Help to become a plumber aged 34!

[Montbowski]

Hello all
I wondered if could get some advice or assistance. Ive been working for an airline at Heathrow since school after 18 years. Now it appears im soon to be made redundant.
Ive always wanted to get into the plumbing field, my fathers a chippie and family all have trades. The problem i have is i know nothing about the industry except what ive picked up from my own house.
It looks like ill have time and money on my side for a short term, ive been toying with the prospect of doing a fast track course, 12 weeks solid full time example.. at a cost of roughly 5k..

I realise this wont get me experience, but what are thoughts about this?

At 34 with a mortgage no longer a job what am i to do nobody takes adult apprentices. If i gained one of these qualifications id happily take a decrease in wages to accommodate my inexperience.

Its just finding a firm that would take you on.

Im not totally sure what the industry standard expects city and guilds and NVQs are two separate things, baffled by the C&G courses. 6128/6129

I want to learn definately a hard motivated person but knowing the correct route to take is the most problematic

Any help please guys is genuinely appreciated, please bear in mind ive got mouths to feed before knocking the fast track route.

All the best
Leigh.

 

[JCplumb]

Hi Leigh,
Why plumbing? If you want to fast track something, why not plastering or painting/decorating? Actually plasterers have less stress, less responsibility,less chance of completely ruining someones house, cheaper overheads, less to learn and are on similar if not better wages than the plumbers half the time.
Once the 12 weeks is up and you have your 'plumbing qualification', my guess is it would be quite difficult to get on anywhere when there are people applying for the same position with 2/3+ years college behind them.
I may be wrong, you come across as a decent guy from your post and I wish you luck.

 

[Tjdservices]

Hi, from my experience all the fast track courses give you the qualification but nowhere near enough experience. I still remember the first plumbing job I did when I started out on my own I could hardly sleep thinking about leaking pipes and that was after nvq level 2 and 4 years experience. It's confidence and experience that I look for and unfortunately that can't be bought. I know a couple of people who have done the fast track route and they all are not working in plumbing as they didn't feel confident to work for themselves and they were too in experienced to work on site.

 

[SimonG]

News is full of a gp shortage. Especially once they go to seven days a week.

 

[joni os]

Now government is going to have paramedics doing doctor's work, who needs more than a driving license and first aid course.

 

[Montbowski]

Thanks gentlemen,

The reasons why i feel plumbing would be best?, its a logical trade, im not looking to get rich but have a skill for life. i can plaster pretty well although not quick but seeing my father (chippie) cousins (plasterers) and friends bricklaying would you wanna do that over 35 years my cousin is 40 and shoulder shot to pieces from plastering.

Way i look at it is, its a skill you can take most places in the world and work.

Im dubious about these fast track courses but what other option do i have, adult apprenticeships dont exist.
Unless i get the technical know qualifications then try to find someone to take me on low wages??? Could this work?

 

[Montbowski]

Thanks JC Plumb

 

[Fallon1982]

" im not looking to get rich"

You've come to the right trade then!!

 

[Dotty]

I wish you well and hope for the best for you but before you go throwing your money at a fast track course take a wander through our forums to see how many others have taken, or considered taking, the plunge with no future benefits either.

I'm not saying it wouldn't work out, we've many fast trackers for whom it has. Just be wary.

But then you have family in the building trade who might be able to help you get your foot in the door.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[Ray Stafford]

my cousin is 40 and shoulder shot to pieces from plastering.

For plumbers, its knees. Plenty of guys find their knees go in their 40s.

If you want to become a plumber at 34? Best way is to start as an apprentice at 30.

It isn't impossible, but it is very hard. This forum gets posts like this almost every day, and an equal number of posts from people offering to work for nothing to gain experience.

Its hard to know how many people go through those courses and end up as competent tradesmen making a living in the industry, but I would be personally surprised if its as high as 1 in 20.