The Hare

Hi All,

This is my first post as I have been reading through most of the threads when possible. Hopefully looking to get some training in a trade and Plumbing has really caught my eye.

I would love to be a qualified plumber someday but honestly, I would really just like to be self sufficiet and learn to fix problems for myself or for friends and family.

I'm trying to find out who New Career Skills are. They appear to offer really decent plubming courses, but I just cant find any information on them!! No one on here has ever really mentioned them. There web site is: New Career Skills, Electrician Courses, Electrical Courses, Plumbing Courses, Plumber Courses, Career Change, Changing Career, Electrical Course, Job Change, Domestic Energy Assessor

They have loads of articles about how good they are, yet it is impossible to find any "real" reviews about their courses.

PPL and OLCI all seem to offer quite good courses too, but before making a decision it would be good to hear if anyone has had any dealing with them.

If anyone has any info on whether they are good or bad, I would be most grateful.

Cheers

caultd10

Hello mate,

I could and will offer my experience of New Career skills. I myself was pondering over the different options in March 2006 and found NCS plastered over the web stating that they offered the opportunity for senior career changers to step into the industry and ultimately laid the claim that you will either come out of it and set up for yourself or would be very employable to prospective plumbing firms. The truth of the matter is with all of these courses (I am lead to believe) that they are foundation only; hence you will probably need to follow the course up with an NVQ2/3 and will definately need to bulk up your practicle experiences before you could become competent and confident. The NCS course is what is regarded as a blended learning course and consists of 4 weeks intense practicle (which you book 1 week at a time once you are at that particular stage of your course) and the rest is theory underpinning which you do yourself from home using the supplied books and work modules. You also have TMA's (Tutor marked assesments that you complete and send to your tutor to re-enforce your understanding of the theory. The course is Western Region Open College Network accredited and is called the '61539' Domestic plumbing installation program.

As I have seen mentioned on the forums about other courses like the OLCI etc, the course does not cover quite as much as you would sometimes hope for but you have to remind yourself that these courses are 'fast track courses' and the work you are doing is designed to be done over a longer term from college or as an apprenteship etc so certain areas are only touched on.

In the main I found the course pretty good and the tutors certainly seemed pretty knowlegable and willing to teach. The £4500 for me I feel was worth it as no other option would have allowed me to carry on working my normal day job whilst I learnt and the colleges had huge demand and big waiting lists so were out of the question.

In conclusion I would say if your in that position as I was it is worth it and NCS certainly seem to be able to deliver the goods but one thing I learned was that although they have case studies of people coming straight out of the course and being immediately succesfull in finding employement or working for themselves, you will find in reality that finding that first job is not as easy and if working for yourself is your goal, you would need to build on your skill set and will still have bundles to learn whilst out on the job.

Anyway, I am in that very position now, im just waiting for my portfolio to be moderated and then its trying to find a job and get a foot in the door.

All the best in your endevours and I hope this info has been usefull to you (I know how confusing the options can be!)

Regards

Darren.

Hello mate,

I could and will offer my experience of New Career skills. I myself was pondering over the different options in March 2006 and found NCS plastered over the web stating that they offered the opportunity for senior career changers to step into the industry and ultimately laid the claim that you will either come out of it and set up for yourself or would be very employable to prospective plumbing firms. The truth of the matter is with all of these courses (I am lead to believe) that they are foundation only; hence you will probably need to follow the course up with an NVQ2/3 and will definately need to bulk up your practicle experiences before you could become competent and confident. The NCS course is what is regarded as a blended learning course and consists of 4 weeks intense practicle (which you book 1 week at a time once you are at that particular stage of your course) and the rest is theory underpinning which you do yourself from home using the supplied books and work modules. You also have TMA's (Tutor marked assesments that you complete and send to your tutor to re-enforce your understanding of the theory. The course is Western Region Open College Network accredited and is called the '61539' Domestic plumbing installation program.

As I have seen mentioned on the forums about other courses like the OLCI etc, the course does not cover quite as much as you would sometimes hope for but you have to remind yourself that these courses are 'fast track courses' and the work you are doing is designed to be done over a longer term from college or as an apprenteship etc so certain areas are only touched on.

In the main I found the course pretty good and the tutors certainly seemed pretty knowlegable and willing to teach. The £4500 for me I feel was worth it as no other option would have allowed me to carry on working my normal day job whilst I learnt and the colleges had huge demand and big waiting lists so were out of the question.

