Plumbing / Heating firms taking on people new to trade

[Gary Lee]

Hey,

Is there any Plumbing / Heating firms taking on people these days who are still training? Ive got C&G 2 and doing level 3 at college but to get the NVQs i need to be on the job.... I've been searching all over the place and it seems no ones taking on trainees.

I dont understand it really, surely people like me are an investment into the firms future. I understand they need to make money firstly and don't always have the time to have someone shadowing them. I starting to think its all about blagging jobs now to gain that experience... But i want to learn and be competent not a chancer.

Tried some of the bigger firms and they only want 18-24year old apprentices / mates (I'm 39) or fully qualified engineers. Its a catch 22 situation.

 

[kay-jay]

Hey,

Is there any Plumbing / Heating firms taking on people these days who are still training? Ive got C&G 2 and doing level 3 at college but to get the NVQs i need to be on the job.... I've been searching all over the place and it seems no ones taking on trainees.

I dont understand it really, surely people like me are an investment into the firms future. I understand they need to make money firstly and don't always have the time to have someone shadowing them. I starting to think its all about blagging jobs now to gain that experience... But i want to learn and be competent not a chancer.

Tried some of the bigger firms and they only want 18-24year old apprentices / mates (I'm 39) or fully qualified engineers. Its a catch 22 situation.

Honestly you will struggle. Most will assume that you will expect a higher wage than a teenager.

I prefer to take on older guys as they have more commitment and are more likely to be grafters.

I have given a good few a start over the years and only one teenage apprentice.

Keep trying.[emoji6]

 

[Masood]

It's complicated and I do feel for you Gary. A 16 year old costs peanuts, often has little ambition to go solo for a good few years, and is malleable. A 39 year old will need an income, is much more set in his ways, more opinionated and far more likely to set up in competition soon after finishing training...

 

[Gary Lee]

Cheers Guys, very good points. Im aiming to get a start with a bigger firm so i can offer some sort of longevity to them. I don't really plan to go solo as I've been self employed as a painter and decorator and hate the stress that comes with self employment.

 

[drip-dry]

wish no one dragged me into trade at 16....maybe would be doing a proper job now...as they say ..if you could go back..boy i would run......not really...loooooove the trade

 

[Stokesy11]

It's really hard work to find a apprenticeship nowadays. Im 28 and just landed one with a biggish firm.
Tried getting one for years around my area plus surrounding areas. In the end I managed to get one and start in a weeks time but to get this job/ opportunity I am relocating myself and my young family 3 and a half hours away from where I live.
Going to be on the most horrendous wage for the next year 18 months for a 28 year old but so worth it to work with a plumber daily to really learn the trade and also get my nvq which is important.

Good luck mate I know it's hard out there.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Mate I feel your pain. I'm 38 now and have been with a firm since September last year. I shadowed with them for free for 2 months. Then I asked for minimum wage just to cover my lunches and travel which I was on for another couple months. As soon as I saw a job opening I asked for the job. I think the boss was skeptical about me and I can understand why as I'd only done a technical level 2 certificate with very limited hands on experience. But I pushed on and he gave me a chance. I'm not saying I didn't annoy the pants off him when I panicked at silly little jobs but as he said the other day, I've come a long way since then. I bombarded nearly every single local plumbing & heating firm around my area until someone said yes. I think local companies will always favour local employees so target your local area and don't give up. Good luck mate.

 

[Gary Lee]

Thanks jay and stokesy... You've given me a bit of hope lol. Good luck chaps

 

[Glasgow Tom]

I feel your pain. I was serving my time as a plumber 89/90.
I was let go, and didn't get to finish my time.
Now forty, I have a gas acs ticket that is about to run out at the end of this year.
Like jay from London, I offered to work for free to gain experience and hope they might take me on at min wage.
Good luck