Fast track courses worth it?

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Fast track courses worth it?

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J

Joe Shmoe

Hi gents,

Having lost my job in an industry I no longer want to work in, I am doing my research as to whether plumbing could be an option for the future.

I used to work as a photographic set builder and have done quite a bit of renovation work on my house, so have quite a few tools and am handy in building etc. I have fit a couple of sinks and kitchen taps, and replaced two bathroom suites for family which I enjoyed, so I am confident of doing the basics. All the work turned out good, but I have no idea of what I am doing, other than applying logic to what I am trying to achive and watching YouTube videos for training.

If I am to make a proper career, I want to get training so I can do the whole hog, that includes central heating systems and boiler fitting etc.

My question is, if I was to do the OLCI 'traing to be a plumber course' followed by the Advanced course which teaches boilers and central heating, would I be in a position to set-up as a self-employed plumber, or would I still need additional training, or real-life experience etc?

I want to do things the best way possible, but don't want to invest money and not come out fully trained for what I want to do at the end of it.

I do have the advantage of being used to building, and can plaster, tile and build to reasonable standard, so I am not a total novice, but I have no plumbing experience other than a few baths and sinks and some basic copper pipe work.

Any pointers from seasoned plumbers or those who have taken the OLCI courses would be much appreciated.


Regards
Joe.
 
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You could be in with chance with that £100K from Debra Meaden after all she gave that shyster from Ploughcroft a big wedge and he's just gone bust
 
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No point in a fast track course unless you've got a gas safe engineer to take you under their wing to mentor you before during and after your gas safe exams. Once your qualified your still learning all the time.
 
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Re: Fast track questions and answers

Is there a fast track course to become a fast track trainer?

Try saying that quickly :)
 
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Re: Fast track questions and answers

Alright lads! I've just finished my 6129 lvl2 in plumbing and now looking to get my NVQ2 complete, I've been told I need to get assessed on site for 2 bathroom suites and 2 central heating circuits, is this correct? Or is there more involved?
 
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Re: Fast track questions and answers

Fray said:
Alright lads! I've just finished my 6129 lvl2 in plumbing and now looking to get my NVQ2 complete, I've been told I need to get assessed on site for 2 bathroom suites and 2 central heating circuits, is this correct? Or is there more involved?
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yeah it is 2 bathrooms, health and safety, prep work, and some other bits and pieces, can all be done at your 2/3 bathrooms. I think the college also ask for another job, like guttering/ 6 rads, i.e.
 
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Re: Fast track questions and answers

I have a serious fast track question... I have some ACS, is there any point in me getting a "plumbing qualification"??
 
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Re: Fast track questions and answers

That surely depends on your knowledge and experience of plumbing and how you want to work id have thought. If you need a cscs card you can only get an operatives card without nvq's unless you are GSR where you get a white gas card acs doesnt count for anything. That is if your ever looking for site work.
 
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Fast track should be named 'basic skills'. I'm at college full time studying plumbing and I love it, currently self employed the other days in a trade I've done for ten years. My tutor is fantastic, and not for one minute am I under any dis illusion I will be a plumber after just a year. My grandad was a plumber, he is 80 now, he told me to expect around five years providing I shut up and listen, good advice. Second piece of good advice, if your self employed, your a salesman first and a plumber second. If you don't follow these rules you'll fold.

Hope I've not put a damper on anything, you can't be good at anything if you only have a brief go at it.
 
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Whl4852 said:
Second piece of good advice, if your self employed, your a salesman first and a plumber second. If you don't follow these rules you'll fold.

.
Click to expand...

I expect the people who run these fast-track courses follow the same line of thinking, i.e. "You're a salesman first, and a trainer second!"

Such is the way of the world in a market based economy.
 
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Hi, I am looking at becoming a self employed plumber, I have fitted over 10 bathrooms for friends and familly and a few kitchens. I really enjoy the work and have been told by many that I should do it for a living, I have been offerd payment for my work but untill now have never concidered it. I work in London monday to friday and travel home for the weekend and this has now become to much for wife and kids. So thought of training to be a plumber. The business side of things doesnt phase me as I have been in business development for 14 years and have started my own company before.

The thing that gets me is that I want to train and start working for myself at the same time, all the so called fast track cources dont lead you to the SQV you need to be certified, (although they offer some good basic training.

I like studying and would happily spend a day a week and weekends studying for all the certificates for boilers, heating, electrics. I just need to work at the same time.

To get the SVQ I cant be self employed and I cant survive on Sub £20K trainee money. Is there no way my self employed work can be assessed and taken into account? Even though I could probably make a living not doing the courses Id rather do things properly.



The demand seems to be there, I was away and had a water leak and it was two weeks before a plumber could get to me! There are two local plumbers.
 
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Scots Jay said:
Hi, I am looking at becoming a self employed plumber, I have fitted over 10 bathrooms for friends and familly and a few kitchens. I really enjoy the work and have been told by many that I should do it for a living, I have been offerd payment for my work but untill now have never concidered it. I work in London monday to friday and travel home for the weekend and this has now become to much for wife and kids. So thought of training to be a plumber. The business side of things doesnt phase me as I have been in business development for 14 years and have started my own company before.

