Info for people considering fast tracking

[tamz]

looks like you need to be a member to read the second one though ..

So you do Gerry. Never noticed as i must have been still logged in.

 

[GQuigley67]

SVQ level 3 is the minimum required in scotland thats what i mean fuzz and that requires an apprenticeship, to be able to do the ACS u need that. You get gas foundation courses for people who didnt do it at college but want to do later in life. This is what one of the lecturers told me today i was at the college for a vaillant day course

 

[fuzzy]

SVQ level 3 is the minimum required in scotland thats what i mean fuzz and that requires an apprenticeship, to be able to do the ACS u need that. You get gas foundation courses for people who didnt do it at college but want to do later in life. This is what one of the lecturers told me today i was at the college for a vaillant day course

you dont need any quals to do the ACS, where ever you are

 

[GQuigley67]

i dont know thats what he said, just told the guys they cant do it unless they have level 3 and do a gas foundation course which is right if you ask me

 

[fuzzy]

i dont know thats what he said, just told the guys they cant do it unless they have level 3 and do a gas foundation course which is right if you ask me

wasnt saying it was right or wrong. just saying that you dont need any quals to sit your acs, they are misleading you

 

[GQuigley67]

i know you werent saying if it was right or wrong, i was just saying he's quite right turning down these guys that turn up with not enough qualifications.

 

[fuzzy]

i know you werent saying if it was right or wrong, i was just saying he's quite right turning down these guys that turn up with not enough qualifications.

he has no right to refuse if they meet the criteria, you dont need any quals to do your acs

 

[Ivor Bates]

And here I am, originally it was an article done for the Guardian newspaper who asked me for an interview as they had seen some of my replies on Gumtree's forums to guy's looking to fastrackinto the plumbing industry. The main gripe I have about this fast track system is this myth on earnings but it's always displayed as potential earnings. But like most things you read what you want to read and that is is £40k+. Even in London you will struggle to earn figures like that, certain plumbing companies in London have done the industry little or no favours at all, but it is all part of their self publicity and gullible people take on board what they say. You may well earn £1200 one week, but the following you might only earn £400 and the following £700 and the following £1500 at that rate you'll be on just over £45k pa but then if you have 2,3,6, or 9 weeks of no work then your £45k has just blown away into fantasy land.... As for the amount of calls I get now from both fast track and old school plumbers anywhere between 5-10 per day with the eqivilent in emails... so go figure it out

anyone thinking of paying thousands of pounds for a fast track course should read this article first

[DLMURL="http://www.ciphe.org.uk/News/Are-fast-track-plumbing-courses-just-money-down-the-drain/"]Are fast-track plumbing courses just money down the drain? - CIPHE[/DLMURL]

short part of article:

Some companies offering fast-track courses claim there is a nationwide shortage of plumbers. "The country is in dire need of qualified plumbers," says Train4TradeSkills on its website, quoting a former trainee who "never takes home less than £1,200 per week". New Career Skills, another private training company, says in its latest brochure: "The massive plumbing shortage provides an opportunity for those who want a lucrative, secure and fulfilling career."
The reality can be very different. Ivor Bates, who runs a London plumbing firm, Bates Heating and Plumbing, says he is contacted three or four times each week by people who have completed a fast-track course and are desperate for work experience to achieve the industry-standard NVQ level 2.
"Around 10% of these guys offer to work for nothing and say they have rung endless plumbing companies and will do anything to get a foot in the door," he says. "One bloke saw my van outside Asda and ran into the supermarket after me and offered to pay me to take him on. But I would never take someone from one of these short courses because they have not got experience of working on-site and I would not be confident sending them into customers' homes."

 

[fuzzy]

5-10 people applying for non exisitant plumbing positions is an insight into how much work is out there!!

 

[electric ellie]

i am fully qualed electrician, but out of work - i am looking into these sorts of courses but only because i have work ex lined up - surely that is ok?

 

[Ivor Bates]

Look this courses are great if you want to plumb your own bathroom suite in, but apart from that not a lot..

 

[BikerBen]

Bit of an expensive way to learn how to plumb in a bathroom suite 😉

I think I could do that already with my basic albeit limited practical knowledge 🙂

When I contacted one of these companies out of curiosity I found that they were like vultures and wouldnt leave me alone! They kept ringing me up to see if I was ready to sign up but gave ropey answers when I asked searching questions = a scam.

