Do you think I'm qualified??

[Gray0689]

Highly unlikely have trained many an apprentice who have gone on to other firms or worked for themselves and had a good career from it , however anyone from a forces back ground has proven to be a liability either when ive contracted them on works or when ive been contracting on site , my last foreman on a commercial works was ex army and the firm went bankrupt within a year of him being made up he since went on to start his own business up which again folded due to his incompetance . I dont pass any works on to anyone these days unless i know they are competant been stung to many times by fast trackers .

You just sound anti forces then

 

[gaspastemania]

No anti fast track just the majority i come across are ex forces as area i live in ,another anti fast track i came across was a so called engineer who bodged over 100 comissions on boilers in a new build site , this cost the firm i was subbying to final payment which resulted in job loses . fast tracking is all about making training centres quick money and cons the public into thinking they are getting real tradesman .

 

[blayedrunner]

Re: Help...Do you think I'm qualified??

I have worked with engineers with 15 years experience an they have been DANGEROUS!!!!! Its not just experience that makes you good, its how competent you are, how much pride you take in your work an research into what your doing. This "i have worked twenty years therefore i'm better than you" is just a total falsehood an unfair on the newly qualified guys. Again some new guys will be rubbish but some will be good.

Final point of the day..... I was out with a experienced guy (15 years/BG/Self Empolyed etc etc) to do my portfolio, he decided to angle grind into steel gas pipe. Is the good????? Hummmmmmmmm

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

i once had a ex forces training with me total clown of a guy but thats not because he was ex forces i think the army booted him out as well,i would have thought ex forces are very disciplined and want to learn

 

[Dave'o]

Re: Help...Do you think I'm qualified??

I have worked with engineers with 15 years experience an they have been DANGEROUS!!!!! Its not just experience that makes you good, its how competent you are, how much pride you take in your work an research into what your doing. This "i have worked twenty years therefore i'm better than you" is just a total falsehood an unfair on the newly qualified guys. Again some new guys will be rubbish but some will be good.

Final point of the day..... I was out with a experienced guy (15 years/BG/Self Empolyed etc etc) to do my portfolio, he decided to angle grind into steel gas pipe. Is the good????? Hummmmmmmmm

Again...another post I totally agree with.

I shouldn't say...but I've also had some dodgy experiences with my senior "more experienced" time served with BG since he was 15...and now he's in his mid 60's.....

"This meter union is a bit tight...I know...get the blow lamp on it!!"

Disconnect gas fire...."damn...no caps in the van...never mind..crimp and solder..that will do.."

 

[paulnwales]

no offence mate but far from it, it takes years..

 

[Dave'o]

no offence mate but far from it, it takes years..

None taken...I understand I'm just taking my first few steps..but I'm getting there.

 

[plumbster3456]

Dave, you've done it right, working with gas engineers whilst learning and completing a course. Working on the job is the correct way to learn and achieve however maybe most people in the industry would expect you to have qualifications and extensive experience in plumbing and heating systems prior to this stage. You didn't mention this in your story so perhaps people have put 2 and 2 together?

Is he not basically got the same now as what you would get doing an apprenticship at british gas? obviously hes done it in 15 months instead of 3 years I am sure bg course is only 3 years he is now a service engineer with no knowledge at all on plumbing systems.
This is were there guys are so he actually has done not too bad in 15 months on qual front and I would say 15 months is enough time to pick up the basics in gas after all most of the big plumbing firms only put there apprentices on the gas side of things to learn in there 4th year.
You have done well but will be limited to what you will understand on the different systems as you never went through the plumbing/heating route.
I would in my opinion still class this as fast track as I think all gas engineers should no the plumbing/heating systems inside out which you wont if you havent done plumbing.

good luck

 

[GQuigley67]

at least 3 years of practical work, I've been in it 5 year but I take pride in my work and always do my best, some older guys i worked with didne care how it looked or about it just wanted the wage, i would say at least 3 years though theres alot to take in and perfect

 

[plumbster3456]

at least 3 years of practical work, I've been in it 5 year but I take pride in my work and always do my best, some older guys i worked with didne care how it looked or about it just wanted the wage, i would say at least 3 years though theres alot to take in and perfect

my trades man was lazy but I learned quick this way but even then I would not have been ready after 15 months

 

[Dave'o]

Is he not basically got the same now as what you would get doing an apprenticship at british gas? obviously hes done it in 15 months instead of 3 years I am sure bg course is only 3 years he is now a service engineer with no knowledge at all on plumbing systems.
This is were there guys are so he actually has done not too bad in 15 months on qual front and I would say 15 months is enough time to pick up the basics in gas after all most of the big plumbing firms only put there apprentices on the gas side of things to learn in there 4th year.
You have done well but will be limited to what you will understand on the different systems as you never went through the plumbing/heating route.
I would in my opinion still class this as fast track as I think all gas engineers should no the plumbing/heating systems inside out which you wont if you havent done plumbing.

good luck

Unfortunately...apprenticeships are few and far between theses days. I would have jumped at the chance of such an opportunity. I get a sense that "fast trackers" get judged far too quickly...assumed that all want to cut corners and make as much money as fast as possible. I feel options is key...and there isn't much out there.

I feel this was the correct and only option for me and I'm very happy with my decision...I'm not saying I'm ready to go out on my own..far from it. (even though my employer, tutor, accessor all think I am more that capable)

I just feel a bit disheartened as no matter how good I am at my job, I will always be trying to prove myself to others. As there's no real method of knowing "good" from "bad"...It's just assumed I'm/we're bad because the fact we're classed as "fast trackers"

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Unfortunately...apprenticeships are few and far between theses days. I would have jumped at the chance of such an opportunity. I get a sense that "fast trackers" get judged far too quickly...assumed that all want to cut corners and make as much money as fast as possible. I feel options is key...and there isn't much out there.

