Before, during and after plumbing training courses you’re likely to hear an awful lot about how plumbing is a ‘recession-proof profession’. True, no matter how desperate a country’s finances get, somebody will always need to be there to fix leaks and handle plumbing crises, but is plumbing really totally unaffected by the recession?

To be perfectly frank, no industry has been completely unaffected by the recession, yet plumbing is bearing up far, far better than many. It is becoming a little more difficult to get started on the career ladder but, once you’re in there, things look good for the time being.

Yet one problem with an unstable economy is that it is very difficult to predict what is next. With that in mind, how can you work to guard your plumbing future against an extremely uncertain economic outlook? In this article we’ll be taking a look at a few steps you can take to make your plumbing career truly recession-proof to help you get ahead when everything seems to be going under!

Diversify

In many areas you’ll find that emergency call out plumbers are everywhere. If this is true for your local area, it’s time to offer something different. Equally, if your local market is inundated with fittings and alternations specialists, take some time to assess supply and demand and then stretch yourself!

One of the best ways to diversify is to learn skills which few others in your industry have. Invest in yourself by enrolling on plumbing training courses which will equip you for less ‘run-of-the-mill’ projects and you’ll find yourself in demand, even if things get really difficult. Access offer an extremely broad range of plumbing training courses including:

•    City & Guilds Bathroom Fitting Plumbing Courses
•    Water Regulations (WRAS) Certificate (BPEC/WRAS Level 2)
•    Unvented Hot Water Systems Certificate (BPEC Unvented G3 Certificate)
•    & many more

Look forward

A little bit of foresight can go a long way. Over the coming decade renewable energy is going to be the bandwagon every plumber wants to be on, yet getting ahead of the curve, getting the plumbing training you need, building up experience and establishing a reputation as a great solar thermal or ground source heat pump expert right now could stand you in very good stead very soon!

Don’t overlook the basics

Whilst diversifying and looking forward are important, it is vital that you do not lose touch with the roots of your profession. After all, one of the key things which makes plumbing such a recession-resistant profession is that there is always demand for plumbing basics. The bread and butter of the plumbing industry is enough to sustain many through nasty economic times.

Yet it isn’t necessarily as simple as offering basic plumbing services. If you want to make your living from this type of plumbing work, you need to gain respect, trust and a strong client base. The only way to do that is through hard grind, a positive attitude and a great service your customers will come back for time and time again.

If you’d like to learn more about offering the very best plumbing service, Access’s plumbing training courses can help you be the best you can be. Hone your skills whatever your level of ability or experience, pick up the plumbing skills of the future or learn niche techniques to allow you to diversify.

To learn more about how Access plumbing training courses can help you to recession-proof your plumbing career, please explore the rest of the site or speak to one of our experts today on 0800 345 7492.

In a recent article published in She magazine, one of the UK’s largest selling woman’s magazines, six woman were featured who had varied jobs but with one common factor... a very high salary. One such woman, Jane Graham from London, works for Pimlico Plumbers, having completed her plumbing training. She earns a quoted £75k per year. That’s £4,176 per month or £964 per week or £193 per day after tax! Not bad at all.

This just goes to show not only that women are just as suited to a career in plumbing as men, but also the tremendous financial rewards working as a plumber can bring, making plumbing training a worthwhile undertaking.

Jane Graham stated: “As I’m very hands-on I decided that university wasn’t for me, so I thought instead about training to be a plumber. It was tough being the only woman on the plumbing training course, but now I love my job with Pimlico Plumbers. In a typical day I will have three different customers, and many of my female customers are delighted to see a female plumber. There is nothing better than solving a problem and making sure the customers are happy; plus the money I earn working in this affluent area of London is a real bonus.”  

Here at Access Training we have seen a marked increase (134%) in the enquiries we are receiving from women about our trades training courses, and these enquiries are fairly evenly spread between the plumbing training, electrical courses and the other trades we offer. They will usually be keen to discuss their suitability for the work, to which we always offer the same reply: a career in plumbing or any other trade for that matter is just as suited to women as it is to men.

The age old stereotypes are no longer relevant. Women can be up there with the very highest earners in the trade. Once industry recognised plumbing training has been completed men and women alike in a position to reap the financial rewards.

If you’re interested in becoming a plumber then Access Training’s plumbing training is the best way to kick start your career. Our purpose built, state of the art facilities accurately replicate scenarios will you find yourself in whilst out on the job, giving you a thorough grounding in all aspects of plumbing. Call 0800 345 7492 today.

With the property market currently stagnant in many parts of the UK, more and more people are choosing to renovate their current property rather than move home. This is creating great opportunities for graduates of plumbing courses as well as those individuals currently undergoing bathroom fitting courses. Not only is a surge in demand for bathroom renovations expected, they will also be able to add 5% of their own home, and all by completing plumbing courses with Access Training.

