NewCareerOptions.co.uk

Adult Career Plumbing Qualifications

Enjoy The Benefits Of Becoming A Plumber

People will always need the services of qualified plumbers, in good times and bad. Although it's harder to find commercial work, there's a great deal of domestic business to pick up. How many times do you hear about the number of calls someone had to make to find a plumber who was free to stop their shower from leaking? And then of course as people improve their homes, they need the services of a good plumber to fit the hot and cold water systems etc. All in all then, enrolling on a plumbing course can be a very smart career move.

Completely FREE Research Report!

No matter what skills you start off with, the right training and qualifications will quickly launch you into your new career.

We've put together a very comprehensive free E-Book that will tell you everything you need to know about the different training routes into industry.

There are many training companies offering plumbing courses in the UK, so you'll find the information really useful when comparing the benefits of each one. We recommend you download the book first and take time to get to grips with its contents. Then come back to this site and take a look at a number of the training colleges featured on the page. You could put it in your Favourites file to make it easier to find again.

Run Your Own Business

The idea of self-employment is what attracts many men (and women for that matter) into the plumbing industry. In reality the bulk of new career plumbers enter the domestic market working predominantly by and for themselves. It's a sensible direction to take as there's plenty of money and jobs available for the right people.

The best plumbers get a big chunk of their work through word of mouth once their reputation's established. Working for yourself means getting on well with everyone around you. Business can come in from anywhere and everywhere! Courtesy and respect can go an awful long way.

Trades-people who work on commercial projects are generally employed daytime hours, Monday to Friday. You'd be wise to open that up a little though if you plan to work for yourself in private housing. Householders are often out at work themselves, and plumbers who are prepared to work some evenings and weekends can significantly boost their income.

A Job For Life

The great thing about plumbing skills is they'll set you up for life. Whether a house is ten years old or a hundred years old, it still needs water and heating! You'll find the work rewarding - people are always grateful when you fix their problems or make life easier for them. The fact that you're moving around working in different properties all the time makes the work really interesting as well.

Self-employed plumbers need to learn how to quote for jobs competitively and profitably. Naturally this means budgeting in all your own costs as well as labour and materials. You might like to work out a system to account for all your fixed costs. Some of the commercial training centres will give guidance on this.

The Right Course For You...

City & Guilds certification courses can be studied in both private colleges and state ones. Most young people entering the industry straight from school will opt for an apprenticeship style of training by blending on-the-job NVQ training with their FE studies.

On the other hand, adult students who are looking to change careers tend to train part time. This is why the various plumbing training companies offer courses that students can go through in their own time.

Commercial trainers have higher fees than FE colleges, but students can progress more quickly if they purely concentrate on the skills needed for self-employed domestic work.

Ancillary Training

Your basic training will cover aspects such as hot and cold water systems, sanitation, health and safety and central heating. It's also worth thinking about taking some extra courses so you can do more of a job yourself. Popular courses cover domestic electrical work, tiling and plastering, unvented hot water storage systems, kitchen fitting, bathroom fitting, energy efficiency, water regulations and of course gas.

The more skills you can offer the better business you'll have. You can service more clients' needs, and make more money each month. You won't have to work around plasterers or electricians timetables if you can do small jobs yourself.

To summarise, the most profitable and efficient way to get into the domestic plumbing market is to train with a reputable private training company.