Should i train to be a plumber with OLCI?

[Info Seeker]

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?

 

[Cainan]

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!

 

[village idiot]

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

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.

 

[Killy Bing]

Cainan you had previously done plumbing work and had experiance?
Op doesnt

 

[Cainan]

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

 

[PlumbersMate]

Hah! Good old Roy! 🙂 And Darren and Toby. Good lads, all of them!

Roy is a Chap, love him

 

[djob]

Where do you live? The company I work for have taken on 8 apprentices January 2013 & taken on 12 more last month.

 

[PlumbersMate]

Where do you live? The company I work for have taken on 8 apprentices January 2013 & taken on 12 more last month.

Where you live more like?

 

[djob]

Where you live more like?

I live in the southwest, my company take on people as guttering guy for a year to see if they're hard workers or not the. After a year they become a plumbing apprentice

 

[Info Seeker]

Where do you live? The company I work for have taken on 8 apprentices January 2013 & taken on 12 more last month.

Just moved to Widnes in Cheshire. Where is the company based?

 

[Info Seeker]

I live in the southwest, my company take on people as guttering guy for a year to see if they're hard workers or not the. After a year they become a plumbing apprentice

Ah southwest.....bit out the way for me then.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Info Seeker]

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.

I suppose in continuing with the training would be an expensive gamble with the only hope of getting a plumbers mate job at the end for less pay then? I suppose it may work out and it may not.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Roy is a Chap, love him

Gay ..........

 

[acecharly]

Something i noticed when i did my fast track gas course was the impression that you were there to get a qualification and that how you got it realy didnt matter. Im sure so of these fast track places have good intentions but the fact is simple you cant properly learn any course like this or plumbing so quickly. Id had 10+ years of experience of working as a pipefiiter and a plumber and on the gas course i struggled even with this background. Some people on the course had never seen a copper tube in there life and in the 8 week theory side of the course we did 2 practical lessons which lasted 20-30 minutes the resources were limited and quite a few people never got a turn at soldering or basic pipe bender work and yet these people were given certification to work on gas in your home. Aswell as this even if by some miracle you do the course and become proficient, being a plumber and running a plumbing business or essentially drumming up work is another education in itself.

 

[Hybrid]

There's easier ways to make a living. Don't part with all that money to become a blinking plumber!

 

[Info Seeker]

There's easier ways to make a living. Don't part with all that money to become a blinking plumber!

Feel free to share if you have any suggestions.

I need to get something under my belt that improves my employability. According to the builder i spoke to who recommended i learn to become a plumber, he said people are always crying out for them (in his experience) and work is often a plenty. And not just in this country either.

I would like to get into the solar thermal/renewables game as well and i need a plumbing background/qualification to start with.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Work is plenty for
builders with £120 wages .......

When you have done all the training + another £10k for van and £5k for tools you would not want to earn that , DO YOU ????????

 

[Info Seeker]

Work is plenty for
builders with £120 wages .......

When you have done all the training + another £10k for van and £5k for tools you would not want to earn that , DO YOU ????????

£120 a day is a lot more than zero which i'm getting now for starters!

Also one would only get a van and tools if they were going self employed which i would not do to begin with.

 

[julesverne]

I was talking to my Area gas safe inspector on wednesday last week. He was telling me there are GSR's in my area (Bradford) doing cp12's(boiler and cooker) for a £10.00 he was as gob smacked as i was but he swears it's true as he's been inspecting them . he was saying they are doing 6 - 8 day to get £300-£400 a week. he was saying most of his inspections now are new registrations and a lot of them are struggling to find work as they just dont have the experience to get gainful employment.

 

[julesverne]

forgot to add to the above that was self employed aswell.

absolutely laughable you can stack shelves in a supermarket and earn more