RF Training?

[James Morton]

yeah, i will have a sit down and work out what I'm gonna say, suppose its a simples as this
im 26, have 3 years experience as a chippys mate, dead keen to learn........i live in Stevenage in hertfordshire - full driving liecence, incase anyone on here is interested......

just shows you.....bullsh1t you can buy by the ton, but honesty is priceless

 

[Whn1]

Good luck to you mate, I'm the same age but got an earlier start. My dad didn't start his apprenticeship until he was 30' it's never too late, just don't be sucked into these two Bob money making rip offs. Stress the point in your calls that you know the money won't be great and you just want to learn and don't mind getting your hands dirty too. And if you're sure this is what you want to do then don't give up! Maybe pop in to some of your local plumbers merchants and ask around there too.

 

[dontknowitall]

I trained there and thought it was brilliant.

The sales stuff is over the top and not 100% honest (as indicated by previous posts). I'm one of the few (there are others on the forum who've been as successful) who went on to being self employed since the course.

I feel I had a different attitude. I researched first of all by looking in the phone book for the number of plumbers in the area (not many around my parts). What made my decision was before I became a plumber I called 18 of the locals to do a day's job the next week. 16 never phoned back, one said he could but would prefer to do it the week after and I used the cowboy who charged £400 for the day and left me with a wonky HTR, unlevel first fix for a shower and a non soldered joint. I could have done better.

I walked into great jobs for my first couple of months then picked up a five bathroom job. Cleared my costs about six months later. Then it went quiet. Really quiet. Odd tap here and there, a radiator move and stuff like that for another six months or so. Then, best of all, I met a plumber who wanted some help but didn't want to train me on how to solder or the difference between hot and cold water. He taught me loads and we worked together on many jobs (and still do from time to time). There was so much to learn (which I had assumed before the course.)

A training course is like the driving test. It's only after passing that you learn to drive. This is exactly the same with plumbing. They teach you to turn off the stop tap. They don't teach you how to turn the tap off that you can't reach properly and that doesn't turn. The old adage of "You can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job" applies very much to the plumbing world. An employer has choice these days and will always choose the experienced person and won't worry about qualifications too much. (Ditto for a builder, electrician, etc.)

The training is excellent at RF - finding a job/being successful afterwards is much more difficult. The £8k is only the training. A van will cost, as will tools and some stock, public liability insurance and so on. You'll be looking at around £12-£15k in your first year and that's a huge amount of taps to fix (which will be most of your first jobs).

Not trying to put you off - just some meat on the bones of what others have said earlier - and a dose of reality.

Whatever you choose, best of luck!!

 

[Barry98]

I trained there and thought it was brilliant.

The sales stuff is over the top and not 100% honest (as indicated by previous posts). I'm one of the few (there are others on the forum who've been as successful) who went on to being self employed since the course.

I feel I had a different attitude. I researched first of all by looking in the phone book for the number of plumbers in the area (not many around my parts). What made my decision was before I became a plumber I called 18 of the locals to do a day's job the next week. 16 never phoned back, one said he could but would prefer to do it the week after and I used the cowboy who charged £400 for the day and left me with a wonky HTR, unlevel first fix for a shower and a non soldered joint. I could have done better.

I walked into great jobs for my first couple of months then picked up a five bathroom job. Cleared my costs about six months later. Then it went quiet. Really quiet. Odd tap here and there, a radiator move and stuff like that for another six months or so. Then, best of all, I met a plumber who wanted some help but didn't want to train me on how to solder or the difference between hot and cold water. He taught me loads and we worked together on many jobs (and still do from time to time). There was so much to learn (which I had assumed before the course.)

A training course is like the driving test. It's only after passing that you learn to drive. This is exactly the same with plumbing. They teach you to turn off the stop tap. They don't teach you how to turn the tap off that you can't reach properly and that doesn't turn. The old adage of "You can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job" applies very much to the plumbing world. An employer has choice these days and will always choose the experienced person and won't worry about qualifications too much. (Ditto for a builder, electrician, etc.)

The training is excellent at RF - finding a job/being successful afterwards is much more difficult. The £8k is only the training. A van will cost, as will tools and some stock, public liability insurance and so on. You'll be looking at around £12-£15k in your first year and that's a huge amount of taps to fix (which will be most of your first jobs).

Not trying to put you off - just some meat on the bones of what others have said earlier - and a dose of reality.

Whatever you choose, best of luck!!

it can work james as DKIA says but as clint says "DO YOU FELL LUCKY"

look around your area is it a case of every other van is aplumbers ? if so what going to stand you out.

eg good old BOD aka moi . i have commercial - lpg - were all crb checked - £5m insurabce etc etc etc

 

[hometruths]

Probably stating the obvious, but they've gone bust - they are trying to start up again, still using the RF Training brand, but please be careful - according to companies house records Blythedale Limited (who traded as RF Training) went bust owing £1.3M, nearly £400K of that is owed to people who either paid a deposit or in full for training that was never delivered. They might get their money back if they paid by credit card, but otherwise - tough.

Personally I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

 

[Koogatubac]

Good luck mate, mean it.
However all those promises your given? Especially 40k for literally a BRAND NEW 'out of time' apprentice? Ive been out my time for 8yrs and dont scratch near that (im up north not south)

Worked with various companies and they pay you what they think your worth. You'll have to be fully competent on various systems. Theses courses WONT SHOW YOU, they will teach you BASICS.

On a negative note: be ready for ALOT of different jobs since theres too many plumbers about now and get ready to be in and out of work. You wont have many of your limbs left, especially all the scars/burns on your hands!

On a positive note: every jobs different, you've got a trade for life - however every1s jumping on the bandwagon

 

[Koogatubac]

Makes me sound like a butcher lol i mean knees with be broke, back will be broke
Amount of time hitting my head lol