Developing Plumbing Certification & Apprenticeships In Plumbing

Plumbers are always in demand throughout the UK whatever the time of year. It's true to say we've seen a temporary lull in construction, but the demand for domestic plumbers still exceeds supply. 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 of which means that re-training for a plumbing career could provide you with a very secure future.

FREE In-Depth Training and Career Report

No matter what skills you start off with, the right training and qualifications will quickly launch you into your new career. To learn more about the various plumber training systems, read our independent review of the industry requirements - absolutely free of charge. 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.

Give yourself enough time to get up to date with all the facts in the book. Then come back to this site and take a look at a number of the training colleges featured on the page. If you Bookmark this website (press Ctrl D) you'll be able to retrieve it instantly.

Convert To Self-Employment

A lot of people decide to get into plumbing so they can become self-employed and control their own destiny. The majority of newly qualified plumbers over the age of twenty five choose to work for themselves in the domestic market. It stands to reason that this is the case because the jobs and the money never dry up for committed and diligent workers.

A lot of work will come from friends of people you've done a good job for. People like to recommend great service. Your technical skills will be gained through study and practical application, but you might also need to polish up your people skills. (After all you never know who's considering your services!) When you're in someone's home, try not to invade their privacy too much.

Plumbers working in the commercial environment usually work regular hours. But if you're going down the domestic route, those hours should be a tad more flexible. If you're willing to work some evenings and weekends on emergency jobs and quotations, householders will soon get to know you can be trusted.

You'll Always Be Able To Find Work...

As a qualified plumber you can have a job for life, which will provide security and a good income for you and your family. Emergency work makes you a hero, and everybody loves a new bathroom or kitchen so each job can be really satisfying. Obviously you only need to take on the work you want to do, although it's not a good idea to be too picky at first!

If you're going to set yourself up as a business, you'll have to learn a thing or two about costing out jobs. Naturally this means budgeting in all your own costs as well as labour and materials. Once you've done a few, it will all become very routine. Look for training companies that help out with this.

How Can I Get Started?

All industry recognised plumbing training courses lead to C&G (City & Guilds) certifications as a minimum. Students leaving school will typically go to college full-time followed by work experience and NVQ's. However, those who are a little older usually prefer to do their training part-time alongside their current job.

That's why so many private colleges have emerged, which cater for career changers who sometimes only need domestic training. Private colleges will cost more initially, but the student looking for domestic self-employed work will gain relevant skill-sets much faster, and start generating income within months, not years.

Bolt-On Extras

Your basic training will cover aspects such as hot and cold water systems, sanitation, health and safety and central heating. Most colleges also offer additional skills training which you could consider if you want to offer a bigger package to your customers. 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.

You'll find it easier to build your reputation if you provide some extra bolt-ons. Your work will be more evenly spread all year round. Customers will be happier if they only have you to deal with - it's much more straightforward than trying to juggle several trades.

If you're looking to change careers and want reliable, well-paid on-going work, this could well be the right choice for you.