To leave or not to leave?

[harry]

Hello,

I am looking to retrain as a plumber and unfortunately will also be another fast tracked, I'm currently working as a prison officer and have been for the last 10 years but once again the government is ruining another service and I hate it, not a little i mean i really hate it and the juvenille clients I have to deal with. I have the oppurtunity to take voluntary redundancy which will cover me for around a year and pay a few debts whilst I retrain and hopefully find some work as a plumber mate or starting out on my own. Please don't shoot me down I am extremley good with my hands and a qualified mechanic, welder fabricator and then went on to be a domestic appliance engineer.*Ideally id like to retrain as a plumber and start my own business do small work or mainly bathroom installations and also offer a service repairing or fault finding home appliances as well.

Should I just do the c&g 6129 or would the nvq 2 be more beneficial I had also just looked at intense courses in bathroom installation and maybe my part p? gaining a little more experience in plastering and tilling although I have done both with a previous house I owned and even installed combi boiler and central heating system then had a someone I know check over the work who was gas safe / corgi registered.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[villa_tom]

Ask around your local merchants to see of they know of any jobs going. Phone local firms and ask them about apprenticeships or if they need and help, even if its only labour, its a start. I wouldn't jump ship without fully knowing what your about to get into.

Like any sort of career change, its a risky move, especially with the current economical climate. Personally, I wouldn't just leave a job, even if I hated it, without having a definitive job lined up.

It is really hard out there in plumbing land, even really experienced blokes are struggling for work. However, if you you can get yourself a place at college and a company to help your learn, it's a a good start.

Only you can make the ultimate decision though, and you'll have to weigh up the pros and the cons yourself. It is tough out there, but there is work if your willing to do it and work hard.

All the best.

Tom.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hi Harry

You have some good transferable skills there, and the redundancy package sounds generous, and would certainly ease the transition.

Is the voluntary redundancy offer time limited? If its not, there are some evening college courses that you might try, even if they are relatively low level - or would your shift system allow you to get to a course once a week at a college?

That would allow you to get a taste without burning your boats.

 

[Barry98]

Hi Harry not everyone who does a fast track course is useless , however the paper you get at the end of them without on site experience will highly unlikely get you a full time job with a firm.

if your intending to fly solo and have the mind set of an engineer you may not struggle but I personally know 4 bathroom fitters that tile and plaster that have experience sat at home most days because the competition in very cut ththroat good luck with it though.

if I were you personally I'd be opening a garage

 

[harry]

Hi and thanks for the responses,

I have a feeling that although the redundancy is offered under a time limit they have closed a few prisons in the Kent area resulting in more staff than required so I would imagine there will be future redundancies offered.

I must admit I'm obviously a little sceptical to throw £28,500 a year away with out anything more concrete its just when your that fed up with job it starts to impact on your home life.

I may be able to do flexible rostering allowing me to possible have set evening's off and do night college, another thought would be to start out doing small jobs and property maintance on my days off whilst getting a customer base then hopefully leaving when future redundancies come about!!

Would anyone suggest any basic qualifications I should do to help along the way?

 

[villa_tom]

Hi and thanks for the responses,

I have a feeling that although the redundancy is offered under a time limit they have closed a few prisons in the Kent area resulting in more staff than required so I would imagine there will be future redundancies offered.

I must admit I'm obviously a little sceptical to throw £28,500 a year away with out anything more concrete its just when your that fed up with job it starts to impact on your home life.

I may be able to do flexible rostering allowing me to possible have set evening's off and do night college, another thought would be to start out doing small jobs and property maintance on my days off whilst getting a customer base then hopefully leaving when future redundancies come about!!

Would anyone suggest any basic qualifications I should do to help along the way?

I very much doubt you'd earn 28k on the cards as a plumber. I know blokes with gas as well only just scraping 30k a year.

 

[harry]

I must admit though its not all about the money anymore, if I can earn something similiar then I think id be happy with that and hopefully be able to devote a little more quality time with my family,one thing Ioved whilst being a domestic appliance engineer was working from home being out and about meeting new people.
Its actually quite satisfying get a thank you for doing some quality work, something I haven't had for a good 10 years with the dregs of society.

 

[Barry98]

Know what your saying there Harry , my uncles at rampton as a office I best add

 

[harry]

Rampton that's the secure hospital isn't it??? Lovely!! I came from a busy local jail and moved to the juvenile estate what a fool I was.. 15-18 year old boys who want to do one thing, stab each other over a stupid post code. Ive done my days of rolling around the floor before 9 am.

 

[villa_tom]

Just re read your opening post. Do you really have to call criminals/prisoners "clients" ?

 

[harry]

Nope in my opinion there cons, prisoners and sh*t cu*ts but I was trying to be diplomatic! Don't get me wrong I used to love the job until I met the juvenile estate

 

[TBServices]

Just re read your opening post. Do you really have to call criminals/prisoners "clients" ?

My mum is a social worker, she calls her lot "clients". Me and my dad are always calling them scumbags but she gets wound up.

 

[Dotty]

I used to go out with a social worker (oh the memories! And the mammaries!)

I wound her up by calling them bottomfeeding pond life.

There's an, erm, establishment over here.

They have to call them guests.

 

[harry]

I could start a whole lengthy debate about should they be called Mr "whoever" but personally id rather eat my own "sh*t" than call them Mr so I refer to most by there first name.