There are certain skill sets in the construction industry that naturally complement each other. Tradespeople who are able to offer relevant add-on services along with their core speciality are often in a strong position when it comes to finding work and potentially boosting their earning potential.
Two trades that work particularly well alongside one another are gas and plumbing, with many of the skills and knowledge required for each industry often overlapping. This has led many training providers, including ourselves, to offer specially-designed courses for plumbers who want to learn and complete the necessary assessments required to complete gas work.
Why should plumbers consider adding gas to their skill set?
Given the similar sort of settings and appliances involved in both professions, qualified plumbers will have actually already completed sections of the training required to become qualified gas engineers.
Pipework, soldering and an understanding of heating and water systems are all skills that seamlessly transfer between both professions.
This existing knowledge means the usual lengthy training period that gas engineers need to complete when entering the industry for the first time can be streamlined accordingly.
Becoming a qualified gas engineer and joining the Gas Safe Register will significantly boost the amount of work you can take on, allowing you to accept and complete jobs for customers with gas supplies and appliances (such as gas boilers) yourself, rather than a separate gas engineer having to be called in.
Work opportunities for gas engineers
Gas engineers have a vital role in the transition toward more sustainable energy sources and the UK’s ambitious plans for net zero emissions, so there’s little surprise that employment opportunities for qualified engineers remain aplenty.
This paired with an ageing gas workforce - only 12% of the workforce is under 30 and more than a third over 50 - suggests demand is likely to remain high for the considerable future, as huge portions reach retirement age.
How much do gas engineers earn?
Gas has long proved to be a lucrative career path, and the latest data from Indeed shows that the average annual salary currently sits at £37,420.
Compare this with the average UK plumbing salary of £30,361 and it’s clear that adding gas qualifications to your existing skills could lead to a notable jump in potential earnings, along with making your CV that bit more appealing to prospective employers.