Gas and Plumbing Engineer in Birmingham area?

[mountainman]

Hopefully someone who has been down the path I'm trying to take will be able to help. You may as well have said theres to many of us lol

I don't swear!

Truthfully though, what's wrong with you being a plumber?

Gas isn't all its cracked up to be what with wages falling and the costs involved to maintain registration continually climbing.

Don't believe the guy at the training centre when he tells you "everyone will be keen to help you out".
They won't, and the reason is that they will see you as competition.

 

[Dotty]

I can't believe just trying to get the right advice about this industry is so hard to come by. I completely understand that a company wants the right people but surely just the fact I'm willing to invest so much of my own money shows that I'm serious and willing to learn.

So that's the attitude I was warned about lol. I wonder if all the plumbing and heating industry guys got into it straight from school. I think not. Now I know why eastern europeans are being employed more and more, thanks anyway

Hopefully someone who has been down the path I'm trying to take will be able to help. You may as well have said theres to many of us lol

You asked for advice. You're getting it. Now you're learning that the cold reality doesn't match your rose tinted expectations. Lose the attitude if you want to get anywhere for a start.

And read the forum rules or your visit here could end up a short one!

 

[Ermintrude]

Got to agree with others. I'm only fitting boilers and fixing stuff because I have to. I studied chemical process engineering to masters,worked as a civil engineer with Jarvis then a project manager with Carillon and other civil companies..... Downturn started .... Went from running £275M development to having £275 in my bank... I worked for free for nearly 3 years. I didn't even get scrap! It's a ok job but if you know nothing it's going to be hard. Find a greedy small business man and offer your services. You will get abused. Don't listen to training places they just want your money and will tell u were to go when you still aren't earning after 3 years!

What is it that you are so attracted to working with gas? Do you have any dependants? If you are free British gas are looking for trainees, they are however a pants company and want you to give your life!

I might suggest that you look at alternative technology, solar thermal, bio mass, air and ground pumps.... Green deal is set to roll onto commercial systems in 2018 and there will be lots and lots of work as all landlords will need to have an a rated boiler by 2015 or its £5k fine and all business will have a similar system in-place in future. Also fuel costs going up so everyone going to want to save a Penny or two.

I would possibly also look at being able to do epc in the interim , green deal is daylight robbery but you could jump on band wagon for the Eco funding part, lots of people 2020 qualified but still short fall of epc staff. Talk to stroma for info.

 

[macka09]

Theirs nothing wrong with just being a plumber, I just don't fancy shelling out a lot of money for something that isn't worth anything in the industry. I haven't thought about going it alone with my own business due to how slow I assume it would be in the early days. The reason I would like to be able to work along side someone who has been doing it a long time is for there supervision as I assume my course should show me what I need to know?????

 

[macka09]

Basically what interests me in the industry is being able to learn a skill for life which can help put food on the table as I do have a young son to bring up. I want to be able to provide more than what my current 9-5 offers. As I mentioned earlier whilst I have these funds to hand I would like to put it to good use. I know the renewable energy route is definitely one to look at due to global warming and energy efficiency etc etc.

 

[tamz]

I just don't fancy shelling out a lot of money for something that isn't worth anything in the industry. I haven't thought about going it alone with my own business due to how slow I assume it would be in the early days.

That i'm afraid is what you are about to do. Shell out a LOT of money for something that is worth very little.
The reality of retainers is most have to go it alone because they can't get a start with anyone. That is hardly surprising when you consider they know less than a 1st year apprentice who can do more work for less money. There are also 1000's of fully qualified guys sitting around scratching their rses willing to take any scraps that are thrown at ridiculously low rates just to pay the bills.
Yes there are a few dedicated guys come into the trade in later life and become very good plumbers or engineers but they are by far the minority. Most fall by the wayside and move on to something else having wasted a lot of time effort and money.
The winners are the training centres churning out the hopefuls with rose tinted glasses of a secure future.
Think carefully before you part with your cash. Tripple Eight in the 4.15 at Rippon tomorrow is a better bet:wink:

 

[Ermintrude]

If you have a 9-5 keep it I work 07.45 till 18.30 for not a lot ! Why not invest in some training relevant To your current job or perhaps if you have loads if spare cash invest in a more prosperous career?

 

[rab250]

I came into this trade 6yrs ago, through a training centre like the ones nobody likes. The people who know what they want to do when they leave school are lucky i was 30 before i did.One advantage i had was my motor vehicle background . I was lucky enough to find a good mentor to work with for free for about 18 months before i passed my acs ( the job i had at the time was nights so i had the days to train). I couldn't find any work when i eventually passed as we were mid recession. The person i trained with threw some work my way and slowly away i set up my own business continuously putting all monies earned into buying decent equipment and attending courses. The hard thing to learn is the older systems in my opinion. I now have a good business and some very loyal customers but i will never be rich b

 

[SimonG]

If you have a 9-5 keep it I work 07.45 till 18.30 for not a lot ! Why not invest in some training relevant To your current job or perhaps if you have loads if spare cash invest in a more prosperous career?

You part timer you. What about the extra time looking and paperwork etc.

 

[hammers4spanner]

take up tiling less outlay and same money