Plumbers Training

Currently, the plumbing industry is short of plumbers, with an estimated 30,000 unfilled plumbing vacancies (according to the Institute of Plumbers). Despite this, training vacancies are in short supply, with competition for places at many colleges. Despite the shortage of qualified plumbers, there are only approximately 3,000 course placements for plumbers annually.

So you think you could be a plumber? Despite the reputation plumbers have, they are actually highly trained and dedicated individuals. If you would like to be a plumber, you must be prepared to work long hours, often up to or over 40 hours. Overtime is common, particularly if a 24 hour callout service is offered.

Plumbers can have several different roles. As well as working in homes and offices, plumbers can be found in the industrial and commercial sectors, on board ships and in chemical plants. In almost any building project, plumbers are an essential part of the process.

Plumbers can be either self employed, or can be employed by a company offering a number of plumbers. As part of a company, a plumber is more likely to be involved in commercial work or as part of a team on a building site, where more than one plumber may be required, and hiring out a team from a single company makes it easier for the architect and site managers.

If you become a plumber, you will have to become accustomed to the long and anti-social hours, working in confined spaces indoors, as well as working outdoors in all weathers, and possibly at heights when working on the exterior of buildings. Additionally, you will require a driving licence once fully qualified, as plumbers will be required to travel from job to job with all their tools.

In addition to a desire and willingness to be a plumber, despite the hours and conditions, you should:

Be capable of reading and interpreting technical drawings and plans
Have good practical skills, and problem solving abilities
Have a careful and methodical approach to work
Be able to work at heights and in confined spaces
Have normal colour vision
Be physically fit
Be aware of safety issues and legislation concerning the job
Be able to work either as part of a team, or alone
Have a polite manner for dealing with customers

While it may seem a little daunting, the rewards are pretty good! Most plumbers in their first year after qualification can earn between £16,500 and £20,500. More experienced plumbers can easily earn up to £26,000, or up to £30,000 in Greater London. Self employed plumbers can often boast earnings of up to £1000 per week, though this is subject to workload and working hours.

You will require the following qualifications, which cover areas of plumbing including common plumbing principles and processes, hot and cold water systems, central heating and pipework, sanitation and electrical supply.

City & Guilds (6089) NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Mechanical Engineering Services (MES): Plumbing and
City & Guilds (6129) Technical Certificate Level 2 Basic Plumbing Skills and Level 3 Plumbing Studies.

The City and Guilds technical qualifications can be taken at one of several colleges around the UK, though places on these courses are in high demand. They cover the main theory, and some practical aspects of plumbing, though they may be followed up by an apprenticeship with a plumber in order to gain the experience required by the NVQ.

If you are already employed in the industry, you can immediately take NVQ in Mechanical Engineering Services - Plumbing (6089) at Level 2 and NVQ/SVQ Mechanical Engineering Services - Plumbing (6089) at Level 3.

The NVQ's asses your practical skills, and cover the technical certificates as well. You can usually study them on a part-time or day-release basis

The Level 3 NVQ/SVQ contains additional assessments for:

Water Regulations
Unvented Hot Water Systems
ACS gas safety - a necessary requirement for Corgi registration.

In addition to the difficulty of finding a place on a plumbing course, it can also be difficult to obtain an apprenticeship placement. This is because a number of plumbers are self-employed, and thus do not have the time or resources available to train a new plumber. Many are also concerned that they may be training someone who will later set up in competition against them. It can be even harder for a mature student training as a plumber to find a placement, as many employers feel as though they should pay them more. Additionally, mature students are likely to have other financial responsibilities such as a mortgage, and so working part time around a college course may not be a feasible option. Several courses and academies offer courses which enable students to work as a self-employed plumber after completion.

What will I learn?Different colleges and training institutes offer slightly different courses, though all follow the same foundation and eventually lead to the same qualifications. The main topics studied include:

The Basics which includes topics such as tools and their uses, domestic plumbing and waste systems, making connections to appliances, working with pipes and fittings and isolating water systems.

Installation Work, including how to fit most domestic appliances and fittings - including showers, taps, sinks and guttering; as well as appliances including washing machines and dishwashers.

Repair Work, which focuses on the repair of fittings including radiators, taps and pipework, as well as central heating and water tank maintenance.

Typically, most training academies will offer practical experience in their own purpose-built facilities; giving trainees' valuable experience using mains water and real life fittings. A number of training centres also offer advice and support to students setting up in business. Some centres offer post-training advice and support, which may include business cards, tools and overalls (included in the course price) and a support line for support and advice on topics which may not be covered during the course.

What next? - Once you have completed the course, you will take various qualifications (detailed above). After this, you can work as a self employed plumber. It is now up to you to build up a customer base and a reputation! This is also where much of your real world experience is learnt, as the real world is rarely like the classroom.

Once you have built experience, you can apply to take additional qualifications, such as CORGI accreditation. This allows you to display the 'CORGI registered' logo, and depending on which training sections you undertake, will enable you to work on gas systems. You will be provided with an ID card which will detail what your accreditation allows you to do; under no circumstances should you carry out work you are not qualified to undertake, as this can be dangerous to both you, and anyone who employs you.