When thinking about becoming a plumber there are a few different avenues you can go down. You may think that being an apprenticeship is the right way, however, this isn't the best route for everyone. At the end of the day what you need is training, experience and qualifications.

Here at Able skills we have been giving people the tools they need to embark on new careers for 20-years! We understand the industry and what goes into becoming a professional from limited to no knowledge at all on the trade. Today we are going to compare both options and talk about how we can help you reach your personal career goals!

Why would you choose an apprenticeship?

Let's think about it for a moment. An apprenticeship involves finding an employer, gaining experience on the job, earning minimum wage and working for four years. To do this you will be relying on other people, you’ll need to be employed by a plumbing company that will give you access to on-site work experience. This system does work but is more aimed at those leaving school and generally young people looking to work their way up.

As an apprentice most of your training will be observation. For example, an aspiring plumber would have to spend a few hours a week following a qualified plumber from job to job. At a private training centre like ours you are completely hands-on with everything you do, gaining real-world experience in a controlled space overseen by multiple experts in the trade.

So, what if you're an adult who is looking to change careers? Or a young person who wants to advance quicker than the traditional 4-years? Well, that's where private training centers and plumbing courses can be a much better option. Here at Able Skills we aim to get you qualified in a much shorter timeframe.

The difference between the two options is enormous! Would you rather be drip-fed pieces of knowledge over years of work or efficiently gain the skills, information, experience and confidence you need? When you take on an apprenticeship you are learning from a plumber who is working as a plumber. When you take on a course, you are learning from somebody who has become professional at how to teach their trade.

How does the training route work?

The training route at our centre involves learning new skills, gaining hands-on experience and completing assessments in order to achieve your qualifications. Our centre has fantastic facilities and the entire course is supported by the tuition and guidance of our dedicated Plumbing Instructors who have years of experience both teaching and working out in the industry.

Plumbing courses

So, where does it start? Our City & Guilds Level 2 Plumbing course is a 6-week programme covering various topics including Electrical principles and processes, Common plumbing processes, Cold water systems, Domestic hot water systems, Sanitation, Central heating systems and Drainage systems. As well as giving you an insight into how the industry works, what to look out for and lessons that our instructors learnt when they started out themselves.

Once you have achieved this industry-recognised qualification you will be ready to go out and find work. Though, after gaining some additional experience out on the job you may want to look at achieving an NVQ or National Vocational Qualification.

plumbing courses

This is an on-site assessment to test your ability on the job. We have assessors in place who can visit you at your place of work to establish your competence, give guidance on portfolio completion and help you on your way to achieving a Plumbing NVQ.

The process works by having an assessor of ours visit your place of work on two separate occasions to judge your work, in addition, you will need to collect evidence of different types of job (Pictures, videos etc.) and collate them into a portfolio. You want to accomplish a Plumbing NVQ as it is a requirement for many work sites in the UK. Due to the pandemic, we are also offering remote options for this through video call, contact us for more information on that option.

For more information:

Want to know more? If you would like to gain more insight on our range of plumbing courses, feel free to contact us over the phone on 01322 280 202. We are happy to answer any and all questions and provide further guidance on the journey to becoming a professional in the trade. You are also welcome to pay us a visit in person as long as you are conscious of social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. Our office is open 7-days-a-week between the hours of 8:30 - 16:30.

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