cheets

I have just started a Plumbing course at Wigan college Certificate CGLI 6129 Level 2, was a tough decision to go back to college but glad I have done it after 2 weeks on the course, only paying £1300 but at college from Wed to Fri, working at the weekends to bring in some money still.

After just 6 days in 2 weeks on the course I don't know how anyone could feel confident and have the knowledge after doing a fast track course. I have 12 exams on this course and thats going to take a lot of revision just to pass each one.

snorkel1234

Hi I do know PDA in Winchfield are starting up the City and Guilds 6129 in January next year. I did do the Bathroom Design through them and must say I found the course great. The Trainer owner of PDA was very hands on and was always on site to guide you I will hopefully do the 6129 through him.
I know there are old f*rts that always bad mouth every fast track course as they believe that the only way to become a plumber is to go back to Jurasic Park, but older people cannot afford to go do an apprentiship earning a few hundred quid a month, if you believe in yourself go for it it is a long shot but great fun.
PDA website is learn2baplumber.

no1 Plumber

too be a plumber we r not dinasousers we believe in proper training and we r not asking people 2 work for peanuts but 2 respect r trade u can not learn it fast track

no1 Plumber

its about time they listen 2 real plumbers these adverts were we need 375 plumber a month for the next ten years this is flase advertising conning people out of there hard earned money this company is just after your money they know nothing about plumbing the industry its just makes someone rich do the maths if they have 200 trainees at approx 5grand that works out at 1000000 pounds in bank not bad return

fuzzy

375 plumbers a month, they are having a laugh

no1 Plumber

there having a laugh with peoples hard earned money these people r in it for the sales and there comission not 2 make u a plumber this rubbish that they select u its all bull u have 5 or 10 grand ur in its just 2 make money it make the industry look poor these companies need a good look at bye the groverment they r know better than rats they r using u 2 make them money

cheets

I don't agree with any fast track course mainly down to the amount of info you need to learn and the basic skills but to say the industry needs no plumbers is shocking, what right do you have to say that, are you worried about having competition , sorry you cant learn this in this country you are not needed, its not a matter of first in last out, its about earning and living, any job will show people up for what they are and if plumbing is so hard as what I have read on here then why are you worried, to me its sounds like you are bitter at anyone learning to plumb.

I have lived off £12k for a few years then went into flooring but didn't get a chance to succeed to due problems with the brother in law who was training me and I am trying to learn something new, the work style and freedom is a bonus to me. I would gladly learn a trade here and zoom off to Canada and leave you lot to moan about people going into plumbing, plumbers wanting to sit back and earn a nice wage and tell people to not come into plumbing and hold back the development of the country.

I am doing it the hard way (imho the easy way) going back to college, really hits home when you are talking to 16 year olds and they just don't care about doing anything and would rather stay in bed.

snorkel1234

Great to see I got such a great responce mind you thought it would happen a lot faster.
I have never advocated that a Fast Track course is better than going to college to get your NVQ's but once you have reached a certain age and you have a mortgage to pay that option is no longer available.
To do the fast track course one will still have to work alongside a qualified plumber until one has the confidence to go it alone to ove and have your assessments done to move onto NVQ.
To AJS no disrespect to you and from your post's I realise you are passionate about your profession and the trade as a whole,and I can assure you if I had the oportunity to work and learn from you I would jump at that chance. There are always going to be cowbows out there whether they are fast track plumbers or plumbers that have moved through the trade, sure the seried Rogue Traders will prove that.
However one thing we must not loose track of is that any person has a democratic choise to choose his own path and that we must respect.
As you have correctly pointed out the trade is not a bed of "Roses" and those that are not cut out to be plumbers never will be.
Further to go onto site you will need a NVQ in time.

Plumline

I agree completely everyone has a choice to make, I made that choice at the beginning of the year and eventually made the decision to do a "fast track" plumbing course which i finished around may-june.
It has been a slow process getting work starting with family and friends but now (mainly through word of mouth) I'm getting some decent jobs and have enough work to enable me to do my nvq.
Some people who do the "fast Track" courses are sometimes led to belive the hype that they can earn loads of money and be really successful and that fault falls on the big companys delivering the course.
You really need to look around before paying so much money, btsc are just salesmen who pull you in, sign you up with promises and then leave you in the lurch with dreams.
I trained (and still am-NVQ) with ntps training who are a couple of great lads with good plumbing and training backgrounds and are still around for me if i have any queries.
These told me from the beginning what it would take to become successful and brought me down to earth but even though it's been hard I've enjoyed every minute you just need to take the rough with the smooth.

Mark H

See what i started