Advice for my son please?

[oz-plumber]

Doesn't the UK Government offer subsidies for the employer taking on a mature aged apprentice?

Are there no Government schemes that would benefit your son financially by doing an apprenticeship.

Maybe you should look into that avenue - it can do no harm.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Right.

He is not a fool, nor is he naive. To address the whole 'teachers are wealthy and have plenty of free time'..quite frankly that's complete and utter balls. He works 6-7 days per week, leaves the house at 7, returns at 6pm then does at least 3 hours work. He goes in on school holidays too. He gets verbally and physically abused by the kids he teaches and the parents are often no better.

He doesn't live in cloud cuckoo land- he KNOWS he will be on a lower wage but he needs to have a rough idea of what this would be.

He KNOWS he will need to work hard, build up confidence and experience until he feels comfortable. He does not expect to walk into a GE job and earn tons of money. He doesn't expect it to be a cakewalk either.

All he wanted was an answer to a question.
Thanks for the productive replies.

Believe me a lot of the guys on here do 6/7 days a week putting in even more hours, and earning a lot less than your son is getting, we also get abused, conned out of money, have to work not in warm and dry classrooms but outside in all weathers day & night, Its no fun being called out to problem on Dartmoor in the middle of winter at 11pm, But he needs to ask himself What is the absolute minimum income he can live on ?? and remember we don't get regular pay increases or meny holiday brakes, unlike schools we don't close several times a year, Guaranteed to be in regular employment is almost impossible and he can expect times when he wont be employed (More often than you think) So can you answer the question how much can he afford to lose from his income ? what does he need to earn just to pay the bills ? can he get by on 15K a year or less for the next few years ??

 

[SimonG]

Wish I had been a teacher. 🙂 Everyone of them I have known (and that is a lot!) have been quite wealthy and with plenty of free time and holiday time. Although most teachers will say they are overworked, stressed and underpaid. I think it can be one of those professions where they live in a bubble - usually a lifetime job, so easy for teachers to not understand the reality of other professions real life hard work.
I would stay with a job that you know and provides a high wage, but I can understand a person wanting to leave a profession that they have lost interest in.

Very true about the bubble. When construction dived in 90's I was laid off and worked in a factory. Full of people who had been there straight from school. All they did was moan and complain about the place. It was the easiest place I had ever worked in. I told them if they didnt like it then get a proper job in the real world.

Sometimes the bucket just seems shinier.

 

[gmartine]

I suspect mummy steered him into education which is why he doesn't like it anymore so time to tell your son to grow some and stick it out, enjoy the numerous holidays and or find another school where the conditions are better. The fact that you are here instead of him stipulating all the preconditions he requires demonstrates to me he really doesn't have the gumption or determination to change careers. Assuming he doesn't have a family he could rent the house, rent a room, live cheap, save some money for a year or three to get qualified but we really know that ain't going to happen because he's been coddled all his natural life.

 

[Last Plumber]

Right.

He is not a fool, nor is he naive.

I don't think anyone was trying to upset or offend you.

I think the thing here is that teachers do (and i'm sure you'll accept this), in general go through the system and never leave the same environment.
i.e. :-
Infants School - Junior School - Senior School - College - University - Teacher training College - Job (in School).
They may look at other jobs and think they seem appealing because they (not all but some) have never lived in the World outside an educational environment?
I personally (and I can only speak from my own experience and talk of teachers I know), think they have a good life. They do get long holidays, pensions, decent pay etc.

If he thinks that by leaving teaching and going into this trade, it will take him away from long hours, hard graft, paperwork, politics, regulations, responsibility, accountability etc, he will be sadly mistaken and will only be wasting more time in my opinion.
It is not a quick course at college - out into the van - off repairing Heating breakdowns. It will take a very long time to get to that stage.

If he wants hands on work with less responsibility, has he not thought of Labouring for example. That is not to put down Labourers as I know a few and they are worth their weight in gold. I just mean it is more a turn up, work hard, go home job! A lot get paid very well.

Out of interest, can I ask why he is not on here asking the questions?

 

[SimonG]

Very well put LP.

Not trying to offend, and likewise not going to say it's like a Disney movie.

Good luck in his future.

 

[Best]

The maths ain't right.
I don't think the hours are there for him at present if he continues in his teaching job while trying to do plumbing qualifications.
" leaving house at 7 ... back at 6..... then at least 3 hours work at home .... 6 or 7 days a week" doesn't leave any time for anything other than sleeping, unless he doesn't take meals. I make that over 14 hours work related per day - at minimum of 84 to 98 hours per week?
The teachers I know have nearly all their time off outside school, with the few exceptions at school functions. And they still complain.
I think it might be the wrong school if he is always doing those hours.

