Leaving the army.

[Youngy1781]

Hi all after 7 yrs service I am leaving the army and thinking of joining the gas trade. Iv looked into the course ran by kier in north Tyneside and wondered if anyone had any opinions on it or advise. The price is steep but I understand that you have to commi. Plus the army will pay a large part towards my resettlement.

Thanks youngy

 

[Roger Welton]

I'd recomend having a read through some of the threads going on at the moment regarding pricing, its no longer a career to make cash like water, you have to enjoy the work to make it worth while.

 

[JCplumb]

Got an ex-brother in law who left the army after about 7 years, he spent all his resettlement on a plumbing course and now sells ladies fashion on ebay. I think the army career advisers are caught up in the fictional belief that plumbing = profit. This all started about 7 years ago when a national paper reported on some 50k a year bankers who retrained as plumbers so they could have more money and less stress than being bankers.
Since then the industry has become over subscribed with fast trackers and the likes under-cutting prices almost to the point of melt-down.
If I could have the last 10 years back, I'd not be choosing plumbing as a career path.
Plastering yes, painting and decorating yes, domestic electrician yes, plumbing no. Most plumbers will tell you that they are working silly hours for comparatively little gain in the current climate. Things like speedfit and certain TV programs/youtube vids are making this profession look so easy that customers aren't willing to pay what it's worth.
I would recommend that you have a re-think about your career path to be honest. Being a self employed plumber can be good, but the truth is that it probably won't be.

 

[Youngy1781]

Thanks for the advice. One of my friend set up about a year ago abd has made a realy good business for himself. Surely has can't be that bad as you can't DIY as you have to be gas safe? Realy want to be my own boss doing a challenging hands on job.

 

[REDSAW]

Got an ex-brother in law who left the army after about 7 years, he spent all his resettlement on a plumbing course and now sells ladies fashion on ebay. I think the army career advisers are caught up in the fictional belief that plumbing = profit. This all started about 7 years ago when a national paper reported on some 50k a year bankers who retrained as plumbers so they could have more money and less stress than being bankers.
Since then the industry has become over subscribed with fast trackers and the likes under-cutting prices almost to the point of melt-down.
If I could have the last 10 years back, I'd not be choosing plumbing as a career path.
Plastering yes, painting and decorating yes, domestic electrician yes, plumbing no. Most plumbers will tell you that they are working silly hours for comparatively little gain in the current climate. Things like speedfit and certain TV programs/youtube vids are making this profession look so easy that customers aren't willing to pay what it's worth.
I would recommend that you have a re-think about your career path to be honest. Being a self employed plumber can be good, but the truth is that it probably won't be.

talks good sense, take the advice as hard as it may seem and look at the out-lay.
sparkys my tip as most people dont like and are scared of leccy, then the plastering, cheapest skill to learn and immediate money so you can look at gas in a couple of years to see if it picks up.

your choice of course, but to most of us in the game you will only be another stastistic, i hope you are not for what you have done for us tho.
good luck.

 

[on31ll]

From your reply i can tell that your gonna go through with it ! When i was in school people said try hard you will regret it and i disnt care nor believe them ! Now i regret it ! I love plumbing in a sad way but like said its not a well paid job ! Long long crazy hours for a small wage ! Read through the many threads on here then make your decision ! If you decide to go for it then were all on here for you ! If you need help or anything ! But if you dont follow that route we are all still here for a laugh and banter mate ! I had 2 brothers in the army ! One left was gonna train for plumbing had a hard think about it and sacked it off now works away earning what i would class as the mega money ! Good luck !