gas safety engineer updates?
Discussion
Hey up, there have been a number of threads over the years on people switching or at least wondering about switching up careers into gas safety (boiler installation, repair etc)
The most recent one I read a while back of a PH'r who was asking about switching up and his brother had a gas safe business he could jump into to gain experience whilst doing theory. I could not find that thread so I thought I'd make a new one. PH'rs who have changed careers and gone into gas safety feel free to respond as well as guys already in the industry.
Why do I ask? Well I recently went back to college, did an FD in Aircraft Engineering, which I passed. The intention was to go on to an MRO (maintenance repair overhaul) company kick in as a trainee mechanic and start sorting out licencing but being on the wrong side of 28 and not actually knowing anybody, getting a foot in the door is almost impossible.
Fast forward to today, I am still working my dead end job on the wrong side of 30, 2 kids and an expensive wife. It pays enough but its not enough if you know what I mean,
I have an uncle in gas safe industry who makes an absolute killing (obviously this level of "killing it" has taken a few years to get to) I am under no illusions it is hard but eventually a great shout to earning great money and working for myself.
So any insight from guys who made the jump, or any advice really from anyone
Cheers in advance
The most recent one I read a while back of a PH'r who was asking about switching up and his brother had a gas safe business he could jump into to gain experience whilst doing theory. I could not find that thread so I thought I'd make a new one. PH'rs who have changed careers and gone into gas safety feel free to respond as well as guys already in the industry.
Why do I ask? Well I recently went back to college, did an FD in Aircraft Engineering, which I passed. The intention was to go on to an MRO (maintenance repair overhaul) company kick in as a trainee mechanic and start sorting out licencing but being on the wrong side of 28 and not actually knowing anybody, getting a foot in the door is almost impossible.
Fast forward to today, I am still working my dead end job on the wrong side of 30, 2 kids and an expensive wife. It pays enough but its not enough if you know what I mean,
I have an uncle in gas safe industry who makes an absolute killing (obviously this level of "killing it" has taken a few years to get to) I am under no illusions it is hard but eventually a great shout to earning great money and working for myself.
So any insight from guys who made the jump, or any advice really from anyone
Cheers in advance
elanfan said:
What does your uncle advise? Could he take you on?
Good Morning elanfan,Yes he could. I currently work a 4 on 4 off shift rota so he has suggested I come see him on 3 of my days off.
I was just wanting to hear of people's experiences that made the change because, if i recall correctly, many already in the trade suggested it was difficult work that required good experience so the earlier you got in the better. I have just turned 32 this past week.
That said though, my uncle is in his 60's and even though had a heart attack not long ago, shows no signs of slowing down.
Sorry i can't help much but i a was in a slightly similar situation doing electrics.
Went to evening college, got a distinction grade on all exams for my 2330 level 2 and 3. Also did my 17th edition.
Tried to get in with a firm and no one would touch me despite working in a different avenue of electrics so i knew my way around tools.
I needed an NVQ which is the key really. So i fear you may end up the same but im not familiar with gas certification.
In the end i stuck in the original job and its worked out ok. Im off to Norway tomorrow For work
Went to evening college, got a distinction grade on all exams for my 2330 level 2 and 3. Also did my 17th edition.
Tried to get in with a firm and no one would touch me despite working in a different avenue of electrics so i knew my way around tools.
I needed an NVQ which is the key really. So i fear you may end up the same but im not familiar with gas certification.
In the end i stuck in the original job and its worked out ok. Im off to Norway tomorrow For work
Royce44 said:
Sorry i can't help much but i a was in a slightly similar situation doing electrics.
Went to evening college, got a distinction grade on all exams for my 2330 level 2 and 3. Also did my 17th edition.
Tried to get in with a firm and no one would touch me despite working in a different avenue of electrics so i knew my way around tools.
I needed an NVQ which is the key really. So i fear you may end up the same but im not familiar with gas certification.
In the end i stuck in the original job and its worked out ok. Im off to Norway tomorrow For work
Hi Royce44, appreciate the advice. If you do not mind me asking, what is it that you do? I work in security and what was, initially, a stop gap has become a "job". Went to evening college, got a distinction grade on all exams for my 2330 level 2 and 3. Also did my 17th edition.