 

[firemant]

Sam, I know a lad who went down the course route. He is doing okay, and I helped out with his evidence. Another one I know struggled badly and ended up fitting meters full time. Nothing wrong with that but BORING.
The point is trying to find mentors. Search here and on the other well known DIY site and you will find dozens of posts offering free labour for mentoring and no one is interested. In my 2 cases, I only agreed as one is a friend's son, and the other a friend of a very good friend. I use to fun a heating shop and turned down requests almost weekly. There was a big local training centre. Strangely, I NEVER had an appt OK each from the centre themselves. In my opinion the centre should be arranging the mentors - but they know there will never be able to find enough without paying them. Free labour actually does us down, and we are responsible for any cock ups.

FWIW, my son in law is a NQT so I know the sacrifices that good teachers make. But a lot of the comments from others ARE valid.
All the best

 

[Scott_D]

Dont teachers get a 'hands off' day per week?
Maybe he could do plumbing work or college then?

 

[Sam D]

'Mummy' hasn't steered him into teaching or anything for that matter. In fact, 'mummy' tried to talk him out of it!

Life isn't Disney. We know.

I asked a perfectly reasonable question. I got a load of negativity to put it mildly. You have NO IDEA of my sons abilities, circumstances or anything. You just pour scorn on someone for only lord knows why. I came on this forum for a simple bit of advice as I figured it would be best to go to those in the know.
I didn't expect to come across so many small minded individuals who make assumptions about others.
If you think teaching is so bloody marvellous, why don't you go and do it?

I suspect mummy steered him into education which is why he doesn't like it anymore so time to tell your son to grow some and stick it out, enjoy the numerous holidays and or find another school where the conditions are better. The fact that you are here instead of him stipulating all the preconditions he requires demonstrates to me he really doesn't have the gumption or determination to change careers. Assuming he doesn't have a family he could rent the house, rent a room, live cheap, save some money for a year or three to get qualified but we really know that ain't going to happen because he's been coddled all his natural life.

 

[Sam D]

Dont teachers get a 'hands off' day per week?
Maybe he could do plumbing work or college then?

Never heard of a 'hands off' day in regards to teaching, sadly.

 

[SimonG]

It's behind you!

 

[jtsplumbing]

'Mummy' hasn't steered him into teaching or anything for that matter. In fact, 'mummy' tried to talk him out of it!

Life isn't Disney. We know.

I asked a perfectly reasonable question. I got a load of negativity to put it mildly. You have NO IDEA of my sons abilities, circumstances or anything. You just pour scorn on someone for only lord knows why. I came on this forum for a simple bit of advice as I figured it would be best to go to those in the know.
I didn't expect to come across so many small minded individuals who make assumptions about others.
If you think teaching is so bloody marvellous, why don't you go and do it?

No one is being negative with you we are just telling you how it is in this industry ! at 26 years of age he has only just started in his chosen career & not really given it a far chance, You mention that he cant take a large drop in earnings, is this because he has a mortgage and family to support ? Some have asked what is the minimum wage he could get by on and this question hasn't been answered !! starting as he is without any experience at all in the plumbing industry he is going to find it almost impossible to understand how systems work, doing the ACS will not teach him anything about how systems work, (in fact it will teach him very little other than the gas safety rules,) and this knowledge is required to do gas engineering work, most on here started doing plumbing work then after a number of years trained to do gas work, as with any job if you don't understand the basic's then you will never get anywhere, at the moment he is looking at a min of 10 years and by then if he is lucky he may have caught up with what he is earning now , Please don't think that by doing the ACS course within 2 to 3 years he will be earning the same or more than he is now ! It will not happen, will get disheartened, give it up and wish he had never left teaching ! with the education he has had he could do something better with his life, this is not an easy job to do, it involves long hrs., working in some disgusting conditions, a lot of heavy work and out in all weathers, its not all about working in customers homes drinking tea all day, We Proberly have to do more training & attend more courses than he did wile training to be a Teacher, He needs to think long & hard B4 jumping into the building industry, Don't be misled by what these training schools tell you ! they only want your money.

 

[Best]

I was certainly wanting to be negative about a teacher trying to become a gas plumber - and also doing that while not dropping in wages too much while training.
I have no idea what your son is capable of, but I will assume he is brilliant at learning and also great with working with his hands. But there is no doubt that a 20 year old plumber is already way ahead in experience and qualification, to put it into perspective.
Your son would be best to consider doing bathroom installs, using different trades. That way he needs no qualifications.

 

[thrillseeker]

You guys need to go commercial if you think money is low omg :O

 

[Last Plumber]

You guys need to go commercial if you think money is low omg :O

Why, do you find it a struggle ?

