As Head of Plumbing at Leicester College and President of the National Association of Plumbing Teachers (NAPT), Richard Dixey is often approached by plumbing students asking for help and guidance and has provided us with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Am I guaranteed a job on completion of the course?
I am frequently asked this question when interviewing students for full time courses. The answer is no, there are no guarantees. For every placement there are over a hundred people chasing that job. You will have a better chance of gaining a placement if you are studying on the technical certificate or have completed the award, but again, there are no guarantees.
Employers will always ask what work experience you have. Employers who are looking to employ a trainee often contact your college tutors. Tutors will only recommend students whose time keeping, attendance, motivation and commitment are good; so don’t cause problems for your lecturers!
How do I go about getting a job with a plumber/gas engineer?
You may have already tried writing letters and phoning suitable companies. In my experience the most successful way to get a job is by placing an advert in a local paper or post office window. You could even try knocking on the door of a local plumbing company, but remember how you present yourself on the phone and in person is very important. You have to be able to sell yourself. Be honest with the company on your plumbing limitation - don’t exaggerate your experience.
How do I get work experience?
Contact plumbing employers for work experience. I find the best employers are those who already have a trainee at the college because on the day the trainee attends college the employer may well take on a full time student. Ask your Lecturer if they know of any such companies. Be warned, your tutors will not recommend any students for work experience who do not perform on the course.
Does the industry recognise my qualification?
The qualification was actually written by the plumbing industry so it should be recognised. The main organisations involved in the qualification were APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Engineers), JIB (Joint Industry Board) and BPEC (British Plumbing Employers’ Council). Summitskills have since taken over from BPEC as the lead body for plumbing.
I don’t work on lead - do I still have to complete the lead module?
Yes, don’t forget what I said earlier, that the industry wrote the qualification and it includes lead so it must be important. It is a very useful skill to have so do persevere with it.
Will I be able to fast track through the course?
Would you want someone in your house who has gained a qualification by fast tracking? You cannot fast track through the course.
Can I call myself a plumber on completing the course?
When you have qualified up to level 3 NVQ and have a technical certificate you have a qualification that is recognised by the industry, but you are on the second rung of the ladder. You must keep up to date with the various changes in technology involved with plumbing/gas as it changes all the time. You don’t stop learning when you have finished your qualification; you need to continue with life-long learning.
What other qualifications may I require?
Part ‘P’ if you are carrying out certain electrical work; Unvented hot water; Water regulations; Solar hot water; Energy efficiency; Manufactures short courses; and ACS gas assessments. Quite a range, and these are just a few of the options.