Plumbers are always in demand throughout the UK whatever the time of year. Construction sites may offer fewer opportunities, but domestic work is as buoyant as ever. How often do we hear about the trouble someone had finding a plumber to mend their heating system? And as fewer people are moving house, more and more choose to upgrade their existing homes with new kitchens and bathrooms. All of which means that re-training for a plumbing career could provide you with a very secure future.
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One of the most appealing things about retraining to become a plumber (or any other tradesperson for that matter) is the idea of being self-employed. In reality the bulk of new career plumbers enter the domestic market working predominantly by and for themselves. It makes a lot of sense when you look at how much work is available, and how much money can be made when you've built your reputation.
As with all the trades, good plumbers pick up a lot of their business via recommendations from satisfied customers. Instructors will fill you in on all your plumbing requirements, but make sure you pay attention to your attitude to everyone. You just don't know where the next job's coming from... Politeness and good manners will always be remembered.
Commercial plumbers will usually work on weekdays only, typically 8am to 5pm. But self-employed domestic plumbers have a different situation. It can be quite difficult for some people to stay at home during the day waiting for a plumber, which means they're sometimes prepared to pay more for evening call-outs.
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! There's a lot of job satisfaction - as it's always good to see the end result of a job well done. There's also a lot of variety, as you work in different homes with different clients. Plus you get to choose to work you take on.
Plumbers who work for themselves must get to grips with doing quotations that win contracts at the right price. So as well as taking your time into consideration, you'll have to think about all your other costs as well. It's often a bit hit and miss at first, but you'll quickly learn by any mistakes! The best commercial colleges should include training on setting up in business.
All industry recognised plumbing training courses lead to C&G (City & Guilds) certifications as a minimum. 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. But more mature career changers like to hang onto their old jobs whilst they study part-time. The commercial colleges are more geared up for their needs, as their courses are less rigid and focus more on the high-demand skill-sets. 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.
With a basic qualification you'll be able to work on a range of plumbing jobs. If, like many plumbers you bolt-on a few extra skills, you'll be able to complete projects yourself without having to bring in other trades. Additional skills could be in plastering or tiling, basic electrical work or energy efficiency. Having additional skills will make it easier to build your name. You can service more clients' needs, and make more money each month.
If you can take on small electrical tasks or handle gas whilst you're on a job, you won't waste time working to someone else's calendar. To summarise, the most profitable and efficient way to get into the domestic plumbing market is to train with a reputable private training company.