Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE London

[drew_biggles]

Hi,

Name's Dave, 27 year old, retraining and studying through distance learning NVQ level 2 in plumbing.

Currently on module 5 - Cold water systems

Covered so far;
1. Introduction to Plumbing
2. Health and Safety
3. Common Plumbing Processes
4. Common Plumbing Practices

Move between Reading and South East London (near Lewisham) am willing to travel anywhere near those points.
Looking to gain experience working alongside someone that can show me the ropes and give me some practical experience.

If you can help or know anyone that requires help at this busy time of year, I'm reliable, outgoing, pro active and very willing to learn. Able to start immediately, own transport to and from jobs if needed.


Thanks

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Hi and welcome to the forums

Good luck to you

 

[SimonG]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Welcome along Dave. 🙂

Good luck with the training and search for experience.

 

[drew_biggles]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Cheers, from reading through numerous posts, I think I'm going to need it!

 

[diamondgas]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

:welcome2: to the forum Dave 🙂 Good luck on your quest 🙂

 

[Barry98]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

PMA welcome to the house of fun

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

hi dave welcome along

 

[REDSAW]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

welcome

 

[tamz]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Dave: i'm a bit slow with this but how do you distance learn plumbing? A bit like sitting in the van having a *** waiting on the tradesman doing the job then asking him what he did? Neither will get you or keep you in a job.

Btw welcome along. There is lots of good stuff here to add to your distance learning experience. Probably many times more than your expensive course so soak it up and feel free to ask sensible questions or requests.
You have broken the ice so jump in :smile:

 

[drew_biggles]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Hi Tamz,

Thankyou for your warm welcome;

Well, I'm not just some typical lazy teenager, and I don't smoke.... maybe I'd eat a battered mars bar?

Being in my late 20's there aren't any apprenticeships for me so 'distance learning' is the only real option, plus the fact I have bills to pay.
I wanted to say I'm using 'Train for trade skills' without saying it, as from some posts and other articles it seems some tradesmen see it as a dirty word, however, for some of us, going to college just isn't an option.

I'm giving up a well paid career to finally jump in with both feet and embrace this profession, I possibly should have followed at 18, rather than the University route I was more encouraged to take.

Yes it is a shame i've left it far too late but c'est la vie.
For me sitting in a van twiddling my thumbs is definitely not an option, I am bringing with me a hard work ethic and attitude that has seen me well so far. However, I cant last on that alone, which is why I need the practical experience and work my way up to becoming an experienced and responsible plumber.

I do look forward to taking as much as possible from the forum, and taking much heed of the wisdom I'm sure yourself and others can share, as we all know I'm sure I won't be able to gain much real world plumbing experience from the books and CD's and virtual reality suites T4TS provide, so the more that pro's (your recent post about pipe sizes certainly springs to mind) like you can teach me the better 🙂

 

[tamz]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

If i were you i wouldn't cut my ties with the existing well paid career just yet. At least keep a toe hold.
You may have perceptions of how the trade is and there are some good advantages as there is with any other manual work but be aware this game can be overworked, oversressed, underpaid and undervalued the same as any other with the added bonus of a worn out body coming a lot quicker than you ever expected.

I have no opinion on train for trades or any other private training company other than they do have a lot of unhappy customers who were taken in by the sales speel. Many of these people may have brought it upon themselves with their blinkered view and gullibility but that is what the sellers of dreams play on.
The reality is retainers are bottom of the pile for most job opportunities. They have less experience than a 1st year apprentice and expect more wages as they have other commitments. I have no doubt that many come through it and make a living but many more fail and move on. Most small companies and tradesmen are inundated with requests for work experience but most have wised up to that one and the consequences it has had on the trade.

Just keep your eyes open and be realistic.
Good luck in your efforts. It certainly won't be easy.

Check out some of Secret Squirrels posts. He is one who made it and has posted some of the realities you may encounter.

 

[drew_biggles]

Re: Newbie - looking to gain experience with plumbing professional, Reading or SE Lon

Many thanks for your advice, it is well received and much appreciated.