Plumbers Mate Opportunities??

[damowilson]

I have just completed night college studying City & Guilds Level 2 plumbing & technical certificate. I have been to skills solution in manchester and passed my my bpec tests and I am on the books with them who wll help me get my nvq 2. Over the year I have been on the course I think I may have phoned every local plumber selling myself to try and get on while I achieve my NVQ 2. To which I have had no success, I've offered to work for free to help achieve this goal but this hasn't helped in the matter either. I have my cscs card, a full clean driving licence, I know with my age that Im too old for apprenticeships, but I am willing to live on little money to help achieve my nvq 2. Even if no 1 is able to help, I could do with a gas engineer to let me tag along while I start my gas foundation course, I'm told I dont have to be on public liability insurance and its ll just photographic evidence, same with my nvq 2 its all worked based. Ive studied and worked hard not to give up now. I would start my own business doing bathroom installs, general plumbing, but been on such a low wage now I can't afford a van or tools to set up my business, and hoping to do a rain water harvesting course in September. I really do hope someone can give me the break I need as I think I have tried every avenue I can to no success. I'd appreciate any advise or opportunities anyone can offer me. Ideally Id like a wage as I have my own house and a daughter to support but willing to comprise on money for any nvq 2 opportunities I can

 

[Blackcatgas]

That hurt my eyes, change the font.

 

[damowilson]

Done 🙂

 

[SimonG]

Have a read, maybe not the best example but many more to read if you do a search.

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/plumbing-forum/22881-help-needed.html

Good luck

 

[John333]

I'll be in your shoe's this time next year, no doubt posting a similar thread, just hope things improve. 'Good Luck' hope you find something ..

 

[damowilson]

just keep applying and don't lose faith and look at every option available to you, that's all I can suggest John.

 

[djnibz]

I'm in the same position, good luck hope you find something!

 

[Gray0689]

Good luck to you all
But the industry is inundated with people trying to get in to plumbing

 

[WaterTight]

Manchester's a big ol' place. You can't have contacted every plumber surely? Maybe widen the scope a bit? One of the benefits of living in a big city. I live in a small town so when I wrote to over 100 plumbers (in quite a wide radius) that really was it. Still only got 1 reply. Many months after sending the letter too. In the end my best break came by chance from offering to pay for work on gumtree. Was contacted by someone who was impressed by that level of keeness (well, desperation.) He didn't want paying either. You could try that. Even if it's 20 quid a day (or part thereof.) I've heard hanging round merchants and approaching people is an idea - but I did it once, was rudely rejected and didn't fancy it again. It felt like asking a girl to dance when you're 15, the walk of shame back after being told "no way, ewwww."

 

[ewoodblue]

try your local council thats what i did ive done my level 2 and 3 nvq's and now doing my gas portfolio, but sadly to say its all unpaid.

 

[tamz]

I don't think the council would take on unpaid trainees

 

[armyash]

try your local council thats what i did ive done my level 2 and 3 nvq's and now doing my gas portfolio, but sadly to say its all unpaid.

who did you contact at your council? (job title) etc

 

[GQuigley67]

big companies i.e the council dont take on unpaid trainees they wouldn't touch you because of insurance and health and safety issues

 

[damowilson]

ive already been onto council and my local mp

 

[northstar]

where you going to do your rainwater course at ?

 

[damowilson]

tameside college

 

[fuzzy]

good luck mate but i fear you will struggle

 

[northstar]

whats the course title mate ?

 

[damowilson]

if I cant get into plumbing then I'll just advertise for straight swap bathroom installs, rain water harvesting, gutters,servicing work, new outside taps, stuff like that, just be nice to get the plumbing side too, but who knows?

 

[damowilson]

it be rain water harvesting course, its one day I think, bout 150 ish, but college not to sure yet

 

[WaterTight]

if I cant get into plumbing then I'll just advertise for straight swap bathroom installs, rain water harvesting, gutters,servicing work, new outside taps, stuff like that, just be nice to get the plumbing side too, but who knows?

You know that stuff is actually considered plumbing...

 

[damowilson]

lol yeah its just the bottom end stuff that doesnt need nvq 2 or gas safe lol. I'll do anything I need too so its all good haha

 

[fuzzy]

wouldnt call it bottom end stuff????????

 

[GQuigley67]

if you cant get into plumbing you'll just become a plumber instead ??

 

[fuzzy]

wouldnt call it bottom end stuff????????

no pun intended!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[damowilson]

well if i cant persue my career onto gas I'll just plumb.... is that better for you??