Rosie Millard, writing for the Daily Telegraph, stated that by simply renovating an existing bathroom it was possible to increase a property’s value. Creating a clean, stylish space would also attract potential buyers if you are considering selling your property.

Millard gave clear advice for plumbing courses graduates and those looking to install bathroom suites. They should always opt for white as a coloured suite ‘will look dreadful in just a matter of months’.

Such trends should make for interesting reading or those individuals either attending or considering Access Training’s plumbing courses. There is a buoyant market out there in homes across the country for new bathrooms, or on a slightly grander scale, en suite bathrooms built in bedrooms and lofts. So consider the possibility of attending one of our plumbing courses, forming your own business and installing bathrooms for your customers across the UK. You could create a niche and lucrative business for yourself. However, first things first, successful completion of one of our industry recognised plumbing courses.

For further information regarding Access Training’s wide range of plumbing courses, call us on 0800 345 7492 today.   

In a positive news story from Manchester’s Marketing and Business Development (MBD), it has been reported that the decline in the UK bathroom industry only actually fell by 2% in 2010, far less than initially feared. This comes as refreshing news for those currently on plumbing courses as well as plumbing course graduates, and halts a far greater decrease compared with the previous two years. Many plumbing course graduates had switched to fault finding and repair tasks, as demand for bathroom installation had declined so drastically. 

The MBD remained optimistic for the future of the plumbing industry, reporting its worth at £1.9bn in 2010, and looking towards the future, forecasts anticipate the market will increase year on year up until 2015, with demand predicted to increase by 3% in 2011.

Marketing and Business Development commented: “We expect the market to increase by a cumulative 26% between 2010 and 2015, taking it to just under £2.5bn. At 2010 prices, baths will represent £429m of the total industry, toilets £289m, basins £235m, bidets £17m and enclosures £182m.” These figures show that plumbing courses graduates should be ploughing fertile ground over the next few years, with many high street DIY retailers requiring additional bathroom fitters to join their ranks.

So what does this mean for plumbing courses graduates and bathroom fitting students currently in training? Well it appears there will be a wealth of work available, even with the small decline seen over the past year. And with the anticipated surge in demand for new bathroom installation over the coming years, the future really does look rosy.

We have already discussed on previous posts the shortage of plumbing course graduates in Britain. However, the problem is now extending worldwide, with the US the latest in a long line of countries to experience such a scarcity. Plumbing course graduates are now in demand in some of the world’s most sought after destinations including Australia and Canada.

In a discussion on one America’s foremost debate websites, Splice Today, aspiring college graduates have been discussing the merits of university degrees, and wondering if they would be better placed for the future if they learnt a trade such as plumbing, as it would virtually guarantee them a lucrative and secure career.

Contributions from experts on the subject of career paths have suggested that although higher education may well be the pathway to a successful life for some, those who pursue an in demand trade such as plumbing will find that an excellent income awaits them once they have successfully completed their training.

Journalist Frank DeFilippo, says: “America needs tinkerers as well as thinkers. We need PhDs, but we also need plumbers… College, for the most part, equips people to do nothing, except maybe think, which has its own rewards and is not a bad thing. But the salary for that won’t always cover the mortgage.

“Anyone who isn’t afraid to get a little grease under his fingernails or luxuriate in the slime and grime of a broken pipe or backed-up sink is likely to receive more take-home pay than a graduate with a degree in literature or philosophy. And maybe even the professor teaching literature and philosophy as well.”

The comments were met with widespread agreement: “I recently retired after 35 years as an engineer. I have 3 master’s degrees in math, business and project management. On an hourly basis, I pay my plumber more than I ever earned, and am glad to do it. It’s not just plumbers. We need electricians… and so much more. It’s not the money. What we have to do is restore the status we took from the skilled trades.”

It seems the message is clear the world over, becoming a plumber can offer a greater standard of living than one may expect and is certainly a career worth considering wherever you are in the world. Talk to Access Training today and realise your potential by attending an industry recognised plumbing course. We have a suitable course for everyone including those currently in full time employment.

Throughout 2010, the economy has been slowly struggling back to full fitness; it sadly still has a long way to go, but at least everything is moving in the right direction. This has been evidenced by an increase in spending by the general public on non-essential items such as a bathroom revamp. Economists are optimistic of this trend continuing through 2011; excellent news for those currently attending a plumbing course.

The recent spending on bathroom overhauls is seen to be a sign that, although individuals do have excess income at their disposable, they are reluctant to move home due to the present condition of the housing market, and instead see refurbishment as a far more efficient use of their money. This comes as music to the ears of those currently attending, or thinking about attending a plumbing course in the future.

