Apprenticeships

[jaydebruyne]

Hi,

I'm sure you get these type of posts all the time, so please accept my apologies in advance. However, if I don't ask the question I'll never know the answer.

I've just completed the 6035 C&G Level 2 in Plumbing including the NVQ Environmental Exam, as well as the Logic Water Regs and Unvented Hot Water Systems courses. I'm still yet to complete the NVQ assessments. But without work this won't happen.

I did the course fast-track with The Plumbing Academy and while this was great to get me through the exams, it gave me no experience whatsoever other then the installs we did (WC, bath, wash basin, rad, storage cylinder & cistern).

I'm keen to get working ASAP but I feel to go out alone would be stupid for me and bad for the customer. I'm doing my Part P and 17th Edition (and PAT testing) in 3 weeks (fast-track also) so I thought I'd get the ball rolling now.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to how to get an apprenticeship? I'm London based (Acton), extremely hard working, quick to learn and 100% reliable.

Are there any plumbers on here who fancies giving me a chance? Or do you know of anyone? Are there any organisations etc? I've googled but come up short. I contacted Pimlico Plumbers to see about their apprenticeship scheme but I'm still waiting to hear back from them.

Any help would be extremely well received.

Many thanks
Jay

 

[T & H Plumbing]

Good luck finding one

In the mean time you could contact every Plumber in the phone book asking if you could shadow them (for free) until you gather enough evidence for your NVQ
Once you have the NVQ you are more employable when I set out I worked for £30-£50 a week for 3 years it was a struggle but I learned a lot

I wish you well on your journey

 

[kris]

Yeh your right there are many posts like yours almost daily , this is why i think they are trying to stop short courses because ( and this isnt aimed at yourself ) there are loads of guys paying for short courses but unfortunatley they arent getting the experience along with it , and its a pitty but all you can do is keep trying and good luck,

 

[jaydebruyne]

Thanks guys.. I'm trying to do as many jobs for friends (for free of course) as possible.. Jut to get some experience.. I'll keep trying!!

 

[SimonG]

If you are doing jobs, even for free, I hope you have some pli. Friends wont stay friends if things go breasts up.

Good luck with your search.

 

[jaydebruyne]

If you are doing jobs, even for free, I hope you have some pli. Friends wont stay friends if things go breasts up.

Good luck with your search.

Ain't that the truth! Thanks for the tip, I am covered for any mishaps 😉

 

[kris]

Like simon has just said it can end in tears, especially as you dont have experience and this is where accidents can happen , but always think what you do as like keep saying to people theres a huge difference in being able to connect a pipe up but on knowing what that pipes purpose is , this is the prob , so just keep at it but just do the simple ones until you further your knowledge ,, il give you an example, theres a gassafe registered plumber near me who took a radiator off for a couple who lived on an end terraced home which was on a slight hill, the house he was at was at top end of the hill, and this plumber took off the rad and away he went, now this was last summer, he never put a blank on the thermostatic valve and the heating was tank fed , during the night the valve opened now to cut a long story short the next two houses were empty and so was the one he took rad off ,,, the water travelled down to each house, im not sure extent of damage but there were rumours it was in excess of £40000, he shouldve knew better, so take care

 

[jaydebruyne]

I hear you loud and clear. I know a lot of experienced plumbers don't agree with these classroom methods of initial training, but they do teach more than just how to connect pipes together. I have studied my arse off getting to grips with plumbing systems and how they work. Yes, I agree that nothing beats experience, but a decent understanding of the theory side of plumbing is also essential. I feel I have quite a good grasp of how systems work and why, be it theory based, I just want to solidify my knowledge with the real world. I will though, as you've quite rightly suggested, take things nice and slow and do easy jobs first. I believe in getting things right, not steaming ahead just to earn a buck. As to your plumber story, even I wouldn't leave a pipe uncapped, regardless if the property was empty it not, that's just stupid! I hope he had good PLI!