Female training to become a plumber - how hard is it?

aquariangrrl

I am a 34 year old mum of one who lives in north London and I am thinking about training to become a plumber. I have a useless degree in something obscure and I can't see anything else that I would really like to do. I always see adverts about how there is a shortage of plumbers and they make a lot of money. Is this true?

Has anyone trained to become a plumber?
If so, how long does it take and how hard is it? Is it easy to be a plumber as a woman? What is business like? I would like to become Corgi registered eventually. Does anyone know of any good courses in the north London area?

If anyone can give me any advice would really apreciate it. I would preferably like to do it part time as I have my LO to look after in the day, so weekends or evenings or possibly in the day when LO starts nursery.

lulaloo

This doesnt have anything to do with how hard the training is, but I've just advertised a job vacancy in London (not for a plumber) and the majority of applicants I've had are from out of work plumbers and electricians - which would indicate that there may not be that great a need for them at the moment.

Sorry, i know it's not that relevant to your question but just thought i'd let you know

dori2o

coming from a family of plumbing and heating engineers, I can say that the trade is lacking at the moment. The credit crunch has effectively solwed down the market, no one has the money to renew, so people are making do with what they have.

However, please do not be influenced by these adverts that claim to be able to train you in 6 weeks, it is not possible to become an approved plumber/heating engineer within that timescale. The most you would be able to do is fit bathrooms/kitchens taps etc and even then you need to be water regulations approved and without site experience you cannot get approved, and you definately would not be able to work on gas installations.

Also before you jump in with one of these courses, check out the prices of them, one national company has been advertising recently on a national talk radio station claiming to have you trained in some stupidly short amount of time, however the cost of the course is £9k.

If this is the route you want to take, enroll at your local college, that way you may be entitled to a grant. Speak to your local CAB or connextions office/Careers office and see if they can help you to get in touch with an employer who woiuld be willing to take you on as an 'apprentice'.

There are lots of women in the trade, and the work is enjoyable, but do it the right way and not by one of these fly by night companies.

Zazen999

To become fully qualified in anything NVQ related in construction you will need to have a job to fulfill the full requirements.

If an employer takes you on as an apprentice, and they are registered with the CITB, they will be able to claim a grant for you.