The thing that gets me is that I want to train and start working for myself at the same time, all the so called fast track cources dont lead you to the SQV you need to be certified, (although they offer some good basic training.

I like studying and would happily spend a day a week and weekends studying for all the certificates for boilers, heating, electrics. I just need to work at the same time.

To get the SVQ I cant be self employed and I cant survive on Sub £20K trainee money. Is there no way my self employed work can be assessed and taken into account? Even though I could probably make a living not doing the courses Id rather do things properly.



The demand seems to be there, I was away and had a water leak and it was two weeks before a plumber could get to me! There are two local plumbers.
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It sounds to me like you need the new Fast Fart Track Course I can offer you a really good rate only 2K instead of the normal 4K+ because it is only 4 weeks, is that sort enough (if not let me know & I will tell you about our very special fast fast fast one)
So as a you work in business development you will no doubt be aware that ever business depends of its success on the produce/s it sells & you think that after completing the plumbing work in a few bathrooms & kitchens plus a sort it of studying you will have a produce (skills) that anybody would be willing to pay for, to give you an income of +£20K? all that travelling is effecting your grey matter my old mate.
I am not being funny but I would just quit your job, don't bother about the training, buy some books & start up on your own as a self-employed bathroom & kitchen plumbing installer give it a go for a few months to see what is really like to work as a plumber.
 
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Very funny Chris. I was sying that I didnt want to do a fast track cource Id rather do one that leads to a propper industry recognised one like the SVQ3, I was struggling to find a course that offered the flexibility. And do I think people would pay for the work I am capable of doing at the moment? Yes I do, and I do it very well. Im wise enough not to attempt anything Im not capable of doing, hence wishing to study alongside working. Would I replace a whole central heating system? no I wouldnt, would I replace a radiator yes I would. The work I have done to date is as good as ive seen anywhere else if not better. Granted I probably do not have the speed of an experienced plumber in fitting a bathroom, but It will come.

Evertone has to start somewhere (You did)

So nothing wrong with my grey matter my old chum. and thanks for your encouragement or lack of it!
 
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chris watkins said:
It sounds to me like you need the new Fast Fart Track Course I can offer you a really good rate only 2K instead of the normal 4K+ because it is only 4 weeks, is that sort enough (if not let me know & I will tell you about our very special fast fast fast one)
So as a you work in business development you will no doubt be aware that ever business depends of its success on the produce/s it sells & you think that after completing the plumbing work in a few bathrooms & kitchens plus a sort it of studying you will have a produce (skills) that anybody would be willing to pay for, to give you an income of +£20K? all that travelling is effecting your grey matter my old mate.
I am not being funny but I would just quit your job, don't bother about the training, buy some books & start up on your own as a self-employed bathroom & kitchen plumbing installer give it a go for a few months to see what is really like to work as a plumber.
Click to expand...

When I started out a self employed I used to hate calling it a business, I was just a bloke with tools and a van and everything else just fell in place. Sick of everyone saying you can just fast track your way into everything. Qualifications mean **** in the plumbing world, even in 2012. Nobody asked to see a tech cert at 11 at night on Christmas Eve on a call out. Rant over, forget the courses and find an old plumber, if its meant to be it'll all fall in place.
 
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Scots Jay said:
Very funny Chris. I was sying that I didnt want to do a fast track cource Id rather do one that leads to a propper industry recognised one like the SVQ3, I was struggling to find a course that offered the flexibility. And do I think people would pay for the work I am capable of doing at the moment? Yes I do, and I do it very well. Im wise enough not to attempt anything Im not capable of doing, hence wishing to study alongside working. Would I replace a whole central heating system? no I wouldnt, would I replace a radiator yes I would. The work I have done to date is as good as ive seen anywhere else if not better. Granted I probably do not have the speed of an experienced plumber in fitting a bathroom, but It will come.

Evertone has to start somewhere (You did)

So nothing wrong with my grey matter my old chum. and thanks for your encouragement or lack of it!
Click to expand...


Just set yourself up as property maintenance, bathrooms etc, if you are good then you will last. This is not a dig, I just think that is the best place to start then you will learn as you get paid, and the mistakes you make will cost you, so you will learn to not make them. Best of luck, cos its hard on your own
 
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Scots Jay, if you feel confident enough in your abilities, then go for it! It's not all doom and gloom out there, I've got 7 bathrooms booked in and 2 more to come.

All this negativity on here is pure bull **** and if you work hard and do the very best work that you can, set yourself very high standards and be prepared to go out there and do everything possible to bring the work in, then you'll succeed. If you sit on your rse in front of a computer and moan like some of them on here about a lack of work when you should be out there chasing it then you'll crash and burn just like them.

Welcome to the forums.
 
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Thanks System3. I am going to give it everything, Im not afraid of hard work (I do circa 80 hours a week at the moment) and I was starting to wonder about all the negativity. Glad to see that there are those willing to be encouraging and help full.
 
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