 

[curlycan]

I'd just like to say thankyou for putting this thread on. I have a person from train4tradeskills coming to give me information about their courses tomorrow as I was interested in training as a plumber to go along side my tiling work due to the fact I'm always getting asked if I do plumbing. After reading this thread I will certainly not be taking the course as I don't have 7 grand to waste. And respect for all you apprenticeship served plumbers the way to go would be a proper 4 year course if you want to do it properly.

 

[leelister6]

I'd just like to say thankyou for putting this thread on. I have a person from train4tradeskills coming to give me information about their courses tomorrow as I was interested in training as a plumber to go along side my tiling work due to the fact I'm always getting asked if I do plumbing. After reading this thread I will certainly not be taking the course as I don't have 7 grand to waste. And respect for all you apprenticeship served plumbers the way to go would be a proper 4 year course if you want to do it properly.

Your best bet is to get in touch with local plumbers and see if you can get tiling work via them and you can then pass their number on when you're asked about a plumber and vice versa. I've fitted quite a few bathrooms by doing this and got tilers a load of work too

 

[fuzzy]

I'd just like to say thankyou for putting this thread on. I have a person from train4tradeskills coming to give me information about their courses tomorrow as I was interested in training as a plumber to go along side my tiling work due to the fact I'm always getting asked if I do plumbing. After reading this thread I will certainly not be taking the course as I don't have 7 grand to waste. And respect for all you apprenticeship served plumbers the way to go would be a proper 4 year course if you want to do it properly.

try a local college, maybe ask about this course

[DLMURL="http://www.cityandguilds.com/56819.html?search_term=2000"]Certificate/Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering | Construction and Building[/DLMURL]

 

[bikeman01]

met someone the other day who had spent 10k and had his 6129 level 2 and 3. he was doing the same, desperate for a placement to get his nvq;s. How do these people continue to fall for the rubbish they are told? they fall for the promise of money, heres to another one dropping out with 10k less than he started with

You probably started out as an apprentice and went on to self employment and are now master of your own destiny.

We followed a differemt career route, one where we worked for someone else who eventually decided they had no furter use for us.

So lets get something straight - we're not seduced by easy work for big money - we're normal guys who are being hit by redundancies and need to change careers in mid life - self empoyment may be our only option.

Yes I know the thread is a momnth or 2 old but I had a point to make.

 

[fuzzy]

You probably started out as an apprentice and went on to self employment and are now master of your own destiny.

We followed a differemt career route, one where we worked for someone else who eventually decided they had no furter use for us.

So lets get something straight - we're not seduced by easy work for big money - we're normal guys who are being hit by redundancies and need to change careers in mid life - self empoyment may be our only option.

Yes I know the thread is a momnth or 2 old but I had a point to make.

and you think paying 10k for a small chance of a career plus no nvq is a wise choice? Lets get one thing straight, being in a difficult position is one thing, paying 10k for a course with little chance of employment should only be done if you know the risks and have done the homework. Im telling you as it is, it may not be nice to hear but these are the facts.

i hope it works out for him all the same

 

[bikeman01]

Of course no one should hand over £10k without knowing what they are getting for it but not all are fools some are just desperate.

Having said that there does seem to be an underlying resentment in the trade that anyone should be able to fast track entry yet there is also a reluctance on their part to take on trainees (young and old) - bit of a catch22.

One day work will pickup, you will have retired and we'll have a skills shortage again.

 

[fuzzy]

Of course no one should hand over £10k without knowing what they are getting for it but not all are fools some are just desperate.

Having said that there does seem to be an underlying resentment in the trade that anyone should be able to fast track entry yet there is also a reluctance on their part to take on trainees (young and old) - bit of a catch22.

One day work will pickup, you will have retired and we'll have a skills shortage again.

Or desperate fools? getting a 10k debt wont help anybodies situation.

I have heard that some centres let newbies believe that the feedback from qualified tradesmen is negative because they dont want them entering the trade and becoming competition. In my experience this is not the case, they are however fiercely protective of the trade and why shouldnt they be?
All tradesmen should be training and assessed to the same standards, therefore ensuring the same quality and a level playing field. The trade qualifications are there to protect the industry, they ensure we all meet the correct standards and for good reason. Poor quals and short cuts will lead to poorly trained tradesmen, a lowering of credibility for the industry which will affect all tradesmen and clients in the future.

Companies will take on apprentices when they need to, the supply and demand system provides trainees to the industry when they are needed, so there are highs and lows but these follow the industry trends, its self regulating, so dont worry about being short of skilled trades in the future. It happened about 8 years ago and the industry trained 1,000s of people, hence now we have plenty, any shortage will quickly be remedied.

Nobody owes anyone a living

 

[Barry98]

work to live not live to work