ninjastealth187

Hello guys,

New to this forum.

I am after a bit of advice if possible.

I am currently at college studying the City and Guilds 6129 Technical Certificate, in order to go on to the NVQ Level 2 which I have already arranged with a Plumber that I know.

Anyway.....Since then I have been offerred a position that I applied for a long while ago as a Sky Satellite installation engineer.
You are supplied with a van, all tools required to do the job and full training for which you recieve a city and guilds level 2 in digital television and satellite installations.

The average earnings are £23000 per annual.

My question is.....am I likeley to meet £23000 per year as a newley qualafied plumber with a company / self employed?? If not what is a realistic figiure to expect?

I have heard that newly qualified plumbers (nvq l2 standard) are no longer sought after.

I suppose I am asking your opinions on whether to drop out of college to join Sky, or to stick with the plumbing??

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreceated.

If relevant I am a 26 y/o male with a wife and 3 kids all under 5.

Thank you in advance for your help guys / gals!

Mark H

Hi i think you should go with which ever one you will enjoy more. Funny thing though i live in the south of england and i see a ad for Sky engineers in my local rag . Was only £14500p.a though. Im 33 and im fed up with dead end jobs because i did not listen to my mum and dad when they said do well at school and get a trade. That why i am doing a course. As long as i dont earn the min wage anymore i'm happy. But at the same time i understand why you would goto Sky because of your family. I also had the same problem as i have kids.

uug197h

my advice would be take the job with sky if your lucky as a plumber you would get a job at around 25k to 27k but there is alot out there after the same job if you go self employed you may get 23k a year in 2 or 3 years after you build up your customers

Plumbing Forum Moderator

macelectrical

Having been with Sky I would say go for Gas as a self employed fitter or plumber again self employed but have a back up for the lean times I drive hgv for an agency. but be aware that after Christmas till end feb can de a dead time for all trades

Eddie D

i doubt u will earn 23k a yr fitting sky dishes. i've worked for ntl and other digital tv/broadband companys. yeah you get a van full of tools with fuel paid for if your lucky but its not as simple as it sounds. when i did it i had around 8-9 installs a day which ment a hour a job which so thats 8-9 hrs a day without the driving to the next customer and if u get any problems that will hold you up your looking at a possible 12hr day for 8hrs work. i'd thin about it a bit more before you jump in with both feet.

razal

You got a wife and kids, Sky is the way to go, to uncertain in plumbing at the moment ,things are quiet for guys that have been in the trade for 20 yrs or more and with a loyal customer base...no brainer. You aint gonna get rich plumbing believe me, the exaggerated wages do no one any good other than the 'training establishments'.

Londonluke

I would stay away from sky
its not a future for you. Might be ok for a year or 2 but hard work. Have you thought about CCTV etc can be good money and far less regs to deal with!!