Tried to get in with a firm and no one would touch me despite working in a different avenue of electrics so i knew my way around tools.
I needed an NVQ which is the key really. So i fear you may end up the same but im not familiar with gas certification.
In the end i stuck in the original job and its worked out ok. Im off to Norway tomorrow For work
I do not hate it but it is in noway what I pictured my life at 32, hence the thread.
I do try and apply for jobs regarding my qualifications but as I said, the wrong side of 30, limited engineering experience and the fact I do not know anybody in the industry make it exceedingly difficult to get anywhere.
I would say go for it, sign up for a night time college course (at local collage not fast track) and you will be qualified in around 3yrs.
The hardest thing in the trades is getting experience. But as your uncle can help you with that and sounds like he might be getting ready to start taking it easier so you can take over his business in a few yrs maybe with him keeping his hand in so to speak.
It's a good game to be in and yes it is hard work but you're young enough to adapt to that aspect.
Good luck.
The hardest thing in the trades is getting experience. But as your uncle can help you with that and sounds like he might be getting ready to start taking it easier so you can take over his business in a few yrs maybe with him keeping his hand in so to speak.
It's a good game to be in and yes it is hard work but you're young enough to adapt to that aspect.
Good luck.
I work for a fire alarm manufacturer now. I used to work for the dervice providers which is what drove me to study.
Now i no longer work on the servic
e side. It is a much happier side of the industry i work for.
Id always reccommend applying for a junior engineer job within this industry.
Big companies like protec and ADT always seem to look for people they can train up as engineers are always moving around
Now i no longer work on the servic
e side. It is a much happier side of the industry i work for.
Id always reccommend applying for a junior engineer job within this industry.
Big companies like protec and ADT always seem to look for people they can train up as engineers are always moving around
caterhamboy said:
I would say go for it, sign up for a night time college course (at local collage not fast track) and you will be qualified in around 3yrs.
The hardest thing in the trades is getting experience. But as your uncle can help you with that and sounds like he might be getting ready to start taking it easier so you can take over his business in a few yrs maybe with him keeping his hand in so to speak.
It's a good game to be in and yes it is hard work but you're young enough to adapt to that aspect.
Good luck.
Thanks for the advice caterhamboy, will be looking to start up end of this month, The hardest thing in the trades is getting experience. But as your uncle can help you with that and sounds like he might be getting ready to start taking it easier so you can take over his business in a few yrs maybe with him keeping his hand in so to speak.
It's a good game to be in and yes it is hard work but you're young enough to adapt to that aspect.
Good luck.
Royce44 said:
I work for a fire alarm manufacturer now. I used to work for the dervice providers which is what drove me to study.
Now i no longer work on the servic
e side. It is a much happier side of the industry i work for.
Id always reccommend applying for a junior engineer job within this industry.
Big companies like protec and ADT always seem to look for people they can train up as engineers are always moving around
I did think ADT alarms as they provide the fire and burglar systems at work but, for no reason, never applied.Now i no longer work on the servic
e side. It is a much happier side of the industry i work for.
Id always reccommend applying for a junior engineer job within this industry.
Big companies like protec and ADT always seem to look for people they can train up as engineers are always moving around
Do a night course in plastering, seriously.
Once you get your name out they earn not far off gas engineers, but without the need for insurance, gas safe, expensive qualifications, tools, risk of killing people etc etc
Don't get me wrong, I earn decent money and get to spend time with the family whenever I like. But the money isn't mega, and probably not as much as you think. The good money is earned by building a busy firm on word of mouth and then taking on people to work for you. The major upside for me is the freedom to work how and when I like; but you can get that with most trades.
Also you're looking at 5+ years doing it every day to be any good at it (which you need to be to earn the decent money, unless you just go around ripping off old dears.....)
Once you get your name out they earn not far off gas engineers, but without the need for insurance, gas safe, expensive qualifications, tools, risk of killing people etc etc
Don't get me wrong, I earn decent money and get to spend time with the family whenever I like. But the money isn't mega, and probably not as much as you think. The good money is earned by building a busy firm on word of mouth and then taking on people to work for you. The major upside for me is the freedom to work how and when I like; but you can get that with most trades.
Also you're looking at 5+ years doing it every day to be any good at it (which you need to be to earn the decent money, unless you just go around ripping off old dears.....)
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