Train 4 Trade Skills

[ctp]

I'm in the same boat. I couldn't do a college course because of working a mixed shift pattern on nights. I have spoken with train4trades and the course is costing £5770 spread over 42 months.

I have 3 weeks to decide if the course is worth my time before I have to start paying. I'm not looking to work for a company but start as a sole trader and work for myself.

The course covers the following areas:

C&G 6129 Technical Certificates Level 2
C&G 6084 Energy Efficiency Certificate
C&G 6022-02 Copper Pipework installation
C&G 6032 Sanitary accomodation installation maintenance and design
BPEC water supply (water fiitings) Regulations 1999

As well as Practical traing assessment.

I'm dubious about these courses after reading some posts and would be interested in hearing from anyone that has done the course and got something out of it. Preferably someone who hasn't only posted once to big up the course (undercover employee of train4trades?). I'll also be getting in touch with organisations such as the PHI and IPHE.

Should have done this sooner really.....live and learn!!!

 

[nick22]

Hi i am newbe.

I did the same thing 2days ago, signed up to do the course with Train 4 Skills 47 month agreement. The Rep made it sound like the best thing since sliced bread!!!

Is Train 4 Trade Skills really what i should be doing or does someone have any suggestions????

I'm going to cancel this course as i feel i'v rushed into things to quickly.

I work fall time and cant afford not to be in work. I have been wanting to do Plumbing for a while but i want to break into the trade the right way.

Can anyone help.

 

[world9563]

hi guys

I have been on train4tradeskills plumbing course for a few months now and feel it wa the best course out there as i spent months looking into it. All i can say realy is its a stepping stone into the plumbing trade. Take your time at the studies and remember even plumbers who have been in business years are still learning you never stop.

 

[nick22]

I really want to do it and i know i can but i dont want to be stuck in a £5500 finance agreement if something was to go wrong.

I'v lost a bit of faith in the company as it seems to only have a web site and nothing else.

It's all glossey books and very gimickey.......or am i just being naturally paranoid, about such a commitment.

Its alot of money to pay out if just something as simple as night courses can get me where i need to be just as well.

If this course really is what its cracked up to be can anyone tell me of their expierience with it please?????????

 

[nick22]

Hi guys

I really want to do "a" course and i dont know weather the train 4 trade skills is going to be the best, i know can do it but i dont want to be stuck in a £5500 finance agreement if something was to go wrong.

I'v lost a bit of faith in the company as it seems to only have a web site and nothing else.

It's all glossey books and very gimickey.......or am i just being naturally paranoid, about such a commitment.

Its alot of money to pay out if just something as simple as night courses can get me where i need to be just as well.

If this course really is what its cracked up to be can anyone tell me of their expierience with it please?????????

 

[LUCIALIA]

Re: train4 trade skills new starter

Does anyone know where the training centres are?

 

[paul86]

Hi I want to be a plumber. i'm 24 and researching courses and have been doing train 4 trade plumbing course for few months. i'm doing really well in exams and enjoying it. But reading bad reviews. I thought it was guaranteed a top top after this. this course is expensive. i'm working full time at moment. after this course could I get apprentship as well as work full time if I don't get job after course as need more experience. whats my chances please or would you forget this plumbing dream. I was hoping to work for company for few weeks then go off on my own. I don't need to buy tools as I have some free with my course sois there anything else I need to know. it's sounds so easy doesn't it

 

[Starvinmarvin]

Alright guys

I've also recently been looking into startin a plumbing course, i've just turned 21 and currently working in security, pretty much in the same boat as nick.

I've spoken to one of the representatives from T4TS, they seem pretty reliable but i've come across something that seems out of place already.
The fella claimed theres an extreme shortage of pumbers although this site claims otherwise - Fast Track Plumber Training - Beware

He also claims within about 14 months i'll have my NVQ lvl 3 and be a qualified plumber able to find my own work or work within a company, I'm a bit wary of this as it seems like a pretty short time in my opinion but i really have no idea anyway.