 

[thrillseeker]

No i meant it the other way money is great, jobs around birmingham are starting about 32k-38k

 

[Chalked]

My wife a teacher. All her friends are too.
They all get decent money holidays and pension.

That's three things I don't get much of.
They all moan about thier job, just like we do .

Every job has its plus and minus. Bit this trade is getting harder for less money.
I would not recommend anyone doing it as a career, just as the op's son wouldn't do it either.

 

[firemant]

This is the requirements stated by British Gas on their website, to be a Gas Engineer with them.:
We are looking for you to hold CCN1, CEN1 or CENWAT, CPA1, CKR1 and HTR1. Ideally you will also possess OFTEC and HETAS qualification however this is not essential.

Q) Does this mean then that you need a: a CCN1 or... a CEN1 or.. a CENWAT, CPA1, CKR1 and HTR1 as well as the ACS qualification?

yechnically, You need the core plus whatever you intend to work in. So a boiler basher will only need core CENWAT

Thank you for your replies. Unfortunately he can't do a BG apprenticeship as it would mean too much of a drop in salary. The course puts him with an engineer for a number of weeks to build up experience and his portfolio- he is also planning to contact some gas engineers locally and see if he can labour for them free of charge to gain insight and advice.

The above raises concerns. He cant afford to work with BG (with their sick and holiday pay etc? But he CAN afford to pay the course fees - (HOW MUCH!!) - AND work for nothing with an experienced guy?
As I said earlier, this forum (and the other and better IMO forum) is littered

'Mummy' hasn't steered him into teaching or anything for that matter. In fact, 'mummy' tried to talk him out of it!

Life isn't Disney. We know.

I asked a perfectly reasonable question. I got a load of negativity to put it mildly. You have NO IDEA of my sons abilities, circumstances or anything. You just pour scorn on someone for only lord knows why. I came on this forum for a simple bit of advice as I figured it would be best to go to those in the know.
I didn't expect to come across so many small minded individuals who make assumptions about others.
If you think teaching is so bloody marvellous, why don't you go and do it?

with requests from guy desperate to work for nothing. But guess what? Those experienced guys are working at roughly the same times as your son. And, in any case, how would he fit college AND free work in, if he is working stupid hours as a teacher?

DO NOT believe the idea that the college will provide an experienced guy.If they are saying they will, then tie them down to specific guarantees ref times and how many hours. In writing with a money back guarantee

'
I asked a perfectly reasonable question. I got a load of negativity to put it mildly. You have NO IDEA of my sons abilities, circumstances or anything. You just pour scorn on someone for only lord knows why. I came on this forum for a simple bit of advice as I figured it would be best to go to those in the know.
I didn't expect to come across so many small minded individuals who make assumptions about others.
If you think teaching is so bloody marvellous, why don't you go and do it?

I believe I wrote to you politely and without malice.It is a little offensive to then read this. It is true that no-one answered your "question", I have done so now. The reason that there was no reply was probably because it was fairly obvious, but ,TBF, one sometimes cannot see the wood for the trees. But pretty much every post was accurate, and I am 99% sure that your son will not be able to afford to become a RGI, for the reasons thoroughly discussed.

And, to answer your slightly churlish final question - FWIW, a lot of plumbers/RGIs do go onto to teach at college. But if you mean SCHOOL teaching, then the answer is probably the same. We could not afford to go through the training.
It is probably the case that ex plumbers would make excellent teachers, having had real world experience, rather than spending their entire post 5 years of age lives in the institution of education

 

[Ric2013]

In fairness to both sides, I have a friend whose girlfriend is a teacher. I asked her if it were the case that a lot of teachers are stupid and lazy. She replied that I was one of the few people who would understand why her job was so hard then - many of her colleagues were stupid and lazy and she was having to pull in the slack they were creating.

I suspect, though, that teaching gets easier with time, as the first year's lesson plans can form a base to be re-hashed for the second year etc., so you don't have to work from scratch after a while.

Also depends on the school. A grammar school can be very easy. Some of my teachers at a grammar school were absolutely useless, but they told us to work harder and generally got the results they wanted. Quite easy when the school can pick and choose who goes there and get rid of the undesirable pupils. A school which is the last choice has more challenging behaviour, and can, I'm told, have parents telling an IT teacher that they disagree with their son doing IT at all, so don't care that he messes about, because 'I.T. is all obsolete' (true story).

Basically, plumbing is hard work. If you enjoy the work, it's worth doing. If you just want to make a decent amount of money with relative ease, it really isn't worth the effort involved. Quite honestly, though teaching can be hard too, at least you're on a salary and have job security.