ProffesorPlumb

Scud,

Interesting that you say you have never heard of 'new career skills', yet on another post you state they are the best in the country and that people should call you to find out more.

????????

steve terry

Hi, I enroled with New Career Skills back in june 2008 and have just completed my first practical week. The course is very intense and I came away with imformation overload but, felt I learnt a lot.
There were lots of people on different courses there and it was hard work, Just a thought, can it be they are all mugs including those before them?

I am 54 years old and I am looking to earn some extra money on the side while still working in my regular job. Im not saying that these courses are great or that they are right for everyone, who's to say. Iv paid £5000 for the full monty, thats the full domestic plumbing course plus part p electrical.

I feel you have to make these things work and its no good relying on other people to give you a job after you completed the course. The other year I took a HGV course with my employer, passed and have never drove a lorry since. they want me doing something else instead. Every employer wants people with experience so I dont bother anymore.

Since I started the plumbing course, Iv had a bit of interest and hope to get work through word of mouth when I complete though I feel I can tackle some jobs now.

Many would say that to be a skilled worker you need to be time served. Thats great if your given the chance: I was not but, have a life time of work experience to help me. An apprentice at 16 would need to learn some of those skills over the 5 years or so he/she trained including fetching a lot of left handed hammers.

At the end of the day you just have make your own choice but, one things for sure and thats do nothing and you get nothing its your call.

Sailsey

I signed on to New Career skills plumbing course costing 5k, I was thinking I might have been a bit rash, and really appreciate the balanced opinions coming across in this forum.

I need to do training this whilst carrying on a day job, so it seems the only way especially as I’m early 40's. I worried the qualifications were not applicable but its appears to me the CORGI part that is separate, and more practical experience which I can drive more of by working the weekends with a plumber, or taking on smaller jobs if I’m keen enough to make this work. (I recognise I have to make some additional effort)

The initial problem is I am paying in installments this means that I have to wait till I pay 0.25 of the course before I can do the first week’s practical; I was ready to do this a few weeks ago.

Let me know if you think this is madness, but this course really has given me a lot of hope of getting out of my present career/environment.

johnmcginty

"Did you know the estimated shortage of trained and qualified plumbers stands at about 32,100?" Absolute bullsh** maybe 32,000 plumbers too many this is obviously written before the credit crunch when all commercial guys were not doing domestic! though they probably could'nt afford to pay the web designer to change the estimation because of the recession!!

cheets

What on earth are you going on about, you are spurting ********, what sector can say...sorry you are not needed go away, no jobs here, in the long term.

johnmcginty

Please do not be rude to me, belive me this is not a forum where you need enemies!, everyone here is here to help and advise. Look and watch the news very carefully , The chancellor said only yesterday " live your life like you could lose your job tommorrow" . Every single sector is being swollowed ...house prices are crashing in a fashion never before seen, even before the war ! New builds have stopped ! This combined with the influx of foreign workers and commercial plumbing companies turning to the domestic sector is contributing to a ever perpetuating slowed economy ...and the end result is that people are willing to work for a lot less just to get the work. So listen up sonny jim I have re trained and done that route which you have not done so if you think you can go and do a fast track course for thousands and earn a decent wage in this current climate then go ahead I don't give a monkeys. Just make sure you can pis* an a star in science and maths at a-level like I did, run a company like the back of your hand and still be willing only pull enough to feed the cats , nuff said !

cheets

I am being made redundant on the 25th, I have worked in jobs that pay crap, I am going to college to learn something, just dont see the point in striking fear in people. I have found nothing helpful bar one person who explained a C&G course number.

johnmcginty

Go for it and good luck then mate

steve terry

Hello
I posted a thread a few weeks ago in which I told of my thoughts about New Career skills after doing my first practical and my view on doing fast track plunbing.
I have enroled for a 5 week course NVQ 6129. There seems to be a lot of emphesis on qualifications and getting business on this forum so here are some of my thoughts on this.
First, you do not need Corgi registration to be a plumber, this only applies if you are working with gas. As for NVQs, if someone has a burst pipe and has had to turn the water off, when they answer the door to you they are not going to ask for a porfolio or how many years you have worked as a plumber, they just want there lives returned to normality.
As for getting work you have to compete on your own level as its no good squaring up to the big boys in the business. I think you have to start small and build up referals over time, maybe a small add in the local shop window together with recomendations from friends and family.

Going on a course or getting qualifications doesn't mean you will succeed I think you just have to do the best you can with what you have going for you. Good luck to all those who try.



I

dorset

Yes there is a lot of emphasis on qualifications and for a very good reason, someone who takes the trouble to learn properly through a recognised training centre to gain a recognised qualification is more likely to be a conscientious tradesperson.
I also believe that in the not to distant future a registration scheme similar to the ones operating in North America, Australia and New Zealand will be introduced based on a minimum level of qualifications and experience.
No doing a course does not mean you will be a success nor in fact does it make you a good Plumber.
A qualification does though separate you from the cowboys that buy a van fill it with tools and con the public claiming to be a Plumber.