I've just completed my 6035 Level 2 Diploma (C&G) and Water Regs/Unvented Hot Water Systems (Logic) with The Plumbing Academy / Access Training and thought I'd supply some feedback.
Access Training (based in Wales) bought The Plumbing Academy (based in Kent) not too long ago and they are now in the process of getting the academy in tiptop form. Naturally, there are some kinks needing ironing but generally I found them to be a really good training centre.
The Negatives:
The materials, when doing any practical assignments, are not organised enough and are so overused that it can make tasks frustrating. Things like worn out push-fit connectors which leak water when tested etc. or having to search for 10 minutes for the fitting you need.
Because of costs, they omit certain things out, e.g. solvent-welding plastic pipe. Although not a huge pain to bear, it would have been nice to at least do it once to get some experience of how it's done etc so I'm not doing it for the first time in a clients home.
A lot of the tools are also so overused it can, at times, make practical tasks frustrating. However, I decided to bring my own tools which alleviated a lot of my frustration.
I think the most frustrating of all is trying to fit appliances to the overused walls. At times, screws would just slip out and make installation a nightmare.
The admin side of things, being dealt with by the office in Wales, is nothing short of painful. Like I said, a few kinks and an iron is all.
The computer network was shoddy. At one point, I had to redo an exam as the network played up and didn't record my answers. That being said, they have engineers on site now getting it sorted.
The Positives:
The teachers are absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable and very patient with brilliant sense of humours. They make the course fun whilst giving you their wealth of experience.
The practical tasks, having never done anything like this before, were brilliant. We all had our own bays and were able to work on our own installs at our own pace. Enough time is given for even the slowest of workers.
The workshop is big enough to house 2 classes (16 people) and every student has their own bay when doing appliance installs.
The class size is just the right size (maximum 8 people to a class) which enables enough one-to-one time with the tutor to answer any individual questions you might have during any of the practicals.
The centre itself is clean with a kitchen area with free tea/coffee (a god send at times).
You get to work with a wide range of materials (copper, LCS, plastic) and fittings with a wide range of appliance installs (WC, wash basin, bath, radiators, cistern and cylinder).
Enough classroom time is given with in depth explanation to the theory side of plumbing without being too much.
All in all, knowing what I know now, would I do the course again at the same centre? Absolutely yes. I shopped around for a while before booking with them and I believe them to be better than the others. My only word of warning, which can be of benefit or of annoyance, is that they do not have a uniform pricing structure. They tailor packages on an individual basis so when you talk to your classmates, you'll find out you all paid completely different prices. I lucked in with my package and got an extremely good deal so make of this what you will. Like I said, for me it was positive, for others it wasn't.
They are a business at the end of the day, and their aim is to make money whilst trying to provide the best training they can.
I'm doing another course with them in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to it. I give them a big thumbs-up and hope to see the academy grow like I think it will.
Access Training (based in Wales) bought The Plumbing Academy (based in Kent) not too long ago and they are now in the process of getting the academy in tiptop form. Naturally, there are some kinks needing ironing but generally I found them to be a really good training centre.
The Negatives:
The materials, when doing any practical assignments, are not organised enough and are so overused that it can make tasks frustrating. Things like worn out push-fit connectors which leak water when tested etc. or having to search for 10 minutes for the fitting you need.
Because of costs, they omit certain things out, e.g. solvent-welding plastic pipe. Although not a huge pain to bear, it would have been nice to at least do it once to get some experience of how it's done etc so I'm not doing it for the first time in a clients home.
A lot of the tools are also so overused it can, at times, make practical tasks frustrating. However, I decided to bring my own tools which alleviated a lot of my frustration.
I think the most frustrating of all is trying to fit appliances to the overused walls. At times, screws would just slip out and make installation a nightmare.
The admin side of things, being dealt with by the office in Wales, is nothing short of painful. Like I said, a few kinks and an iron is all.
The computer network was shoddy. At one point, I had to redo an exam as the network played up and didn't record my answers. That being said, they have engineers on site now getting it sorted.
The Positives:
The teachers are absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable and very patient with brilliant sense of humours. They make the course fun whilst giving you their wealth of experience.
The practical tasks, having never done anything like this before, were brilliant. We all had our own bays and were able to work on our own installs at our own pace. Enough time is given for even the slowest of workers.
The workshop is big enough to house 2 classes (16 people) and every student has their own bay when doing appliance installs.
The class size is just the right size (maximum 8 people to a class) which enables enough one-to-one time with the tutor to answer any individual questions you might have during any of the practicals.
The centre itself is clean with a kitchen area with free tea/coffee (a god send at times).
You get to work with a wide range of materials (copper, LCS, plastic) and fittings with a wide range of appliance installs (WC, wash basin, bath, radiators, cistern and cylinder).
Enough classroom time is given with in depth explanation to the theory side of plumbing without being too much.
All in all, knowing what I know now, would I do the course again at the same centre? Absolutely yes. I shopped around for a while before booking with them and I believe them to be better than the others. My only word of warning, which can be of benefit or of annoyance, is that they do not have a uniform pricing structure. They tailor packages on an individual basis so when you talk to your classmates, you'll find out you all paid completely different prices. I lucked in with my package and got an extremely good deal so make of this what you will. Like I said, for me it was positive, for others it wasn't.
They are a business at the end of the day, and their aim is to make money whilst trying to provide the best training they can.
I'm doing another course with them in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to it. I give them a big thumbs-up and hope to see the academy grow like I think it will.