I feel this was the correct and only option for me and I'm very happy with my decision...I'm not saying I'm ready to go out on my own..far from it. (even though my employer, tutor, accessor all think I am more that capable)

I just feel a bit disheartened as no matter how good I am at my job, I will always be trying to prove myself to others. As there's no real method of knowing "good" from "bad"...It's just assumed I'm/we're bad because the fact we're classed as "fast trackers"

you wont be trying to prove yourself to anyone except your self the best tool you can posses is a conscience,if you have this,worry about what you have done that day you will go far in the gas industry,good luck

 

[Dave'o]

you wont be trying to prove yourself to anyone except your self the best tool you can posses is a conscience,if you have this,worry about what you have done that day you will go far in the gas industry,good luck

Thanks Gas Man

A bit of positivity is always nice

 

[fuzzy]

id like to say yes but finding it difficult. your definately qualified as you have the certificates but lets be honest you lack experience, theres a reason all trainees into trades have been 4 years minimum for centuries, now we feel 18 months in a centre is enough
sorry but id say no, may be worth telling others thinking of paying lots of money out

 

[darrenangel]

If you have been doing heating /plumbing for less than five years then i gauge you as apprentice then improver ,in all honesty have not got time of day for anyone who never left school to be a plumber ,,,,but thats just my opinion of fast track .

I'm glad the majority of sane individuals don't share your narrow minded outlook on life and career choices. If what you believed in was followed through to its natural conclusion, then anyone leaving school would only be able to work in the same profession for life. Not everyone at 16 or 18 know what they want to do for the rest of their working life. Even if they do, people get made redundant, circumstances change, are you saying these people should just go on the dole, rather than re-train and provide for their family's. Or is it you just don't want people joining your precious plumbing industry. If people join the industry and they aren't competant, then they won't last long, but that is their choice. Get that chip off your shoulder and stop behaving like a dinosaur.

 

[fuzzy]

I'm glad the majority of sane individuals don't share your narrow minded outlook on life and career choices. If what you believed in was followed through to its natural conclusion, then anyone leaving school would only be able to work in the same profession for life. Not everyone at 16 or 18 know what they want to do for the rest of their working life. Even if they do, people get made redundant, circumstances change, are you saying these people should just go on the dole, rather than re-train and provide for their family's. Or is it you just don't want people joining your precious plumbing industry. If people join the industry and they aren't competant, then they won't last long, but that is their choice. Get that chip off your shoulder and stop behaving like a dinosaur.

If they are not competent they could kill someone. Your view of just letting anyone loose on the trade would be the end of all control in soceity never mind plumbing and gas.

Nothing wrong with people joining what ever their age, age is not an issue, not getting qualified and getting half quals without experience and calling yourself a trades person is an issue.

You try to turn it round to an age thing, your self pity will not win anyone over or make propr tradepeople feel sorry for you

 

[darrenangel]

Fuzzy, sorry if I wasn't clear. I don't think anyone should be allowed to trade without the relevant qualifications. The point I was making was in reply to Gaspastamamia who said he doesn't have any respect for anyone that doesn't leave school and go straight into plumbing. I didn't bring up the age issue, I was just replying to that comment.

 

[franky]

I can understand Gaspastamamia point it would be hard for us to go, sod it I'll go and be a surgeon try and find a 15 month course for that. if its a case of adults leaving other jobs there should be better training facilities for them. Collages are ripping people off it should be government run and over a longer time frame

 

[Dave'o]

I can understand Gaspastamamia point it would be hard for us to go, sod it I'll go and be a surgeon try and find a 15 month course for that. if its a case of adults leaving other jobs there should be better training facilities for them. Collages are ripping people off it should be government run and over a longer time frame

You're not seriously comparing gas with surgery are you??

Fortunately, people in the gas industry have Gas Safety manuals, MI, Technical advice and the Internet to refer too...as long as the gas safety fundamentals are in practice I see no problems..we don't have to commit ourselves to anything we don't feel comfortable/competent about doing...as long as we leave life and property in a safe condition we can always turn our backs on a job.

Saying that... do agree there are some serious problems with regulating some so called training facility who only see the £ signs.

I done my training at Leicester College at a fraction of the cost some training facility were offering and they were not going to let any Tom, Dick or Harry pass if they didn't think they were competent to do so.

Well..here's to a life long road of learning and improvement 🙂

 

[gaspastemania]

I'm glad the majority of sane individuals don't share your narrow minded outlook on life and career choices. If what you believed in was followed through to its natural conclusion, then anyone leaving school would only be able to work in the same profession for life. Not everyone at 16 or 18 know what they want to do for the rest of their working life. Even if they do, people get made redundant, circumstances change, are you saying these people should just go on the dole, rather than re-train and provide for their family's. Or is it you just don't want people joining your precious plumbing industry. If people join the industry and they aren't competant, then they won't last long, but that is their choice. Get that chip off your shoulder and stop behaving like a dinosaur.

Nowhere have i said that anyone should go on the dole i am stating that the reason you have apprenticeships is to develope your trade .There are many cowboys out there and in my experience most have come from fast track courses learnt plumbing/gas within 12 months. Its unfair on the public that these people are let loose on there homes never mind blagging there way into other companies with false refs etc.Apprentices make mistakes fast trackers make BIG mistakes which can be costly which is why i wont sub or ask for extra pair of hands on works unless i know that they have 5 years experience which your are guaranteed from full training and not some quick fix guide.
Mistakes in this trade can be costly !!!1Have seem some funny ones tho from fast trackers so can be good comedy value so has its plus points.