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Starting out/advice


Gaz711

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Hi there, first of all I'm Gareth aged 44 (please call me Gaz). I'm due to be made redundant end of march and I'm looking to re-invest in my self. I'm looking at getting into plumbing and electric's. I've looked at some.private establishments that offer courses but I'm after some advice of how I should go about this. Of course as I'm getting redundancy money I have to make it stretch. Obviously I don't wanna be not earning for too long. Taking into account course fees I'll have enough to last me 9 months so any advice good or bad will be appreciated.

Many thanks 

Gaz

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16 minutes ago, Dave Jones said:

all of the trades are flat out, labour for a sparky/plumber (plumbers earn more) whist your doing your gas tickets.  Specialise in heatpumps as there seems to be a massive shortage of plumbers who can do them.

So you'd recommend I do gas then? How do I get into heat pumps?

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Gaz, that's what our plumber told us 

6 minutes ago, Dave Jones said:

ring up a firm who fits them and see if they want a labourer to learn on cheap-ish wages.

 

their new bloke did - he was made redundant but wouldn't give in, so he asked all round the Northwest Lancs. coastal area......  Be proactive, and persistent. Good luck.

Ian

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After the course fees there will be a van, tools, test equipment , and unfortunately learning on the job, it’s easy to understand how to size a pipe/cable but the skill comes in running pipe/cable and that comes from experience.

fine if you are self building, as you are doing it to save money and could take ages, but you need this to earn a wage so needs to be done in a timely manner.


 

in all for training but think plumbers mate electricians mate may be the most cost effective starting point.

 

 

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1 hour ago, TonyT said:

Maybe invest in some CSCS training etc more likely to get a start if you have a ticket already and it doesn’t cost a lot

 

I've just found a place that does that £165 with exams and CSCS card 

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4 hours ago, Dave Jones said:

all of the trades are flat out, labour for a sparky/plumber (plumbers earn more) whist your doing your gas tickets.  Specialise in heatpumps as there seems to be a massive shortage of plumbers who can do them.

I am not disputing that trades may be flat out in some places, but not here.  2020 has been my worst year since the 2008 crash. Thank goodness for the SEISS scheme.

 

Generally I am finding domestic customers don't want you in their house at the moment, only for repairs that can't wait. Very little normal domestic work.  I have done an unusual number if shed and summerhouse wiring and commercial is still carrying on, but very little indoor domestic.

 

Who knows when that will return to normal and if there will be a boom as a pent up demand is satisfied when people feel it is safe once more?

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2 hours ago, Dave Jones said:

wouldnt bother with CSCS unless your intending working for persimmons, taylor wimpy etc not needed on normal sites.

It’s not just the multinational house builders that require CSCS lots do, fully admit that the small builders don’t, but I would rather have a piece of paper that gives me more work options than not.

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18 minutes ago, TonyT said:

It’s not just the multinational house builders that require CSCS lots do, fully admit that the small builders don’t, but I would rather have a piece of paper that gives me more work options than not.

 

I see a lot now that want CSCS cards as they are liable for tax etc if it goes wrong so they do it properly from the outset.

 

@Gaz711 You can no longer do the ACOPS/ACS courses to get your gas certs without experience as the GSR requires a minimum amount of on site work (12 months from memory but could be wrong) so focusing on the ASHP side would be a smart move as there are very few traditional plumbers who understand them. Rates for site plumbers for the big house builders aren't great but they are pretty constant, but they don't go for quality. 

 

In terms of tools, whether you go sub contract or on your own, you won't get change out of £1500 for a decent set of tools and batteries etc along with some decent brand (ie Rothenberger)  hand tools.

 

The big thing you need is insurance - cutting the wrong pipe and dumping 500 litres of water through someone's ceiling can be a five figure repair bill and you need to make sure you are properly covered from the outset.

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4 hours ago, ProDave said:

I am not disputing that trades may be flat out in some places, but not here.  2020 has been my worst year since the 2008 crash. Thank goodness for the SEISS scheme.

 

Generally I am finding domestic customers don't want you in their house at the moment, only for repairs that can't wait. Very little normal domestic work.  I have done an unusual number if shed and summerhouse wiring and commercial is still carrying on, but very little indoor domestic.

 

Who knows when that will return to normal and if there will be a boom as a pent up demand is satisfied when people feel it is safe once more?

I thought I’d nothing to do today but phone an electrician who did some work for us last March just before lockdown, needing power into the garage which we’d spoken to him about. Couldn’t get him on his mobile so phoned the house and got either his wife or mother who told me he couldn’t work unless it was an emergency!

need to see if I can find another 

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4 minutes ago, recoveringbuilder said:

I thought I’d nothing to do today but phone an electrician who did some work for us last March just before lockdown, needing power into the garage which we’d spoken to him about. Couldn’t get him on his mobile so phoned the house and got either his wife or mother who told me he couldn’t work unless it was an emergency!

need to see if I can find another 

Lockdown guidelines in Scotland at the moment are tradesmen should only enter a residence for emergency work, so he is being quite correct.

 

But my understanding is commercial work is still okay.

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Regarding the level to aim for, I think Level 3 (used to be called an 'A' Level) is the very minimum.

https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

 

Heatpumps really require a lot of research (I got a Level 6 in them and still don't know much).  The basic principles are fairly easy, it is he detail that is the killer.  Traditional plumbers just cannot accept that they are a variable power source, and are physically large, and need somewhere to store the energy they produce.

 

May be worth getting in touch with your local FE/Skills college, they offer courses, but also you get to meet people already working in the industry.

 

I think electrical work is easier than plumbing, and the world is going electric.

Edited by SteamyTea
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There's a couple of places local that offer intensive  courses, 

Level 2 nvq plumbing cost approx £7k 8 weeks in class room upto 2 years to complete nvq then 2 weeks ACS, 

Domestic Electrical Installer £2500 5 weeks class room based

Level 3 nvq electrician £8k 6 weeks classroom based, 1-3 years nvq then 3 days AM2 test. 

 

Does anyone approve or disapprove over these courses (you guys are my experts) 

The other option would be college based but at my age that's probably not the best option. 

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