In conclusion I would say if your in that position as I was it is worth it and NCS certainly seem to be able to deliver the goods but one thing I learned was that although they have case studies of people coming straight out of the course and being immediately succesfull in finding employement or working for themselves, you will find in reality that finding that first job is not as easy and if working for yourself is your goal, you would need to build on your skill set and will still have bundles to learn whilst out on the job.

Anyway, I am in that very position now, im just waiting for my portfolio to be moderated and then its trying to find a job and get a foot in the door.

All the best in your endevours and I hope this info has been usefull to you (I know how confusing the options can be!)

Regards

Darren.

The Hare

Thanks Darren,

Yes, this whole process is very confusing as everyone offers the world but there is always a different reality. I guess its just making sure I make the right choice before parting with my money.

My circumstances seem quite similar to your's in the fact I will continue to work whilst completing the course. Although I'm not sure about the intensive course or the home learning. I'm even looking into colleges, but as everyone seems to say they are very hard to get in to.

Anyway, I guess I have loads more to think about and your reply to my message has been most appreciated.

Good luck in your new career!!

Take care,

Dean

bushey

Hi

I recently finished a course with NCS - Really enjoyed it. I am going on to do the C&G 6128 with them as well - which I think only takes 5 days because the course covers a lot of what’s in the 6128.

I am 38 and worked full time while I was doing the course - it worked well for me. I would recommend NCS based on my experience.

Good luck!

The Hare

Hi Bushey,

Thanks very much for the reply.

Just wanted to ask, which course did you do with NCS? was it the home study course, or was it an 8-10 week course?

In general, it sounds like with other members found the home study quite dificult and really would have benefited from learning the theory with an instructor.

Just wanted to see what your thoughts were with this.

Thanks again,

Cheers

ProffesorPlumb

Hi there

We run 2 week plumbing courses that cover all aspects of wet domestic plumbing. You will also get a level 2 NOCN plumbing qualification. This can be used towards gaining your NVQ2.

Any more details you need, then please PM me and I will be more than happy to run through the curriculum with you

jimmy16v

hello mate,i did a new careers course which finished last march.the training was average not really enough tutors per pupil,the qualification at the end is worthless and will not get you a job nor do they try and get you a job.you need city and guilds 6128 or 6129 to take you on to your nvq2,they will charge extra on top for both of these.hence now i have started a college course to gain my nvq2 which will take a year to complete at the same price as new career skills course,any questions i will be happy to help

oldplumbers

Hi,
just came across your thread and was wondering if you would give me a response to a plumbing courses that I was thinking of doing.The course claims to offer the following:-
City&Guilds (6129) plumbing tech cert,City& Guilds (60890 NVQ level 2,BPEC (level3) unvented hot water.BPEC (level3) water regs.,BPEC (level3) Part p-defined scope electrical-all this for about 5 grand.In the current climate would it be a waste of my hard earned money to consider such courses????

ProffesorPlumb

If they offer you this, then it sounds good to me. BUT! in order to get your level 3, you need to have READY TO GO - work experience with a corgi plumber, otherwise you are wasting your time.

And for guys that are over 25, its like trying to find rocking horse crap. Corgi Plumbers only want to ake on young kids that they can gob off too and at the same time know they have no risk of them setting up themselves and stealing the work.

Good luck

scud

]Hi All,

This is my first post as I have been reading through most of the threads when possible. Hopefully looking to get some training in a trade and Plumbing has really caught my eye.

I would love to be a qualified plumber someday but honestly, I would really just like to be self sufficiet and learn to fix problems for myself or for friends and family.

I'm trying to find out who New Career Skills are. They appear to offer really decent plubming courses, but I just cant find any information on them!! No one on here has ever really mentioned them. There web site is: New Career Skills, Electrician Courses, Electrical Courses, Plumbing Courses, Plumber Courses, Career Change, Changing Career, Electrical Course, Job Change, Domestic Energy Assessor

They have loads of articles about how good they are, yet it is impossible to find any "real" reviews about their courses.

PPL and OLCI all seem to offer quite good courses too, but before making a decision it would be good to hear if anyone has had any dealing with them.

If anyone has any info on whether they are good or bad, I would be most grateful.

Cheers[/quote]