I'm really still interested in doing this, so if anyone knows anythin about T4TS and there reliability or whatsoever and could reply would be appreciated.

Regards, Marvin.

 

[Starvinmarvin]

I'm also about to start a plumbing course with T4TS, although i'm beginning to have my doubts, is it a realistic course, would i be able to find decent work when i have completed the course, whether it be by myself or not and then gain my experience from there whilst still earnin a decent amount of money ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards, Marvin.

 

[nick penfold]

First stop is to always check out the reputable "proper" colleges in your area. Fair enough the 6129 can be done fulltime but these colleges often offer it part time. At the college i attend, you can do the 6129 mes tech cert full time in 6month course or you can do it 1 day a week over 2 years. During that 2 years, the college have been helping the guys without work placements to get them and then get their 6089 nvq2 running alongside..

Obviously, the real colleges aren't offering fast track courses but i know from a lot of tradesmen around here they would ONLY employ guys from a reputable college. These fast track courses are really starting to get a bad rep.

To give you an idea, i have been plumbing fulltime for 3.5 years now, im finishing off my 2nd year of college and my nvq2. I still dont feel adequatley prepared to work totally self employed......so much to learn. Anyone can put in a new tap...but what do you do if thepipes are corroded, what if the tap doesnt run water once installed, what if the pipes dont reconnect......what im saying is there is so much more to it than the basic lego type plumbing they seem to teach at some of these fast track colleges.


sorry if i've gone on but if you check over this website, theres hundreds of complaints and concerns over these fast track courses yet i find it hard to find even one regarding a proper college

 

[cheets]

You should be asking the train 4 trade people these question, whats the point in spending all that money and now knowing whats around the corner.

 

[NickH]

. I was hoping to work for company for few weeks then go off on my own.

!!!!

 

[paul86]

how are you confused? it's more money on mt own. need to work wit company for bit for experience or even appreticeship, any chance of one of them? need as much info as poss please onthis

 

[Mike Jackson]

It's the few weeks bit. Surely you are not naive enough to think that you can get any worthwhile experience in just two weeks?

Being self employed is not the bed of roses that it's made out to be. I had 26 years of self employment and running the family business. I gave it up just over two years ago and have been at least £200 a week better off and a damn site less stressed since being employed.

If you can get a job it's worth sticking it out for a few years. If you can forge a good relationship with your employers you may find that they are willing to let you sub for them after you leave until you build up a customer base of your own.

Don't expect to walk out with a qualification and immediately start earning good money. Life isn't like that. I've seen a lot of students fresh from college start up on their own and seem to be doing really well until the reality of the overheads of running their own business bites. At least 50% have dropped out of the plumbing industry altogether disillusioned because they are not earning the big bucks they expected.

Mike

 

[paul86]

ok maybe few months then then go off on my own. I know it will be hardwork but I'm dedicated I will put every hour in. Or should I start self employed after finishing my course. what if company refuses to employ me or get apprenticeship. I find this plumbing quite easy so far so I won't be dropping out and I am looking forward to big money but I am gonna do a good job too. but i've read people won't employ anyone who done fast track, which worries me slightly all bad reviews of this course i've read

 

[nick22]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have cancelled the agreement with t4ts.

I have had a long think about my best options.
I'm going to apply to work with a plumber on my days off around my current job without pay.

Try get some expirence under my belt.

Can anyone tell me what qualifications actually mean something in this industry????

 

[cheets]

I would of thought a few years with a plumber/company would be the minimun time served, the amount of problems you will occur being self employed, who are you going to turn to if you come across a problem you don't know how to sort?

You need to stop thinking about "big money" and more a career and you will always be learning new things. You need to think about tax and insurance if you are going to be self employed and that is a whole new ball game and very stressful if you dont get it right the first time.

 

[paul86]

whats chance getting appreniship then if nobody will employ me after fast track course. I can work full time job i'm at and do apprentiship in spare time and then go off when ready. I will hae free tools with this course so won't need to buy thing. I have car so don't need a van. won't cost alot to advertise. It should work maybe

 

[nick penfold]

Hey matey.

