New from birmingham after advice!

[Wallm0nkey]

Hello I have been having a read on here for a little while but decided to actually post. I'm 23 from the birmingham area and are currently a builder I have been doing it roughly 8 years. I enjoy my job but would like to train in plumbing and heating whilst I are a bit younger. I think my experience has given me a good grounding I've worked alongside different trades etc. I don't like the look of the fast pass company's so after advice really. I only have evenings and weekends free what are the options? I'm popping to a local college open day on the weekend but I found this tonight http://www.sbc.ac.uk/leaflets/0910/0105.html
I think I could possibly give a day a week and find someone who'd let me work for free for the experience.
Sorry for my long winded first post and thanks for reading! Cheers Niall

 

[Hardy1]

where abouts in brum you from mate, pm me.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi niall welcome to the forums

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I don't suppose anyone has any idea if any colleges around the birmingham area offer the plumbing lvl 2 part time? I can get plenty of plumbing experience with the people I work with now it's just gas I'd need to beg for experience with. Just seem to be struggling to find anywhere that offers the course not on a full time basis :/

 

[REDSAW]

have you tried dudley college?

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Off there tomorrow for the open day actually so hoping I can get a little info. Cheers

 

[Wallm0nkey]

No good at Dudley either apparently due to government funding being cut most places don't offer lvl 2 at the minute as people aren't willing to pay for it. Guess I'll have to keep looking!

 

[Halesowen1]

What area are you?

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I'm about 2 minutes from Halesowen.

 

[SimonG]

Welcome along 🙂 stick with it as you probably have a head start and some contacts with being in the building game

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Seems a bit odd that Dudley college aren't offering any level 2 plumbing courses part time due to funding but still run the electrical 2330 daytime and evening and that's being phased out. They did say if I was an apprentice I could get funding though but I guess alot of people are after apprenticeships so haven't really considered that option.
I'll keep my eyes open for anything anyway.

 

[REDSAW]

may have to go for rf training in b'ham then?.

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I must admit I did look into them more so out of curiosity but it isn't really a route I want to go down. My plan as such was get on part time courses over the next few years gaining experience as alot of jobs we do have plumbing bathrooms etc which my boss does. He can't really afford to lose me 3 days a week to go full time so that's where I stand at the minute. I do enjoy my job so arent desperate or buying into false promises I'd rather do it right. It was my intention to get to a point I was competent and I would of been worthwhile someone taking me on who I could gain more experience with. Had a bit of a thought that I'd just like another option and to have a new challenge whilst I'm younger and times on my side "being self employed and feeling out of my depth after 6weeks whilst earning £50000 a year" isn't quite what I fancied! I'm not quitting just yet I'll see how things pan out. Cheers

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I have had a thought would the plumbing I could get to do at work be enough to go the apprentice route? There is about 20 bathrooms tto fit in the near future for definite with other jobs on top and my boss will mentor me as such he was once upon a time corgi registered but now just deals with water etc and manages the projects we do.I'll fund it myself if needed. When not plumbing I could carry on as normal which will suit. I'd do this and do gas at some point in the future if possible.
Cheers for the replys so far people!