Anyone Need a Plumbers Mate?

[Screwed]

Hi All,

I hope this isn't against forum rules. I'm soon to be made redundant - this is coming as no surprise to me as I have been negotiating a way out for some months. As I knew I would soon have an opportunity, I have taken the plunge and recently completed my C&G Level 2 in plumbing with the aim of changing careers after many years of dreaming about it.

I know that weekend courses are frowned upon by you professionals, and I fully admit that whilst I have a plumbing qualification, I am not yet a plumber!! The next step for me is to gain some real life experience. Does anyone need a very keen and willing plumbers mate, or have any suggestions as to what my next move should be?

I will be finishing work in 2 weeks when I'm going back to college full time to gain a tiling qualification and also start working on my Level 3 and Gas.

I have a van, some tools and common sense - all I need now is to learn the trade.

If anyone is looking for help in Kent/SE London (or surrounding areas) please let me know. I am fully prepared to do any amount of donkey work so long as I'm learning, weekends are also not an issue for me.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Mike.

 

[nortonj]

Good luck Mike.

 

[Screwed]

Thanks mate, a lot of determination and a bit of luck needed!!

 

[Screwed]

and knowledge........

 

[nortonj]

Try plumbers merchants, ask the staff to keep your number behind the counter.

 

[Screwed]

Yeah have done that, some were helpful, others not so - will do the same with the tiling shops once I've done the course. Thanks again, Mike.

 

[leakydave]

I was a Junior School Teacher for 16yrs, gave up and retrained in 2003. Been self employed ever since and 'Lovin' It'!
Good luck with your quest, though sadly I am in Gloucestershire.

 

[Screwed]

Brilliant, thanks for the positive experience, certainly helps the self belief. How did you retrain - did you do an apprenticeship or just dive straight in after a college course? It's experience I'm after - passed all of the level 2 exams with distinctions, but still want some real life training.

Thanks for the reply

Mike

 

[Tay7]

You can come and do my bathroom if you like? I cant be arsed.

 

[Screwed]

Let me get my tiling course done, it's an 8 week course and you're on....so long as you're not in Yorkshire!

 

[durhamplumber]

8 weeks to do a tiling course,,,,that seems a long time!

 

[Screwed]

It's another C&G course & covers all common materials (tiles, slate, marble etc) also covers screeding, tanking, laying floors and plastering, pretty comprehensive and should get me started!

 

[Agile]

Should be very good if you pay attention.

I see so many bodged tiling jobs.

But also some excellent ones as well.

Tony

 

[AGAS]

certainly take you much longer to learn plastering in eight weeks not possible, to get a good finish

 

[Screwed]

Hi - thanks for the replies, re the plastering, it's just the basics in order to get walls ready for tiling more than getting a glass smooth finish for decorating, certainly wouldn't achieve that in 8 weeks. It should however give me enough skill/knowledge to make a bit of a living whilst learning the heating/plumbing ropes.......that's the plan anyway....!!