Best bet is to check out the IPHE or summitskills website.

Currently, no qualifications are required to work as a self employed plumber. However, compliance with the water regulations is mandatory.

There is discussion that over the next few years, regulations will be brought in that require all plumbers employed or self employed to be adequatley qualified. These regulations will be along the same lines as working with gas or electrics so im led to believe.

To work for an employer, it is currently expected you will have the NVQ 2 otherwise known as the C&G 6089 and the MES technical certificate otherwise known as the C&G 6129.

The C&G 6129 can be completed at college (either a fsat track expensive course or local college). There is no need to be employed to do this course and it teaches you alot of the practical skills required to carry out plumbing wiork and your NVQ2.

The NVQ2 is the qualification where you need to be employed in the industry. By gaining evidence at work and placing it in your nvq folder, you can prove your competent as a plumber and rach the NVQ2 standard.


The normal qualification process would be

do your c&g 6129 tech cert to gain the skills of a plumber

do your nvq2 if employed to show your a competent plumber.


After you have these quali's you can start looking at doing the lvl 3 versions of the above courses where on completion you can safely assume your a qualified plumber.......ofc not mentioning the wras course, the part p electical course and the unvented cert.


im really starting to think that that trainee doctos have it easy with their lil 7 year jaunt.

 

[johnmess]

Paul,

Although there are free tools with this course (yes I am doing it myself just started) I doubt they alone will be enough as I have been doing DIY plumbing for a while and have tools not included in the free ones (also lets face there not free you paid for them with course fee's).I went into this course not expecting the "big Money" the sales man promises but with a mind that I can make a living at it.

As for the apprenticships thats a hard one, nowadays the apprenticship is almost dead. I can't see many plumbers employing anyone over 18 on an apprenticship as they will need to pay to much better having some 15 year old who can be payed **** wages and be a dogs body for three years and cut lose.

I would love to hear from plumbers about there thoughts on the course if I complete 2 years and have DIY plumbing experiance would they consider talking people like me on as a plumbers mate.

I do understand that doing these courses is no subsitute for one site knowladge but if people are saying there is no way to become a plumber unless you are time served, are they saying that every college or uni student can't become a real anything unless they done a 3 years apprenticship.

So in closing Paul do the course as a start into plumbing not into a start to print your own money job and all will be ok. This is more of a career.

Sonray Ltd I would love to hear from you if you would work with someone who had done a course and who had a lot of experiance dealing with the public and a small amount of DIY plumbing experiance i.e fitting bathrooms, Kitchen appliances sinks and fixing small problems ect.

 

[plumermicky]

Agree. Im doing the same course at the mo im on module 8. But the tools you get at the end 5% off what you need in you tool kit. Im working at the mo and with the money im earning, most of it is going on tools. Also you need a van. so im saveing.

Good luck on the course anyway

 

[sonray ltd]

a van is a must people don't want to see you arrive in some old hatchback.
even when your sitting in traffic your out to advertise your company.
i run renault trafics and they are still to small for carrying plumbing, drainage tools. let alone parts etc.
you can get away with carrying alot of spares, but i sub contract to call centres at night and you have to carry 80% of general spares.

as for advertising can be £500 + just for a basic ad in the yellow pages let alone business cards, stationary etc.

john as you say dealing with customers and being able to communicate with them helps alot, keeping them informed on how the jobs going or not going all helps.

if you've done a course yes i would work with them if they where prepaired to listern & learn and not a know it all.
if they wanna learn, reliable, respect customers property, ask when your not sure on something etc.

 

[johnmess]

Thanks very much for answering sonray its really good to get feedback from people who are already plumbers and it gives a good boost to keep going.

