Plumbing experience

[Dan1796]

Hello, wasn't sure the best place to put this but maybe someone on here could help or give some guidance.
I am a 29 year old male and have recently completed my C&G level 2 diploma in plumbing and heating at college. I am very keen on learning further about plumbing and heating and am aware it takes more than just doing a course to become competent. I have some experience carrying out smaller jobs for myself, friends and family and am looking to get some better experience in plumbing and hopefully move onto gaining my nvq. Is there any plumber in or around Buckinghamshire or around east m25 area that I could join on some jobs. I can Provide labour and have a positive attitude and am very hard working. I am currently working but can provide 2/3 days a week that fit around my shift pattern so can be fairly flexible.
I have a full driving licence so will commute and am happy to volunteer my time for free if it can lead to my qualifications.
Thanks

 

[plastic_peanut]

This is a DIY forum so may be more fruitful to try local tradesmen in your area.

I admire your approach but you may not be hitting your target audience on this forum.

 

[Nige F]

Where's Agile based - he'd pay £89 a week ? Dan - look up his posts, I'm sure he talked about trainees. Hasn't been on here for a while but.....

 

[ericmark]

I volunteer my time and skill every Wednesday, and find myself working with people from far and wide also volunteering time and skill, even one use to come from Canada, I don't know what all the registered charities do, but with the heritage railway I work for they have a hall of resident so workers can stop at the main station, I personally don't work on the boilers, well not to date, but there is loads of work to be done mainly using volunteers.

I suspect you would be better with some thing local to you, but there are heritage railways throughout the country, and it would give you experience working on boilers and likely introduce you to other tradesmen. Including those brought in to do specialist work.

It actually costs me and most the others to volunteer, I only pay for dinner and cups of tea which is subsidised, same with accommodation, can't remember the cost, but cheap and most volunteers consider it as a cheap holiday, I am surprised how often I see people who travel from Cornwell to Welshpool to work on a railway. Although many I think just love playing trains.

However be it railways or waterways, or other there are loads of places where you can volunteer and learn more about your trade. Even for volunteers the health and safety regulations are still valid, even hours of work, so it costs the railway to employ me, even when I get no wages.

 

[Dan1796]

Nige F thanks for the reply, I have looked for agile bit as you said doesn't appear to be have been on here for a while.

ericmark thats a good idea and would happily volunteer some time to something that essentially can help you develop skills. I will look into it.

 

[Gasplumber]

Best thing to do is google all plumbers around you and ring them up. I did nvq at college with no apprenticeship and ended up doing days here and there for 5 different plumbers before landing a job!

don’t be fooled by the carrot and the stick with guys who give you a chance either there’s a lot of if you do this I’ll put you through the gas ect.
Just do t give up and read lots of manuals and read forums and search on YouTube about plumbing ect and grow your knowledge.


I’ve being doing it 8 years and know a bit of everything to do with all plumbing and heating but most is gained by me learning myself and researching!

and I get paid more than a lot who have worked here ages.

get any job you can in plumbing but then don’t be a 1 truck pony.
Ie plumber
Or breakdown guy
Or worst installer

 

[CBW]

Hi Dan,

It is a diy forum, however there’s plenty of trades on here. Nice information presented and keep trying, probably need to contact local companies.

 

[Gasplumber]

Just to add mate I did all the asking on forums and personally it got me no where. I found ringing local guys offering to work gave me experience to then stop calling myself a plumbers mate and go for bigger companies. Ie swale wilgars British Gas any bigger than 1 man bands

 

[ericmark]

I think before Emma Shaw firms were willing to employ semi skilled and train them, but when the foreman was found guilty due to using unskilled labour many firms got edgy about employing anyone semi-skilled.

 

[JohnD]

More accurately, they should have stopped falsifying certificates, and signing statements that were not true, and failing to do work correctly.

It is perfectly possible for a trainee to work under the supervision of a qualified or skilled person.

 

[Dan1796]

Thanks for the input, I have been doing exactly that gasplumber and reading and trying to get as much theory and understanding as possible. I will have to make some calls to the local guys, when we are out of the lockdown.

 

[Gasplumber]

Thanks for the input, I have been doing exactly that gasplumber and reading and trying to get as much theory and understanding as possible. I will have to make some calls to the local guys, when we are out of the lockdown.

no time like the present mate I’d be ringing them now.
A lot are still working

 

[CBW]

Yep, i am still working,but not near you and not self employed

 

[Bodd]

Good luck Dan keep us informed