Gas/Plumbing Courses

[Deleted member 25704]

clanger there are many different aspects to your post and very interesting view points
i partially agree with most but not entirely

1. our industry, yes i know the ill feeling towards these short foundation type courses but people will argue that they are there to support people with experience who need the actual quals and/or to provide additional training and skills for people wanting to get into industry (depending on which actual qual we are discussing)
3. cognitive knowledge v practical know how - my view is they run hand in hand, one without the other doesnt work very well

Fuzzy,

Your explanation of foundation courses is reasoned and I accept your opinion.

The bit about theory and practice going hand in hand - its an age old problem and difficult to discuss here.

However, it is conceived by some, that there can be no practical action, without intelligence. Every action is intelligent, where intelligence directed toward some object. We cannot drive a nail without thinking.

But when we talk about technical knowledge, we are talking about a language with which to describe our knowledge, not the thought processes that drive the actions (know-how or tacit knowledge). So to say that theory is applied to practice or that theory and practice go hand in hand, you are repeating what others have told you, without questioning this relationship further.

Theory is rarely applied to practice - we just do our jobs.

 

[fuzzy]

well put clanger, yes i am repeating what ive heard but its also my experience. when i say theory i mean college which was in itself a combination. for example i remember coming across iron threaded pipe a couple of years after i couldnt remeber what to do so i recalled what they told me at college and applied it. i was slow but did it, speed came after and before i knew it i did it without knowing, like driving

i believe that is because i was taught the underpinning knowledge of theory and practise

 

[fuzzy]

it was an nvq 3 + acs course

which one only needed a writen sentence?

 

[plumbobsqarepip]

which one only needed a writen sentence?

Both as far as im aware as most of the other guys on the course were self employed and not interested in working with anyone els... yet I sat the acs/ccn1 with them

 

[fuzzy]

then i would report the centre as they have grossly breached the rules, do you want to pm me their details

 

[northstar]

Both as far as im aware as most of the other guys on the course were self employed and not interested in working with anyone els... yet I sat the acs/ccn1 with them

what area are you from ?

 

[Deleted member 25704]

well put clanger, yes i am repeating what ive heard but its also my experience. when i say theory i mean college which was in itself a combination. for example i remember coming across iron threaded pipe a couple of years after i couldnt remeber what to do so i recalled what they told me at college and applied it. i was slow but did it, speed came after and before i knew it i did it without knowing, like driving

i believe that is because i was taught the underpinning knowledge of theory and practise

Your not wrong here fuzzy, you must have a good take on this in order to follow the post.

There are no definitive answers to this, which is why is worth a discussion now and again.

Sorry to original poster for going off topic

 

[mabs89]

whats my best approach then? what shall i do now i've paid almost £5000 and thats a lot of money to me and i cant just let it go to waste. can i get some serious down to earth advise instead of just putting me down guys. what options do i have now?

 

[tamz]

Nobody is putting you down. It is the training places that are doing people the injustice under false pretences.
You have paid a lot of money so will have to continue and hope you can get the required experience to build a portfolio.

 

[sparra1100]

whats my best approach then? what shall i do now i've paid almost £5000 and thats a lot of money to me and i cant just let it go to waste. can i get some serious down to earth advise instead of just putting me down guys. what options do i have now?

as tamz says nobody is putting you down you have paid £5000 to come into a very cut throat industry with no experience of gas no plumbing and have a least 3 yrs are solid learning to get up to spec and asking questions which are obvious you have to have you acs to be gas safe and then pay again as its going to be highly unlikely you,ll get a job doing gas work with no experience you mite get on fitting meters or landlord checks were all just saying how it is,your training center should have told you all this,were abouts do you live you need to get some plumbing and heating experience before you even consider gas mate ave been doing it yrs and am still learning

 

[fuzzy]

nobody putting you down mate, good luck o you,j just putting you straight

 

[mabs89]

I live in swindon, wiltshire. I've had a little experience in plumber for a fews months were i've worked with a gas engineer helping him with small jobs like hanging radiators fitting valves & taps, bit of soldering and pipe bending etc i know its not a lot but thats what got me interested in this type of industry cause i enjoyed working with him. does anyone know any place that work take me on for some extra training and experience near to where i live?

 

[sparra1100]

your to far from me ,just keep plugging away but bear in mind you,ll find it hard as there loads like yourself trying to do the same thing good luck

 

[heatwarm]

Hi, new to this site, like a few have said you never stop learning, been in the trade for over 40 years now, still learn something new every week.

An ex RAF customer of mine took a plumbing and heating course before she left the service, thoughts of making big money to top up her pension. I had her with me for a few weeks, she didn't have a clue, she started doing her own work for friends and family and caused untold damage to ceilings, floors and carpets!!!! she now works as a security guard.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

as the saying goes "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

 

[plumbobsqarepip]

what area are you from ?

south east

 

[fuzzy]

as the saying goes "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

thats me to a tee!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

well i didn't like to point fingers, but...

 

[NVivas]

Im just getting more confused, is this training centre not good? also in this industry would you recommend i take plumbing course or is it nothing to worry about it? also is this home study not good ideal and whats my best approach of doing this?, most centre i enquired about online before i signed up seem to have a lot of home study.

you sound like you have a lot of questions mabs89. your on the course now so you need to concentrate on getting the most you can out of it. know i know i landed on my feet here but i did put the hard work in and got work at the end of my course so these training centres, the legit ones anyway are worth it.
As long as you get the time in the centres doing the hands on side of things i dont think home study is a bad thing, when i did it if there was anything i didnt understand i could call up and speak to a tutor or go thruogh it at the practicals. i didnt do gas but i do know kirkgas is right, you will need to build a protfolio of evidence befroe you can sit your ACS exams.
dont get me wrong im not saying its easy to find work at the moment, you just have to stick at it.

 

[FPCPlumb]

try speaking to someone at olci mate to get some answers, the guys on the phones in my experience have been helpful enough

 

[fuzzy]

speak to as many as you can and not just 1 centre

 

[sparra1100]

i just find it amazing that someone can be so in the dark over there course ,on something so big and as dangerous as gas and throw in no plumbing experience and you can pass and then be out on your own am not aving a go at you the system is wrong ,it should be a must that youve done plumbing for a least a yr before you can do gas or been in that trade you shouldn,t be able to think ahh al spend £5000 and do me gas with out any thought about how your gunner go about it

 

[PlumbBobBob]

totally agree sparra1100. i don't think anyone can really undertake gas training without plumbing experience to be honest. it is an essential integral component of gas work.