Is it really that bad...

[Rob Sale]

Being an Ex bobby you'll be better off going into the private security contractors companies. G4s and phoenix provide training courses [DLMURL="http://www.g4s.com/en-GB/United%20Kingdom/What%20we%20do/Services/Employment%20services%20and%20training/Range%20of%20courses/Phoenix%20CP%20and%20Tier%20One%20Medic%20Courses/"]Phoenix Close Protection[/DLMURL]

They always look for ex bobbies for management roles and adviser roles, good money if you get put into some dump. £600 plus a day.

 

[downthesouth]

I have been in a similar position to you. I worked in retail 5 years ago, my father has been in the trade for 40 years. I got fed up with retail and decided to follow my father.
I have lost count of the number of times I thought of jacking this trade in, mucking things up, nasty customers and the like.
If you REALLY want it then go for it. Its hard at the moment. If you go for it have realistic expectations, learn all you can, show humlilty and take as many courses as you can. The more professional you can be (i.e tickets for various disciplines) the best chance you will have. Dont go into it thinking you will earn mega-bucks truth is you will burn out with that approach. And be prepared for it to take over your life whilst you are learning. You WILL have crap days, you WILL have great days. Research the trade throughly before you make a choice!! Its not all a bed of roses but its certaintly not all doom and gloom.
I know now if I jacked it in I would of regretted it!
All the Best.

 

[Mike Jackson]

It's not all doom and gloom out there but it's not easy.

I started out with the family business back in 1982. Due to various issues we closed the business down in 2006 and I got a job. I was made redundant in December 2011 and started back on my own in January 2013. I'm now ticking along nicely making a reasonable living from it.

Having said that I had some very big advantages over a new entrant to the industry.

1. I already had most of the tools I needed and a vehicle that I could use because, when we closed the family business down, my Father and I kept most of the tools and I retained the land Rover that I used when we had the business. The land rover lasted me a year before I needed to change it so probably of similar value to a £500 van (still got the LR but it's a bit too small for my needs really). A quick check shows that I bought around 10k worth of tools into the business with me. A new starter would not need to spend this much on tools but it gives me the ability to take on jobs where others may not have the equipment. For instance how many new starters have an electric pipe freezer or a roof ladder or a flip over saw etc.

2. I was made redundant so had around £10k that I could use to help start up the business and buy the few bits of equipment that I didn't already have. I also used some of the money to undertake more training courses that extended my range and gave me the edge over other gas engineers in the area. Despite this extra funding I still came close to folding as I was brushing my overdraft limit when a big job came along and saved the day.

3. Experience. I've got over thirty years experience in the industry. Most people will choose experience over youth. More importantly I'm good at what I do and reasonably quick. That might sound a bit self important but it's an important part of why I've succeeded where others have failed. I've very quickly got a reputation for doing a good job at a reasonable price and I'll take on stuff that other people have failed at and succeed. I'm quite often not the first plumber that has attended a problem but when I solve it I'm then the first one they call next time and the one that they recommend to their friends and family. I've already got a couple of local plumbing firms that will pass work my way if they feel they will get out of their depth.

4. Nearly forgot this one. When we closed the business down we kept one of the plumb centre account running so when I started back up again I already had a line of credit so didn't need to pay for materials up front. The good credit history of this account which has been running for over 40 years made it easier when I opened accounts with other merchants. The firm I was working for used Plumb Center and I was regularly in my local branch so, despite the account being used infrequently for 6 year, I was in regular contact with the staff and maintained my rapport with them which gave me immediate access to the best prices they could offer. In addition to this the assistant manger of one of the local independents is a friend so I had immediate access to their best prices.

5. I'm a member of a few dog training clubs, some conservation groups and active within the local photography community so a lot of people already knew and trusted me and when I started back on my own my first customers came from within this group who knew nothing of my workmanship but trusted me as a person.


To summon up. Even with the equivalent of £25K backing me and other advantages I came close to the line despite thirty years of experience.

 

[thompsonbrown]

hi Martin.
your post says a lot about you, and in my opinion before changing career it makes good sense to look around and ask questions about a trade you could be in for the rest of your life. first i would ask my-self, do i want to be a plumber, am i quite good with my hands. can i afford to change my career. if yes to above there are several options for you to chose.
1. paying to complete a intensive course. "not the best way in my opinion" but if you are quite a practical bloke its the quickest way to earning a half decent wage. a lot of companies especially agencies will take on new staff purely based on qualifications but will expect you to do the job from day. And get rid just as quick.
2. Find a company who is willing to take on an older apprentice. There are grants available to company's who take on mature students around £1500 p/a. This is the way i would choose if i was serious about a new career theres nothing like on site experience along with collage.
3. find a plumbing company and offer to work unpaid to gain experience. this way will give you a incite into plumbing and a chance to find out quickly if plumbings for you. Also if its a good company they might respect your approach in finding a job.
these are a few avenues you could try. but gathering as much knowledge as possible before making such a career change is probably the best advice i could give.
I wish you all the best.

Richard Brown

 

[lame plumber]

been at it 10 years now and last years been the hardest yet, not helped by a crock set of knees and spinal injury resulting in time off. having said that last 2 weeks have been ott with more work than I expected, so set me up nicely for another 2 weeks off post knee op. Its not easy but is rewarding when all goes well.

 

[sam51]

why is it that everyone who wants to change their employment.wants to be a plumber.
surely with the op first post,that if you are policeman.there must be a whole lot of avenues to go down,
with out going near the building trade.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Cos we earn more then £100,000.00 a year