 

[northstar]

damo tameside said their not equiped for rain water harvesting

 

[damowilson]

trust me they are running the course, they dont know exactly when, I only finished last week and asked, and was told to ring august time to find out for certain when they have had there presentation on it, and course will be available

 

[northstar]

what course did you complete?

 

[damowilson]

city & guilds level 2 basic plumbing & technical cert

 

[fuzzy]

well if i cant persue my career onto gas I'll just plumb.... is that better for you??

what do you mean?

 

[fuzzy]

city & guilds level 2 basic plumbing & technical cert

this wont get you a jib card, its not recognized as the full plumbing qual

 

[damowilson]

this wont get you a jib card, its not recognized as the full plumbing qual

I know it wont, thats why Im on here trying to find any advise I can or ideas on how to get on with a time served plumber to do my nvq 2 on site with them, so I have the full city & guilds level 2 and nvq 2 in plumbing and then start on level 3

 

[fuzzy]

i wish you good luck, by the way you hve the tech cert 6129 which is awarded by C&G, the nvq is also awarded by c&g, see this http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/plumbing-courses/19487-c-g-tech-cert-nvq-eal-facts-you.html

 

[northstar]

damo are you going to do L3 at tameside? how was it for the L2 thanks

 

[damowilson]

i cant do level 3 as yet coz I havent got my level 2 which i need so badly! I only got part qualification in the city n guilds level 2. the tutors are top guys, if i ever get my nvq 2 and go onto 3 then I defo be at tameside again

 

[northstar]

the L3 at tameside is over 2 years, some places it is one year.

 

[damowilson]

yeah my mate on the course, he's just done this and nvq 2 this year and starts his level 3 in sept, it is long but worth it in the long run

 

[fuzzy]

i cant do level 3 as yet coz I havent got my level 2 which i need so badly! I only got part qualification in the city n guilds level 2. the tutors are top guys, if i ever get my nvq 2 and go onto 3 then I defo be at tameside again

arrrhhhh - you have a tech cert level 2 (C&G's could mean tech cert or NVQ)

you dont need nvq2 to do the tech cert 3

 

[damowilson]

i could start gas foundation till I got my actual NVQ 2 but then its still trying to find a employer to do that with as well lol

 

[fuzzy]

i could start gas foundation till I got my actual NVQ 2 but then its still trying to find a employer to do that with as well lol

you dont need an employer to do the gas foundation

 

[damowilson]

still need to be on site with someone that has right qualifications in order for me to get my photographic evidence etc same with my nvq 2. its all dead ends at the minute

 

[WaterTight]

Fuzzy what's the minimum you need to become gas safe registered? Because I've noticed you don't have to have Level 3 NVQ. And in which case, why do people do it at all?

 

[fuzzy]

still need to be on site with someone that has right qualifications in order for me to get my photographic evidence etc same with my nvq 2. its all dead ends at the minute

no you dont for the foundation course. think you may be getting mixed up with the acs, that you need evidence for

 

[fuzzy]

Fuzzy what's the minimum you need to become gas safe registered? Because I've noticed you don't have to have Level 3 NVQ. And in which case, why do people do it at all?

you dont need any previous quals to do your acs. you need your acs to become gas safe qualified

 

[WaterTight]

so anyone, with no experience in plumbing or gas, could take their acs, call themselves gas safe registered and start chucking in combis?

 

[fuzzy]

so anyone, with no experience in plumbing or gas, could take their acs, call themselves gas safe registered and start chucking in combis?

you cannot take it first time without experience, but you dont need quals. the amount of experience required depends on your level/type of quals you have.

cat 1 - previous gas qual
cat 2 - nvq 2 in plumbing or related trade
cat 3 - no qual

you wanna do acs straight you can, as a cat 3, but the amount of experience required is more than cat 2, in short its 240 days for cat 3 and 140 days for cat 2, this is used as a guide only

 

[WaterTight]

As in you have to be able to prove you've had 240 days experience working around gas? Like a letter from a previous employer or something?

 

[fuzzy]

bit more than that mate, need to record all the jobs and have it signed by the registered installer who you did the work with, thats then provided as evidence and held on record, if its bluffed you could end up in a lot of trouble, especially the person who signs it

 

[WaterTight]

but since you wouldn't have been gas safe during that period you wouldn't have personally been doing any of the gas work yourself, you would have just been shadowing someone. so they'd just want proof from the guy you were shadowing that you were there on the jobs? or would you have to prove you did more than just shadow?