice?

 

[Jamesjamie]

That’s the point. It’s one thing doing a landlords gas certificate it’s quite another doing it properly as required by gas safe. To many it’s slam in the fga turn on the hob and be out the door before any questions are asked.

And you think that'd what they would teach me to do on a fast track course?

 

[Welder]

I'm listening... What's your advice?

My advice was given many posts ago James.

 

[Riley]

I'm listening... What's your advice?

I think the advice we’ve all been trying to get across is that it’s not an easy job to do or get into. There is so much to learn and spend out. Nothing is ever simple and everyday is a school day. If you’re still keen then do it but getting gas safe properly and I mean with experience requires you to work with someone, not necessarily legally but come on, even when qualified common sense says you will be green for a good few years before you’re confident tonbe solo. It is not something you can just read the instructions and get on. You need real world experience.

 

[Riley]

You will learn how to pass an exam you won’t get what I’d call real experience

 

[Zippymark]

Thanks for the feedback.

At what stage did you feel confident enough to carry out services and give landlord certificates?

So to give you a full history I did Level 2 plumbing at a college (2 years), level 3 (another 2 years), whilst working in a plumbing and heating merchants for all but the first year of that. Then after maybe another year did the gas, then once qualified started doing little jobs (services, fitting taps, repairing toilets etc), mainly for friends and some i got via the shop. It was really after i'd done everything a few times that i thought i'd go for it and go out on my own. Landlord's certificates are fairly easy once you've qualified, it's the same sort of thing they drum into you over and over again whilst training, just take your time. The only thing i'd say is a lettings agency is going to want someone to cover everything, not just the easy jobs.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thanks for the feedback.

At what stage did you feel confident enough to carry out services and give landlord certificates?

Straight away. Servicing and landlords should be your bread and butter.

 

[Jamesjamie]

I think the advice we’ve all been trying to get across is that it’s not an easy job to do or get into. There is so much to learn and spend out. Nothing is ever simple and everyday is a school day. If you’re still keen then do it but getting gas safe properly and I mean with experience requires you to work with someone, not necessarily legally but come on, even when qualified common sense says you will be green for a good few years before you’re confident tonbe solo. It is not something you can just read the instructions and get on. You need real world experience.

Fair points. To be honest I'm taking time to mull things over as you guys have made me take stock. So from that point of view to those who were trying to give me a bit of a reality check you've achieved your goal and possibly helped me out! However I've not quite gave up, am rather looking into steps where I can ensure I've got a solid plans once I'm got through the initial fast track training.

 

[Riley]

You will learn how to pass an exam

Straight away. Servicing and landlords should be your bread and butter.

agreed but it’s amazing how many can’t

 

[Harvest Fields]

No one is debating it cant happen

It sounds to me like they are and it has always been the same on here. The OP just needs to realise that the approved and respected method on here and anywhere else will always be from an apprentice. However you only get out what you put in. If you are expecting to earn £50000.00 a year in your first 5 that will just not happen. It takes time, effort and a lot of sacrifice.

 

[Harvest Fields]

agreed but it’s amazing how many can’t

Doesn’t mean the Op will not be able to.

 

[Riley]

Doesn’t mean the Op will not be able to.

Fair point

 

[Jamesjamie]

It sounds to me like they are and it has always been the same on here. The OP just needs to realise that the approved and respected method on here and anywhere else will always be from an apprentice. However you only get out what you put in. If you are expecting to earn £50000.00 a year in your first 5 that will just not happen. It takes time, effort and a lot of sacrifice.

I could get by on earning between a grand and 1500 a month these days.