fully qualified plumber in two weeks.

[Plum Bob 66]

Hi There

Just browsing and came across this sight. I guess you could say I was one of those fast trackers.Did the 16 month course with NCS, Doncaster & Southampton, passed my water regs & 6128 unvented. lets face it these are only pieces of paper and by no means make up for practical/time served on the job experience. I would have loved to have been able to do an aprenticeship but I was forced into a change of career later on in life.

I took the leap and went self emplyed just over a year ago and every day Im aware of how much I have to learn. My business revolves arround me getting it right, because, lets face it call backs are no good for your reputation and your profit. Pride in my work is paramount, and if I have to re do something because I got it wrong first time then so be it. Conseqauntly I have had quite a few referrals from satisified customers who have recomended me to there friends, so it pays to do it well and get it right. Yes I follow the money, but I want to able to walk away satisfied the customer is happy with my work whilst following best practice.

Plum Bob

 

[dontknowitall]

That's exactly how I operate, Plum Bob. I've been lucky to have met up with a more experienced plumber and we now work together from time to time. I pick up jobs and want his expertise or nowdays another pair of hands and he has lots of customers and starts drowning so asks me to give him a hand.

Great experience for me but for him I've been useful because I knew the basics and so he teaches me the more interesting parts. (One example recently was a huge boiler not getting heat to some radiators.)

I've now improved to the stage where last week he even took me up on a tip!!

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Result then, well done !!

That's exactly how I operate, Plum Bob. I've been lucky to have met up with a more experienced plumber and we now work together from time to time. I pick up jobs and want his expertise or nowdays another pair of hands and he has lots of customers and starts drowning so asks me to give him a hand.

Great experience for me but for him I've been useful because I knew the basics and so he teaches me the more interesting parts. (One example recently was a huge boiler not getting heat to some radiators.)

I've now improved to the stage where last week he even took me up on a tip!!

 

[GQuigley67]

its good to have more experienced guys to fall back on, I worked for a large firm so aren't short of phone numbers for advice or if I need a hand, If I got a job which I wasn't comfortable doing myself I'd probably get another experienced guy in to help with me. Also picking up some stuff on this site which is great.

 

[Resolute]

One of the things I like about plumbing is the constant challenges though. Every job has it's own unique set of difficulties - at least to a newby!

 

[tamz]

what was his name

Marion lol

 

[ecowarm]

Yes
I started in 1978 a full apprenticeship and got C&G advanced craft in Plumbing.

Working yesterday with my new apprentice, and just before we turned the water back on I said "have you double checked all your fittings are soldered or tightened" ......... Yes he replied, so I got him to turn on the water, we got a leak............... a compression nut I forgot to tighten!

He got the blame though........ I said he should have checked mine too.

 

[Dannypipe]

Yes
I started in 1978 a full apprenticeship and got C&G advanced craft in Plumbing.

Working yesterday with my new apprentice, and just before we turned the water back on I said "have you double checked all your fittings are soldered or tightened" ......... Yes he replied, so I got him to turn on the water, we got a leak............... a compression nut I forgot to tighten!

He got the blame though........ I said he should have checked mine too.

Happens to us all mate.

Good year '78, I was born!

 

[tamz]

we got a leak............... a compression nut I forgot to tighten!

He got the blame though........ I said he should have checked mine too.

Quite right It is all part of his training and part of his learning curve. He was told to check it and didn't

Hope you gave him a slap too

 

[ecowarm]

Quite right It is all part of his training and part of his learning curve. He was told to check it and didn't

Hope you gave him a slap too

Too right

 

[ecowarm]

Happens to us all mate.

Good year '78, I was born!

That makes me sound OLD

 

[tamz]

too right

:d:d:d

 

[tamz]

its good to have more experienced guys to fall back on, I worked for a large firm so aren't short of phone numbers for advice or if I need a hand, If I got a job which I wasn't comfortable doing myself I'd probably get another experienced guy in to help with me. Also picking up some stuff on this site which is great.

Thats the main difference between serving your time working with other tradesmen and going alone. When you serve your time you make a million mistakes and learn from them but there is always someone there to fix it and keep you right (as Eco's boy did today).You learn to deal with your mistakes and not make them again.
Even when your time is out or you get sent to do things on your own, unless it is jobbing stuff, someone has had a look at it and explains exactly how it should be done. If you get stuck you always have someone to help you and for the first while you are checked while the job is in progress until you are trusted. Then you meet others through your working life and no matter what you need to know you have some one to ask for their opinion

Career changers or fast trackers mostly will never have that. Bit like jumping off a cliff to learn to swim. For the few who may make it most will not.

 

[tamz]

One of the things I like about plumbing is the constant challenges though. Every job has it's own unique set of difficulties - at least to a newby!

My reasons for liking it are waning as i get older and the pains become greater.

 

[Resolute]

My reasons for liking it are waning as i get older and the pains become greater.

You'll have to take on an apprentice to do the hard graft and just direct!