Training as a plumber

[nick coates]

I am looking to train up as a plumber having tried, in vain, to get into design for the last year and a half. I need to clarify a few things. I have a looked at the various routes on offer and as far as I can see, have two main options; go to college for 2 years or more, or do one of these rather expensive intensive private courses. Iam now 25 and so the state apprentice route is a non starter. I am getting old and need to get on and sort something out asap! What I would love to know is what are the minimum qualifications necessary to get myself employed? From what i can gather i need the city and guilds 6129 followed by the nvq level 2 on site assessment. Am I correct in thinking this? I have been told to steer clear of the 6128 as it is not as comphensive as the 6129 as it covers only heating and ventilation. However various others have said that the only difference between the two is that the 6129 covers all aspects of leadwork? I looked into two private courses; one that does 6128, (8weeks long) and one that does 6129 (20 weeks long) ? quite a difference. Also what precisely is the nvq 2 ? , as far as i can make out it is literally a sort of on site assessment done using an assessor on a particular job and it lasts as long as the job, you then get your certificate? Is there any theory work with it like the 6129? . and then am i more likely to find work?. It seems a slightly catch 22 situation as you need the job to use to get your nvq assessment but you are unlikely to find that job without the nvq? How do you go about it? Can anyone recommend the best route and college/course to go for? sorry so many questions to ask!

regards nick🙂

 

[sonray ltd]

two totally different careers
how do you know your cut out to be a plumber. they have to get their hands dirty.

companys won't take you on without a 6129, 6089 nvq2.
you need hands on to do 6089.

then when you have gained nvq2 your up against companys taking you on without experience.

you've picked the worst time to try get into plumbing as many sites are laying off and the experienced plumbers come first for work.

 

[rolymo]

Like Sonray said. How do you know that you are cut out to be a plumber??
How about doing a 2 week starter course??
Chase plumbing Do a said course.
Phone them 01543 424205.
You could do a 20 week course at a cost of what £6000 plus, that would be 20 weeks with no income and no job at the end of it, and you might not like the job anyway.

 

[rubs69]

steer clear of these fastrack courses! a skilled trade dont *** in 20 wks! mind you if you pay them £6000 they;ll say they can turn you into an airline pilot in 20 wks!
get on a college course and become time served because serving time is the only way to become the best at anythin..
thats my opinion 4 wat its worth and ive only just started at college myself for plumbin but bin a plasterer for 20 yrs.

 

[anz]

Think about this very carefully.

There is no longer a shortage of plumbers!

Learning a trade takes years, can you afford to take time off for that long?

These Fast Track Courses will only teach you the basics.

There is no way a good time served Plumber will employ you if you have done a fast track course as they hate it.

Think about this carefully before jumping to the decision. I wouldn't recommend changing careers to become a plumber.

 

[justlead1]

Hi. As has already been stated be careful. Now is not the time to spend or borrow. At 25 time is still on your side. Don't be fouled into thinking that all plumbers earn 2k a week. You will only here about the best week of there lives and they fail to mention the weeks sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. Or indeed when on a job for 17 hours trying to sort out problems.

Plumber covers a board range of skills and knowledge so why try and learn it all. Pick an item from the trade menu and learn to be a specialist. ( In my lifetime these are some of the changes that have taken place)Plumbers carried out:- Glazing, guttering, sheet lead work and casting, copper sheet work, Sheet zinc work, Central heating, Gas fitting, insulation of pipes etc, Pumps in wells, Making good, Solar heating, Boiler servicing, etc. the list goes on.

Do some thinking, some areas akin to plumbing are easier to break into than plumbing in general as they still employ mates or labours. I don,t know your back ground, but the measure of man is to start at the bottom and work your way up, as with age. Good Luck

 

[nick coates]

thanks for the advice, guys much appreciated, am actually thinking about going down the route of working for somone free for 4 days a week, over the space of a year, to get some on site training ( i understand that this is invaluable and there is no substitute) and build up my nvq 2 portfolio, whilst getting a day release and going to college 1 day a week to do the C and G 6129 part. The only issue is it will take two years to do this. not even sure whether i can get on this years course. Also I would need to find somone willing to take me on! Atl least then I would have both the nvq2 and tech cert 6129 in the bag. In terms of my background/experience, although i have no plumbing experience, as such. I have pretty much 'grown up' in a workshop working on vintage cars so know all about getting myself caked in oil/grease! I can already weld, both arc gas and mig, solder, braze, use a lathe and virtually every other tool i can think of. pretty competent at metal and wood work, can use c.a.d. etc etc anyway.... what i am trying to say is that i am not a complete beginner i think my background would at the very least be of some advantage ! I hope!
nick

 

[Chase Plumbing]

Like Sonray said. How do you know that you are cut out to be a plumber??
How about doing a 2 week starter course??
Chase plumbing Do a said course.
Phone them 01543 424205.
You could do a 20 week course at a cost of what £6000 plus, that would be 20 weeks with no income and no job at the end of it, and you might not like the job anyway.

Hi Rolymo

I am in total agreement.

What is wrong with doing a starter course! Common sense when you think about it.

Everybody is not cut out to be a plumber.

If you jump course after a few weeks what happens to the £6000 + you have already spent?

Phil
Chase Plumbing

 

[Aqua Mechanica]

I'm just starting my second year on the 6129 level 2 Technical Certificate in Plumbing Studies and I will also be doing the NVQ level 2 at the same time. I'm 28 years old, so you really do still have time on your side.

The Technical Certificate is for anyone who has not been a plumber for approx 5+ years, they simply won't just let you do an NVQ straight off. The tech cert gives you your core training as a Plumber, there is stuff in there that will take ages to digest if you truly want to be a good Plumber. I recommend the day release, it will be cheaper to take a day off a week that spend £6,000 on one of these courses.

