apprenticeship or apprentice placement

[hobbsey]

Hello my name is Daniel Hobbs I've just turned 20 years of age and am writing to you to enquirer about a possible apprenticeship or apprentice placement.

I left school in 2008 and then went on to collage to study plumbing, gaining a EDI Level 1 National Award in Plumbing in my first year. I then went on to gain Level 2 Certificate in Basic Plumbing Studies in my second year. After completing my second year I was invited on to level 3 (Gas Fitting) but would need to take up a apprenticeship to do this as it was work based learning. As much effort as I put in to find a placement I was unsuccessful and had to leave that behind. Since the I have been working in a cash and carry (I started in my first year and fit it around collage) full time. I now feel as I'm wasted in doing something I firstly don’t enjoy but also believe I'm capable of doing better for myself. I am now looking to get back into plumbing and completed what I started and become a plumber. I believe because I have worked and understand how hard it is to get a job at the minute and appreciate any opportunity shown I would be a better candidate over a school leaver. I've already got a good amount of knowledge of plumbing so would be a quick learner for further education in the subject.

If you have any opportunity available for me or have any advice it would be useful to me and I would appreciate it a lot.

Thank your for your time.
Daniel Hobbs
07507268406

 

[simond]

Hello Daniel

I'm an installation specialist but I'm in Kent.

We used to run a few apprentices but it did not work for us. We even gave them old vans and electric tools so they could assist time-served installers on site, but to be honest, they did not seem to be as motivated as I expected.

So I wouldn't use apprentices again.

What I would say to you is that please carry on, keep trying, if you are good you will get ahead. See if you can specialise a bit, look on the web for people doing CHP, for instance. Many budding apprentices look for domestic placements, when commercial is better paid and doing better at the moment.

Bear in mind that looking in Sheffield for a heating engineer needing help seems sensible; but when you have been with him/her for a year or two and got your ACS, he is mindful that he will then quite possibly find you in a smart van driving round competing with him on boiler quotes.

This is a real problem, the market is saturated with new gas entrants and all of them will be competing in a very restricted and depressed market. If you do approach local enterrprises, remember that they are going to be worried what you will become.

Just trying to let you see the other side of the desk, it might help.

 

[David937]

Hi Daniel,

Have you an account with AVMS?

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

It is a useful tool to search for vacancies.

Also, NG Bailey will be opening their Apprenticeship scheme once again for their 2012 intake,

http://www.ngbailey.co.uk/?id=76

 

[mickyg]

I heard a rumour that current BG apprentices may not have a job when its completed, which if true is a real indication of the market.
You will need to be willing to work for free or very little to get decent experience to become a competent plumber or heating engineer.