How to get L2 NVQ without apprenticeship?

[Keefy]

according to multi-mullins, theres a shortage of plumbers in the u.k ???????
this weeks sun

I disagree that there's a shortage of plumbers, a shortage of good plumbers maybe but there definitely isn't a shortage. Plumbers are falling out the game due to there not being enough demand for them. That's what I think.

Time for plumbers to be licensed properly, then we'll see how many real plumbers there are.

 

[sonray ltd]

I disagree that there's a shortage of plumbers, a shortage of good plumbers maybe but there definitely isn't a shortage. Plumbers are falling out the game due to there not being enough demand for them. That's what I think.

Time for plumbers to be licensed properly, then we'll see how many real plumbers there are.

Make you right.

 

[ABP]

Typical newspaper spinning up a story out of very thin 'evidence':
- Insurance firm says *** amount of independent plumbers no longer exist. (or no longer buy insurance)
- just because there are less self-emp. plumbers doesn't mean they aren't working for firms
- What if not insured?
- More DIY'ers and DIY products mean less demand for plumbing.
- Like mentioned above, what if decrease in plumbers is actually through not enough business???

Basically, just because one firm noticed one thing, does not mean a NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE of bugger all.

Hate the press :angry_smile:

 

[TimeServed]

Time for plumbers to be licensed properly, then we'll see how many real plumbers there are.

Couldnt agree more with this, hopefully this will be in the near future.
Also what seems to be the point in NVQ 3 anymore? No many seem to want/have it!

 

[bert large]

I'm always amazed at how many drop out of the game. Often hear at the merchants, "oh, so & so has give" up as he can't make it pay & has no work". I can't understand it as I'm always stacked out. There must be something else to it IMO.

Too many believe the media hype about big wages & don't appreciate how much hard work is involved.

I agree with TS about NVQ3 as well, aside from the useful things like including CCN1 it's just not relevant at all.

 

[Keefy]

Couldnt agree more with this, hopefully this will be in the near future.
Also what seems to be the point in NVQ 3 anymore? No many seem to want/have it!

Level 3 has you learning how to plan, design and draw to scale things like central heating systems. Quite a few dropped out of my class in the first few weeks because they couldn't handle the mathematics involved. I thoroughly enjoyed doing my level 3.

When you look at what's involved in achieving level 2 it's really only very basic plumbing.

 

[bert large]

I'd forgotten doing that Keefy. Maybe as I was used to doing all that sort of thing from my previous life as a mechanical engineer.
What I do remember doing was a lot of health & safety stuff, risk assessments & method statements, all of which bored me to tears

 

[Keefy]

I'd forgotten doing that Keefy. Maybe as I was used to doing all that sort of thing from my previous life as a mechanical engineer.
What I do remember doing was a lot of health & safety stuff, risk assessments & method statements, all of which bored me to tears

Yeah looking back it seems level 3 was about 90% classroom stuff but like I say, I enjoyed going to college and was sad when it finished. I think my two days a week were 9am-5am on a Tuesday and 9am-9pm on a Thursday. The late nights may have just been when we were doing the gas though, can't remember.

 

[bert large]

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed college, especially the gas stuff. I still enjoy going back every 5 years to re-do the gas but not the loss of income whilst I'm there.

 

[Killy Bing]

Tempted to do the level 2+3 nvq when i finish my apprenticeship

is it worth it do you think?

 

[bert large]

Are you not doing the NVQ2 as part of your apprenticeship King ?

Definitely worth doing both if only to give you the qualifications that most firms will look for.

 

[Killy Bing]

No sadly ,

my course is a 3 year gas specific level 3 nvq.

its great by all means and really teaches you well just not a single piece of plumbing.

the company I'm on only does central heating, gas and oil.

 

[lame plumber]

I always wonder how they plan the heating syetems and put them in if no plumbing involved?

 

[Killy Bing]

The course is litterally just for gas, its assumed you've already done level 2 Atleast and learning on the job before it however my company was only interested in me doing the gas only,didn't complain and went along with it to get my foot in the door

 

[bert large]

Unless the NVQ2 plumbing course has changed much in the past ten years then I doubt you would learn much of any practical use from it. I found it to be largely stuff that would be common sense to most people. I mean stuff like not running a waste pipe up hill.
It also depends who is teaching you. When I did it one lecturer was full of useful tips & we learned a lot of extra stuff from him whereas another lecturer was a waste of space & appeared to know less than we did.

If you are already doing the gas NVQ 3 then personally I wouldn't bother unless your employer is willing to pay for it & give you time off. I didn't realise you were doing the gas NVQ

 

[Killy Bing]

Yup went straight into it, a year in i did my unvented and oftec but as I'm now finishing it id like to gain more qualifications.

ill be doing the lpg change over and commercial catering straight away as part of my tickets

 

[lame plumber]

omho, but you would be better off concentrating on commercial or lpg as commercial can give you lots of work in towns, but lpg great for middle of nowhere, the 2 dont really coincide. Cost of courseisnt cheap and if your starting off money would be short and better spent carefully, especially if your going to have to buy all that lumpy commercial kit.

 

[Killy Bing]

I live in the middle of nowhere lpg and oil is my main gaff

I need to do mobile catering hence the commercial catering

I do leave being able to work on most things domestically and systems up to 1m3 commercially