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Tosh · 24-02-2008

Hi all,
I'm nearing the end of my training for NVQ2 with OLCI in London. I'm doing this course as and when I can in my spare time as I have a mortgage to pay for so working full time as well.
So far the course, like all others, has it's ups and downs. Some of the biggest bug bears for me is the inconsistancy for levels of tutoring. Although I can't say a bad word against any of the tutors or assessors, they are all really good guys with a good sense of humour, relaxed ways of teaching and have answered every question I've come up with. Some guys clearly know a LOT more than others and go into detail more freely rather than having to be pushed. Some tutirs will answer the question tyou ask. Some tutors will answer the question and then go into detail as to why it works like that, what it does and what could be affected by it if it failed etc.

I've also found that the tutors are stretched. I recently did a practical exam where the assessor for our group was also the tutor for 2 other groups. We didn;t see him all dat until we were finished because he was so tied up with the other two groups needing his time as well. Not a way I thought my £6 grand would be spent.

There are a lot of inconsistancies in the course work too. Your folder might say one thing on one page and two pages later completely contradict itself leaving you confused what the correct answer is for the written exam. Even when asking a tutor they will then tell you what THEY were taught and what THEY believe is correct which will sometimes give you a different answer again. You now have 3 different answers for the same question on the exam paper. They should at least have had one of the tutors go through the coursework to agree it or correct it before sending out.

For me personally I have also had no communication voluntarily from OLCI about open workshop or assessment dates either. Speaking to others I am the only one so far but as the workshops and assessments on weekends fill up rapidly you have to get in there quick when the new dates come out at the start of the month. Every time I've phoned up for the new dates I am asked if I recieved the email/letter with the dates on. I say no and every time they retake my details and promise me it will never happen again. Every month I have to chase and every month I never recieve anything. They do have my address correct because I receive all the other correspondance when I book a course, I just never get the dates through.

I've also just recently found that some other guys who signed up/joined after I did, payed less money and got teh Part P electrical thrown in. I shall be investigating this matter further and will keep you updated.

I feel I am paying a lot of money for this course and am getting the minimum they have to do to get me through it and feel very much like "we have your money now ha ha ha ha, sucker!!"

All this being said (to end on an up note) I have learnt and am learning so much about the plumbing world and there is certainly no worries about materials at the training centre. Some of the valves and stuff that can get used again and again are a bit tatty but nothing a bit of PTFE can't cure. But the pipework we use and throw away is astronomical but it's there for us to get our bends and stuff right.

On a final note. As I'm nearing the end of my course and looking for work (you need to be on the job to gain your NVQ2) I am finding it increasingly harder to get work. There are so many adverts for new plumbers offering their services to companies for free just to gain the experience that earning money as a new plumber looks almost impossible unless you're prepared to brave it and go out alone. Think about it logically. Just in OLCI in London it is always packed with students, full time, part time, fast track etc. How many qualifird plumbers is that one company alone churning out every week without all the other companies and colleges up and down the country?? We are not at that desperate shortage of plumbers we all think we are and the average wage now is around £24,000 (so I'm told).

Good luck with your trainings and I'll be interested to read other people's opinions or their trainings as this is just mine and mine alone.

Take care

Tosh.

24-02-2008	#1 (permalink)
Tosh Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maylandsea, Essex Posts: 35	OLCI Courses Hi all, I'm nearing the end of my training for NVQ2 with OLCI in London. I'm doing this course as and when I can in my spare time as I have a mortgage to pay for so working full time as well. So far the course, like all others, has it's ups and downs. Some of the biggest bug bears for me is the inconsistancy for levels of tutoring. Although I can't say a bad word against any of the tutors or assessors, they are all really good guys with a good sense of humour, relaxed ways of teaching and have answered every question I've come up with. Some guys clearly know a LOT more than others and go into detail more freely rather than having to be pushed. Some tutirs will answer the question tyou ask. Some tutors will answer the question and then go into detail as to why it works like that, what it does and what could be affected by it if it failed etc. I've also found that the tutors are stretched. I recently did a practical exam where the assessor for our group was also the tutor for 2 other groups. We didn;t see him all dat until we were finished because he was so tied up with the other two groups needing his time as well. Not a way I thought my £6 grand would be spent. There are a lot of inconsistancies in the course work too. Your folder might say one thing on one page and two pages later completely contradict itself leaving you confused what the correct answer is for the written exam. Even when asking a tutor they will then tell you what THEY were taught and what THEY believe is correct which will sometimes give you a different answer again. You now have 3 different answers for the same question on the exam paper. They should at least have had one of the tutors go through the coursework to agree it or correct it before sending out. For me personally I have also had no communication voluntarily from OLCI about open workshop or assessment dates either. Speaking to others I am the only one so far but as the workshops and assessments on weekends fill up rapidly you have to get in there quick when the new dates come out at the start of the month. Every time I've phoned up for the new dates I am asked if I recieved the email/letter with the dates on. I say no and every time they retake my details and promise me it will never happen again. Every month I have to chase and every month I never recieve anything. They do have my address correct because I receive all the other correspondance when I book a course, I just never get the dates through. I've also just recently found that some other guys who signed up/joined after I did, payed less money and got teh Part P electrical thrown in. I shall be investigating this matter further and will keep you updated. I feel I am paying a lot of money for this course and am getting the minimum they have to do to get me through it and feel very much like "we have your money now ha ha ha ha, sucker!!" All this being said (to end on an up note) I have learnt and am learning so much about the plumbing world and there is certainly no worries about materials at the training centre. Some of the valves and stuff that can get used again and again are a bit tatty but nothing a bit of PTFE can't cure. But the pipework we use and throw away is astronomical but it's there for us to get our bends and stuff right. On a final note. As I'm nearing the end of my course and looking for work (you need to be on the job to gain your NVQ2) I am finding it increasingly harder to get work. There are so many adverts for new plumbers offering their services to companies for free just to gain the experience that earning money as a new plumber looks almost impossible unless you're prepared to brave it and go out alone. Think about it logically. Just in OLCI in London it is always packed with students, full time, part time, fast track etc. How many qualifird plumbers is that one company alone churning out every week without all the other companies and colleges up and down the country?? We are not at that desperate shortage of plumbers we all think we are and the average wage now is around £24,000 (so I'm told). Good luck with your trainings and I'll be interested to read other people's opinions or their trainings as this is just mine and mine alone. Take care Tosh.
	Confusios say: man who go to bed with itchy bum, wake up with smelly finger.