Alot of employers will not take on plumbers who have done a crash course, they don't recognise it and give it no respect. I certainly wouldn't take a crash courser on.

The tech cert is done in college and takes about 72 days over two years. The NVQ is solely an onsite evaluation and I plan to complete mine within a 3 month period.

It is possible to work wherever you like whilst doing the tech cert but obviously helps your progression if you are in the plumbing industry as you will pick things up quicker.

I work for Watkins Plumbing in London, and although I still have a few exams to take, I have pretty much been on Plumbers wages since 6 months into the course because I take it seriously, work hard and take pride in my work. I would not have achieved that on a crash course.

My NVQ 2 and Tech cert tuition fees each year were £806 (total £1616) at Bexley College in kent. Thats for both Tech Cert and NVQ. There is a C&G registration fee of £145 also.

My advice, do a day release off your own back, find a big company to take you on at low pay until you prove yourself. Keep your head down and work hard to keep your place.

If you can get a taster of the work before you commit, then do it. I'm not fussed about being covered in p*ss and sh*t but some people are.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, just know it's not easy at this time and you will have to work very hard.

But, I feel the work is as rewarding as the money; and I wouldn't want to do anything else.

If you live in London, contact Watkins Plumbing, they seem to be gaining loads of work at this time and they took me on when I'd never held a spanner before. But then i have been extremely fortunate.

[DLMURL="http://www.cwatkins.co.uk/contact-us.html"]C Watkins - Contact Us[/DLMURL]

Hope this helps

Ben

 

[jjj]

As long as you stay clear of gas work, what laws prevent you from starting your own plumbing business WITHOUT ANY QUALIFICATIONS?

I note the country is full of people who call themselves "Engineers" without ever studying for the 3~4 years required at University to get a true engineering qualification.

Why should the same not apply to other jobs like plumbing? Controversial, I know.

 

[johnmess]

Hi

I have started a plumbing course that will take me 2 years to complete and I am 31 I in no way feel to old to do this my only concern is will I be able to get work. As I am not going down the traditional apprentice route, lets face it apprecships are dead what kid or grown man (i am training whilst working part time) wants to work for a pitince for three years. I agree 20 week course seem like a quick fix but does the plumbing comunity think that only those who have served there time are the only real plumbers ? are they happy with the longer courses? I Know plumbing is a hands on job and nothing can replace on site knowladge but everyone has to start somewhere.

After that bit of a rant I would say stay away from the 20 weeks stuff and find a decent course that will give you the support and knowladge to start in the pluming industy

 

[tammy71]

im on a trainong course for 18 months i looked into the 20 wks 1 dnt worry abt ya age im nearly 39 and a woman lol gl hun

 

[Jimbob]

where abouts are you?

But I think there are plenty more options out there than becoming a plumber. There is loads more enjoyable ways to make similar money. If I was going to retrain, I myself would probably look into engineering, metal fabrication or welding. But plumbing your going into peoples homes and have stupid deadlines, so stressful.

 

[oldie]

As long as you stay clear of gas work, what laws prevent you from starting your own plumbing business WITHOUT ANY QUALIFICATIONS?

I note the country is full of people who call themselves "Engineers" without ever studying for the 3~4 years required at University to get a true engineering qualification.

Why should the same not apply to other jobs like plumbing? Controversial, I know.

jjj
Do you mean the Engineers that have spent 4/5 years in Apprenticships then a futher 2 years as a journey man and then the rest of their working lives still learning, just like in the plummbing trade, a complexe and constantly changing work situation
The country is full of people who claim to be one thing or another but generally they don't last very long as thier competence is very soon exposed,unfortunately generally to the cost of some one else.
There used to be a old saying that is very relivent here "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and has feathers like a duck it probably is a duck" if you substute the word Skilled Man for Duck you will get the idea
( Time served ) oldie

 

[Blackcatgas]

Think about this very carefully.

There is no longer a shortage of plumbers!

Learning a trade takes years, can you afford to take time off for that long?

These Fast Track Courses will only teach you the basics.

There is no way a good time served Plumber will employ you if you have done a fast track course as they hate it.

Think about this carefully before jumping to the decision. I wouldn't recommend changing careers to become a plumber.

Was there really ever a shortage of plumbers?.

 

[CopperPot]

anyone have any information on the changes to the C&G 6129? there are a couple of posts here but they dont really tell you anything. I cant find anything on the C&G site either!

Thanks in advance

 

[wiggy]

Hi, Im about to complete my 6129/6089 nvq Level 2. At 42 ive been quite fortunate to land a full time job plumbing for local housing assoc.
I study at evening in local college which was FREE (first level 2) also 6089 FREE also in total £6000 worth of funding which thet dont tell you when you start course. i recommend night school at it takes a long time to digest the vast array of information. my friends on course do odd jobs on weekends to fill crteria of 6089 so you dont need to be in employment to achieve this until these changes come in force which is rumoured.
good luck!!

 

[Guy]

There is a lot of theory and exams for the technical cert. 11 in total.

 

[heatserve]

As long as you stay clear of gas work, what laws prevent you from starting your own plumbing business WITHOUT ANY QUALIFICATIONS?

I note the country is full of people who call themselves "Engineers" without ever studying for the 3~4 years required at University to get a true engineering qualification.

Why should the same not apply to other jobs like plumbing? Controversial, I know.

Or go the whole hog and set up as a general builder, this can of course include plumbing.

Expect to get a visit from Matt Allwright or the bald dwarf Dom Littlewood - "when I get hold hold of this chancer he's going to be sorry grrrr etc" - repeated for 15 minutes of every show.