Should i train to be a plumber with OLCI?

View the thread, titled "Should i train to be a plumber with OLCI?" which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.

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Info Seeker

Hello to you all!

I am thinking of doing an all intensive course with OLCI so i can become a plumber.

So far they are quoting me £5995 which includes:

C&G 6035-02
NVQ Level 2 Diploma in plumbing

As an incentive they will include 4 additional green/renewable modules on top for free.


Also, for an extra £454 and as an extra incentive if i do the above courses with them, i can also do the Part P & 17th wiring regs.


I would like to find out if they as a company are any good and if anyone here has had any recent experience in dealing with them. I.e are the standards of training good etc?


Does the pricing of the above courses seem like a good deal?


I wish to train in the shortest time frame possible and in the closest proximity to where i live.


Any help/comments would be very much appreciated.


Many thanks!
 
How much??? Now I appreciate the guy that put me through my time a little bit more.

look I won't encourage anyone to do these courses. You can't go on the course then go in someone house and go ehhhhh oh not seen this before or oh what did my teacher say again. An apprenticeship is by far the best way however I understand it's hard to get one.

Good luck anyway
 
I agree.

I did a fast-track course and I think they are a bad idea. My dad was a builder and I worked with him since I was old enough to get under his feet so I had a pretty good knowledge base before I started but still, my real learning all happened on the job. No way you can learn real-life plumbing in a workshop.

However, IF you can get someone to give you a chance to work in your free time to gain real experience then a fast-track course is better than nothing, simply because it seems almost impossible to get an apprenticeship.
 
Hi Info Seeker,

Alana here from OLCI Construction Training.

I would like to offer you some reassurance that our plumbing and electrotechnical NVQ courses have been running for over 6 years now and we continue to train and support students who successfully achieve their full NVQ qualifications with us. If you have any questions or queries about our plumbing course then please don't hesitate to give us a call on 0800 316 8100. Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected] with a phone number and suitable time to call you back.

Best wishes,

Alana Fox
 
There are a lot of these threads.Worth looking at some of them.When plumbing was supposedly a boom industry there were masses of Fast Track courses and lots of disappointed fast track plumbers who were/are looked down upon by properly trained tradesmen.Basically they were often not safe to be let loose in customer's homes and no employed jobs were available due to lack of experience.This after many thousands of pounds spent.The situation is in many ways the same except to get the minimum recognised qualification a practical ,on the job portfolio is required.NOT offered by most course providers.It is even harder with gas.There are lots of offers to work for free on here with little or no positive response.It is hard to get into the trade except via an apprenticeship which has age limitations.Even then the incentives are not enough for many to take one on.Sorry about this apparently negative response.Better to check it out before spending so much cash.
 
Good luck if you decide to pursue a career. But be warned.
You will be lucky to earn £5000 a year in your 1st few years if you go self employed. And i can almost guarantee no one will employ you due to not being apprentice traine. Have a look at current vacancies for gas engineers the pay is pants.
 
You could be better of learn and be apprentice to a : lime plaster , stone masonry , French polisher , vw transporter mechanic
 
julesverne said:
Good luck if you decide to pursue a career. But be warned.
You will be lucky to earn £5000 a year in your 1st few years if you go self employed. And i can almost guarantee no one will employ you due to not being apprentice traine. Have a look at current vacancies for gas engineers the pay is pants.
Click to expand...

why be lucky to make 5000 in first years being self employed, I thought that too but moved to a town I had never been to, started business at 20 made 15 first year and it was only 8 months then 32k second and 38k the next year so it can be done
 
Cainan said:
why be lucky to make 5000 in first years being self employed, I thought that too but moved to a town I had never been to, started business at 20 made 15 first year and it was only 8 months then 32k second and 38k the next year so it can be done
Click to expand...

15k clear bottom line profit in first year??
 
To be honest when I get guys who come from this background they tend not to last very long sadly, mainly due to lack of experience and knowledge. An apprenticeship is really the best thing although I do understand they are nigh on impossible to get.

The problem I tend to have with the fast tracked guys is that they all expect the same wages as those who have got the experience, however they have to be nursed through jobs, and often can not be left to get on with it. Even things like reading drawings can throw them.

