Getting closer to becoming a plumber hopefully, requesting more advice

[armyash]

Ok so anyone who has read any of my threads in the past may know that I am determined to become a plumber once I have left the army. It feels like an eternity for me so I apologise if you feel de ja vu when reading through this!

A quick update, My final day in the army is 29th November 2012 but I have been granted resettlement entitlements so I will be out before that date. Part of my entitlement is money towards training.

A reminder of the qualifications I have:

C&G 6129

CCN1
CKR1
HTR1
WAT1
CPA1
CEN1
CONGLP1PD
VESLP1

Water Regulations
CSCS card

The plan is to gain the NVQ level 2 and unvented hot water.

What electrical qualification would benefit me the most in the plumbing trade? Part P or is there something else I would be better off doing?

What MCS qualifications would I be wise to consider?

What about underfloor heating is there a course that anyone could recommend or do you think that route would be a waste of time?

Basically i'm interested to know if you had time and funds to do courses and you was in my position what would you do?

On another note, if anyone in the Kent area or further away in the South East that's practical requires a tea boy/labourer on a weekend in return for letting me learn from you then feel free to PM me, won't cost you time or money.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Rickster123]

Ash you sound highly qualified on paper already mate. Maybe less time in the class room and more time on the tools. Nothing prepares you for life on the tools than being on the tools.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

ash have a read of the mcs threads in the renewables section might put you off going down that route. unvented is good to have.

 

[Nat]

I thought you had to have level 2 to do your gas?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

ash,i have read your posts from day one,i really hope you make it as a plumber/gas engineer,i was very tempted by the army a few years back,going in as a mechanical engineer,i was already a gas engineer my mate wanted me to join with him,but i felt i could earn more as a gsr,sadly my mate lost his life,so its good to see someone like you leaving the army having survived your service time and making a go of it in this industry,all the best of luck mate

 

[armyash]

Ash you sound highly qualified on paper already mate. Maybe less time in the class room and more time on the tools. Nothing prepares you for life on the tools than being on the tools.

Time on the tools would be ideal, I know i could go out and start working for myself but i'd rather work for someone or a company to learn the trade inside out before i do jobs by myself. If I make a lot of mistakes i'm going to have a terrible reputation and my career could be over before I get started! lol not saying i'm that bad at plumbing but i'd rather have the guidance of an experienced plumber there when i'm not entirely sure what to do. Thanks for your reply.

 

[armyash]

I thought you had to have level 2 to do your gas?

I'm not sure what the requirements are but I have the 6129 and I know if that was not sufficient the army would not be able to put us through our gas qualifications as they do everything by the book especially when dealing with any external organisations such as the training schools who done our ACS assessments.

 

[armyash]

ash,i have read your posts from day one,i really hope you make it as a plumber/gas engineer,i was very tempted by the army a few years back,going in as a mechanical engineer,i was already a gas engineer my mate wanted me to join with him,but i felt i could earn more as a gsr,sadly my mate lost his life,so its good to see someone like you leaving the army having survived your service time and making a go of it in this industry,all the best of luck mate

Thanks for your encouragement gas man sorry to hear about your mate! I'm still fairly young but I have done 6 years and feel it's time to move on. Unless you're prepared to give it 100% and can put up with the BS it's not the place to be, only wasting my time and other peoples. I've had a great time but I'm now just as excited about making a good career of plumbing as I was to join up. I have a lot of work to do to get my foot in the door but I know it'll be worth it.

 

[Rickster123]

Great attitude. There's been a lot of similar threads on here and most I flick past because I wouldn't employ them in a million years. Keep at it mate. If you have the time nd the money get as many bits of paper to your name as poss. Unvented, solar, LPG etc. but don't sell yourself short when it comes to work and money.

 

[armyash]

Would anyone recommend I do Part P?