Plumbing Courses

[Elroy Blue]

After 20 years in the Police and having become very, very disillusioned with what's happening to the job, I've decided it's time to get out. I wnat to become self employed and speaking to builder friends, all have recommended becoming a plumber. It is apparently, a trade very much in demand.

I am not completely technically inept, so the actual learning shouldn't be an issue. However, on checking on line, there are numerous 'training' companies offering courses for not insignificant amounts of money. Before making the jump and laying cash out, I'd like advice from those in the know. Essentitially, recommends for training, real world experience by those in the trade and anything else that you feel I should consider.

I'm not naive enough to think it can be the licence to print money suggested, otherwise everybody would be doing it. But I would like like advice as to whether I'm jumping into a snake pit.

[VTECBOY]

I did plumbing at college for nearly a year its pretty good. I learned about boilers and how they work and we also got to get our hands on toilets and sinks.

Do you have any plumber friends that you could spend maybe a week with? you could see whats is it really like.

[Elroy Blue]

Unfortunately not.

I'd like to hear what kind of living people are making and are they as in demand as I've been led to believe.

[Deva Link]

How old are you - I'm guessing you must be around 40? I served my time as an electrician, but quickly moved on to other things. The thought of the physical aspect of it - contorting into small spaces etc, fills me full of horror now.

There's a few plumbers who contribute in the Homes, Gardens & DIY forum so you might get a response there, if your thread was allowed to remain for a while.

[Elroy Blue]

Thanks. I'll try in there. Still physically fit, so don't mind the small spaces. It's got to be better than be attacked with sharpened screwdrivers at 4am, by some feral scumbag. And I'm utterly fed up of shift work.

I not necessarily bothered about getting 'rich', I just want to have a reasonable income to take care of my family.

[Steve H]

Hi Elroy, I am in the same position as you (not in police though) but I am in my 40's and looking to retrain in a trade. Good luck with whatever you do. Its a shame that the Police has got so bad it is losing experienced officers like yourself

[Elroy Blue]

I sent of for a few brochures. One of the training firms I contacted has done nothing but bombard me with text messages asking me to book a course. It's a good few grand and they are doing themselves no favours with this approach. I certainly wouldn't go with anyone doing the hard sell.

[VTECBOY]

http://www.gumtree.com/p/jobs/become-a-plumber-no-...

[Steve Evil]

I'm doing a first-aid course at the moment through work and got chatting to a few other attendees, one of whom is a plumber, he said that he's not Gas-Safe (what was previously Corgi-registered) and he's had a total of 1 call out in the past two weeks, to the extent that he's wanting to train up on how to give first aid courses himself in order to supplement his income.

It's only one experience, but I can remember a while back there was a massive influx of people on plumbing courses, in much the same manner as those people doing IT courses, only to find out at the end that there simply wasn't enough work out there.

[bucksmanuk]

A good friend of my mum’s, her lad works for himself as a plumber, Gas safe/Corgi registered though as well. Take home of £800/week is a poor week. This is in the North West.

[BIG BAVARIAN]

I have a pal and his cousin who do plumbing,install fitted kitchens,bathrooms, boilers and offer tiling between them the complete service and earn top dollar very rarely have a quiet week,two foreign holidays per year new car etc. However he prices up time consuming quotes for many jobs that do not materialize and also customers that do not pay up on time if at all, so be prepared for Messrs and keep enough in the bank to keep financially afloat in a worst case scenario.

[liner33]

You'd think that plumbers are in demand based on trying to find a decent one , the guy who came to fix a minor leak in my hose spent all day , caused two MAJOR leaks and left without actually adressing the issue in the first place .

I think its down to recommendations really

[Elroy Blue]

I've binned he idea. I can't afford to take time off to do the course and I equally can't afford to spend time not working in order to do a three/four year qualification.

I think experience is everything in this field, so I've decided to look at other things. (Electrician anyone??)

[snorky]

why would you think qualifying as an electrician is any easier than being a plumber???

[iiyama]

I'm a qualified plumber, (and bricklayer...!), and main source of income is fitting bathrooms. I try to hit the middle to top end of the market but will take anything that comes my way, (within reason!)

I'm happy with my lot and enjoy the work, although it is taking its toll. Back is shot, as are my knee's and neck! Regular visits to the Chiropractor are the order of the day just to keep things in check. I have a reasonable level of fitness and used to do a lot of mountain biking. Point being it dosent matter how fit you are, this business will bugger you up!

Maybe I cover to many trades, as I do the full install, not just the plumbing aspect due to not being able to rely on other people.

[Elroy Blue]

snorky said:

why would you think qualifying as an electrician is any easier than being a plumber???

I worked for the electricity board installing overhead lines in a past life, but it was more a tongue in cheek comment.

[snorky]

oh - I served my time as a sparky back when there were apprenticeships - don't think I could afford to go back to it now unless I had to.