I have had a one older apprentice who started with me in his 40's but worked his bum off for very little money really, and was hungry to study as much as he could. He really had the right attitude though, which really helped. If I could give you advice I would suggest to look into more traditional methods of learning and try and get in with someone who can help you get the experience.

Good luck though whatever you decide.
 
Nobody can train, in any training center to be a plumber in a matter of weeks. (nobody)
It does take time, it does take effort, it also take a great deal (Big) I mean big effort !
 
Take note of the comments already posted, as there's some good advice here.


It's not a case of putting anyone off, but really think about what you want to achieve after the course, what are you prepared to do, can you afford to live on lower wages for several years...


I spent most of my early years in office based jobs... got fed up with the politics involved and fancied a change, so started labouring for a builder (not a plumber). After a few years and gaining some good trade skills, I decided to focus towards plumbing.


Spent two years at night college completing my C&G Level 2 Tech Cert, doing the theory and practical... then spent a further year doing any jobs I could get (for free) from family and friends to gain my NVQ 2.


Had to finish with the builder due to lack of work, spent some time temping, then went self employed plumbing. It's great when you get the work you're happy doing, changing taps, plumbing in a toilet etc... but as I quickly realised, you hit so many obstacles and that's where the lack of real experience hits you... and if you're an honest person, you're forced to turn work down.


I couldn't afford to keep doing it full time, even doing other jobs such as tiling, decorating etc... The lack of real time experience really does play a part. Funny thing is, I didn't even want my own business, I'd much rather work for/with an experienced chap, but couldn't find anyone.


It's tough, because all you read is 'shortage of plumbers'... but in reality a shortage there isn't.


Really consider your financial situation now and going forward. I'd look at colleges first, so you don't spend out as much (cost me 2.5k in total), but really try and find a chap you can work with... and if you do, remain loyal to him. Good luck mate, hope it works out.
 
Thanks to all of you that have replied so far.

The thing is that i do not wish to go to college for 2/3 years as this just is not practical.

My thinking is that this current climate is crap for jobs and i have really struggled getting anything decent of late. I thought that if i can get some new skills then that would improve my employability. Plumbing was recommended to me by a builder and as i have done some work in that area before as a plumbers mate (albeit very limited and some time ago but i did enjoy the work), i thought about giving it a go.

Obviously now after reading the comments i'm having second thoughts about shelling out 6/7 grand on something that will seemingly not improve my situation.

The experience factor is understandable but annoying at the same time. I've even gone for a bar job to be turned down because of no experience. I mean, how are you ever supposed to get experience when no one will take you on without experience! It's catch 22 all the time. So frustrating.

In a nut shell, i need to improve my employability and i have a desire to learn some new skills only i can't afford to spend 2/3 years in a college. A thought crossed my mind about travelling abroad and being able to offer my newly learnt qualifications in the plumbing trade as a string to my bow.

Are there any fast track qualifications that would be considered valuable?
 
I would have to say no, not plumbing wise. You certainly couldn't come from these courses and start your own business it would be far too risky and could get very messy as you would face things you have never seen before and no disrespect intended you wouldn't know what you were going fully.
You also couldn't come from these courses and get a fully time job full pay as again he couldn't just give you a van and make money off you, you would still almost be his apprentice for the first couple years! I would suggest if you are not willing to be on crap which it is crap money for the 4 year apprenticeship to not follow up with your plumbing career. It's an unfortunate thing but if you managed to get an apprenticeship then you are laughing. A course in a workshop please don't!
 
Cainan said:
why be lucky to make 5000 in first years being self employed, I thought that too but moved to a town I had never been to, started business at 20 made 15 first year and it was only 8 months then 32k second and 38k the next year so it can be done
Click to expand...


So cainan, you are ''claiming'' that you moved to a town you don't know and made £15,000 first year then £32,000 etc, etc .... Who knew you in the town? How did you get to drum off the business if no one had ever heard of you?

The advice the OP was given is based on the fact that as he has no experience, going self employed will be a disaster. So, in all earnest, experience is the best teacher.
 
Knew no one hadn't even been here before , went round all bathroom and kitchen companies and got lucky I suppose. But of course I do understand I had all qualifications and the op doesn'tdoesn't
 
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