A common career progression route in the construction industry is for those who have been working in the plumbing sector to expand their skills and qualifications to include gas work.
Being able to offer a fuller service as a tradesperson is always a positive thing, bringing a number of benefits that range from increased earning potential to employment opportunities, and given the similarities in skills across both the plumbing and gas industries, the decision to seek these additional qualifications makes a lot of sense.
Also, thanks to these crossovers between the two industries, the training period for plumbers adding gas qualifications is typically shorter, with dedicated, streamlined courses available to plumbers who have at least two years’ experience.
It’s also worth noting that there is no requirement for plumbers to hold their formal Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications before completing a gas course.
Examples of crossover skills between plumbing and gas
There are a number of jobs that plumbers are tasked with carrying out that are directly linked.
For example, a home may need an entirely new hot water system fitting. A plumber who cannot legally work on gas appliances wouldn’t be able to complete this job in a building where the system needs to be connected to a gas-powered boiler.
However, practical skills such as pipework, soldering and an understanding of heating and water systems are all skills that are shared across both professions.
Along with these practical examples, other skills such as mathematics, problem-solving, being comfortable with hands-on work and having a keen eye for detail are all extremely valuable across both sectors.
Will gas skills still be desirable in the future?
With the construction industry slowly moving away from natural gas supplies, many would understandably question whether it’s still worth training in gas.
Right now, 85% of UK homes still rely on natural gas, meaning the existing skill sets of qualified gas engineers are still in high demand, and much of the day-to-day tasks faced by engineers won’t be changing anytime soon.
Even once natural gas supplies are eventually phased out and replaced with hydrogen gas, qualified engineers will hold a vital role in ensuring this transition is smooth and in decommissioning or replacing appliances that rely on natural gas. Many of the new hydrogen-ready appliances will also be operationally similar to these traditional appliances, minimising the learning curve for those already working in the industry.
If you are an experienced plumber considering obtaining your gas qualifications, then the Able Skills ’Gas Training Course for Plumbers’ has been specifically designed to streamline this process. If you’d like any more information about the course, feel free to give us a call on 01322 280 202 and our team would be happy to help.