 

[ian lees1978]

Hello all,
Ive just started the train 4 trade skills course. Yes the bloke came round and yes its a lot of money and yes they do sell it to you. Ive worked in sales for the past ten years repping so guess i knew the sales speel etc the thing that made me go with it is for one that i cant afford to stop working I hated college hated it with a passion i dont want to sit in college with however many more youngsters half of which will drop out and muck around. Dont get me wrong i dont expect to know everything about plumbing But i can say this. To all you guys out there who have finished the course and looking to start up on there own or find work keep going. Advertise advertise advertise!!!! brochures through doors. Both residential and commercial. Ive finished as a sales rep last week i sold photocopiers to coperate accounts the company cars gone with the phone and laptop etc. Great timing i know im working in a call centre now half the pay just taking calls getting by but hey the one thing i know is people buy people Thats my current trade! as well as good work remember if your a peoples person and three other guys put a quote in yeah they will look at price but also if they like YOU. Reading comments from plumbers who have been at it 32 years fair play to you. However We know it will be hard work. I know theres more to it than theory Ive worked with my dad whos a self emnployed OLD school landscape gardener, travelled Australia and worked as a brickies labourer in 39 degree heat try that. I could even lay bricks when id finished without learning the theory from the books !!! And yes im aware its not like a computer course. Remeber guys there are other countries crying out for skills. Well the point im getting at is fair enough make your point. But for gods sake encourage the people looking to come through. Remembver you were there once!! Take on board the advise guys but go with your gut feeling. My mate who used to work with me in sales is now fully qualified corgi Gas installer, self employed and doing well. Anything is possible if YOU want to do it and YOU keep at it. If it were that easy everyone would be a plumber. Chin up all you people on the course and keep focussed on what you want and GO get it. Im sorry if this seems forward to you guys out there giving good advice and encouragement. Just my opinion and the whole matter.

 

[johnmess]

Ian,

Welcome to the t4ts, I started it myself I have completed the first 2 tma's both with passes. I too work in a call centre and totally agree with what your saying. Doing these courses is a start into plumbing and I am so looking forward to it. I have no doubt it will be hard work and it will not all go to plan all the time but what ever does.

I think we need a lot more encouragement on these pages but also I think we need more feedback both good and bad about t4ts.

Good to have you on board and I hope all goes well on your course.

John

 

[plumermicky]

I dont really care what other people have to say, iv been doing the T4TS course for mounths now. And i do know its gonna be my stepping stone into the plumbing world, So i dont care about all the nagative comments about plumbing course's these days. Yeah you get some really crap ones like the fast track course's. But i do have alot off faith in T4TS and i aint just saying that becasue im on the course im just saying there is alot off stuff to take in, This course is diffently not a walk in the park!!!

I'd just like to hear from someone who has passed with T4TS!

Good luck anyway johnmess and ian less1978

 

[johnmess]

Thanks PlumberMicky

Have you been to any of the practial parts of the course yet no one seems to know what the accomadation is like.

 

[wyng56]

Re: train4 trade skills new starter

Hi everyone
Am new to this & have been looking into courses for ages, have narrowed it down to either train4trades or met-uk, the feedback sounds pretty good for train 4 trades but has anyone got any feedback for met-uk at all? would be interested to know. Thanks & happy new year
wyng56

 

[wyng56]

Hey everyone
I'm really interested in doing a plumbing course, i've been looking into this for about a year & am almost ready to decide which course to do. I'm torn between met uk & T4T - would anyone be able to vouch for met uk at all, if not the chance is i'll go with T4T. Interesting forum this, wish i'd seen it sooner, John you seem to have a good idea about this & i like sonrays response as a time served plumber.
Cheers

 

[johnmess]

Hi wyng56,

I can't give any details about met uk just the t4ts although there saleman will try and sell you the course off the back of earn £100k per year blah blah I think these kind of courses are the only way for an adult to change into plumbing.

At the moment we are going through this credit crunch and supposdily there not much work but the t4ts course is 2 years so although you need to pay for it thats 2 years for the economy to get better.

I don't imagine plumbing will be an easy job with regular pay once I am on my own but if I wanted that I would just stick with my current job.

The best thing to do is think about what you want from the course, personally I wanted nvq level 3 and pick the one that suits your needs.

John