Here at Access Training we do not merely teach you the practicalities of the plumbing industry. We go into far more detail, teaching you the industry trends which we learn from plumbing trade suppliers and retailers. This added insight helps plumbing course graduates to target their service to make the most of forthcoming trends. One such online retailer, Tradeplumbing.com, has recently reported the current top two trends to be:

• ‘Enormous’ free standing baths
   and
• Heated flooring

Here at Access Training the plumbing courses we offer will extensively cover the fitting of baths as well as other general bathroom fitting. However, installing under floor heating, which is generally electric, will require the installer to have completed a relevant electrical course. Critically it must be one which covers domestic electrical installation and Part P of the building regulations. Such a course will enable an individual to complete the job and self certify their own work.

Existing plumbers who are interested in cashing in on the current surge in under floor heating throughout the UK should contact Access and undertake just a short electrical course to receive their Part P qualification.

If you are interested in giving your career a kick start, contact Access Training today. We will have the perfect industry recognised plumbing courses to suit your intended line of work.  

Believe it or not, despite all the extensive media coverage at the time, many people are still unaware that the Corgi accreditation, which regulated the work carried out by gas fitters, has now been replaced by Gas Safe.

The Corgi Register changed to the Gas Safe Register back in September of 2008, after the HSE conducted a study which established the need for a new system to cope with the increase in the number of homes using gas in the UK (about 21 million). More importantly, it was designed to improve the statistics for death and injury resulting from gas installations. It was felt that a new Gas Safe Register would increase public awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stephen Manley, an Inspector for the HSE, referred to the need for more people to be aware of the change from Corgi Registration to Gas Safe Registration: “It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unqualified workers try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"Working with gas appliances requires a great deal of skill and knowledge, it is also potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it.

Paul Johnston, the Chief Executive of the Gas Safe Register, commented: "To fit, fix or service gas appliances… that person [needs to be] Gas Safe Registered [not Corgi Registered]. You shouldn't take any risks; badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning".

So, if you are looking to become qualified as a gas fitter, you need to become Gas Safe Registered. Access Training offer the simplest way to get Gas Safe Registered quickly and safely; our gas training courses come with a guaranteed work placement with a reputable Gas Safe Registered company, giving you the skills and confidence to fit gas appliances safely. However, just remember that it’s the Gas Safe Register and not the Corgi Register you really need to be a part of.

For comprehensive training enabling you to become Gas Safe Registered, contact Access Training today on 0800 345 7492. We have an enormous range of industry accredited trades training courses, which will teach you everything you need to know.

Plumbers earn a fortune, that’s what people say, and you know what, they’re not far wrong. But why do plumbers continue to command such a large wage compared to tradesmen in other industries? A common sense response would be that there must be a shortage of plumbers, but is this really the case, or is it just a common misnomer?

Writing for the Financial Times, Tim Harford discusses why this is the case: “Just like being a waiter or a taxi driver, a plumber’s skills haven’t been superseded by technology. Within other industries the skill of the worker has been partly and sometimes wholly replaced by the advent of technology and machines. They offer a more cost effective and efficient way to make products, manage systems and generally speed things up in the industry”.

In plumbing the techniques and manpower needed to carry out the work have remained largely the same for years with little prospect of radical change, which is of course excellent news for existing plumbers and for those thinking of undergoing plumbing training. The skills you will learn now will not become outdated, with their validity assured for years to come.

Harford explains further: “Now you can buy amazing televisions and cars which are cheaper than those available 20 years ago, yet plumbing has not really changed so it still remains expensive. In my book this makes plumbing a career to have above all else. In 50 years there is no way that robots will be able to change our pipes”.

It’s common knowledge that plumbers earn a great wage. We all know that calling out a plumber can be difficult. They always seem to be busy, and in an emergency you need someone who is going to be available straight away. For once we’ve put two and two together and come up with the right answer. Plumbers earn a fortune because there is a shortage of skilled tradesmen available, and there really is no other way of getting the work done. Therefore, as with the basic principles of supply and demand, the price being paid is at a premium. Recent predictions by City & Guilds, who award various plumbing training qualifications, have found that a plumber can expect to earn on average £605 a week, with some plumbers earning quoted figures of £780 per week, which is a marvelous £40,523 a year.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this skills shortage then contact Access Training today. We can fit our range of intensive plumbing training courses in and around your current commitments, allowing you the chance to gain industry recognised qualifications.

Reading the various reports coming from Government sources has led many to conclude that as of the end of 2010, ‘no one will be able to become an electrician unless they are on an apprenticeship’. Here at Access Training we know this is simply not the case. Consider the following scenario... One particular individual, let's call him Dave, is looking for a change in career and would really like to become an electrician. He currently works in a call centre for a popular and well advertised gas company answering calls each and every day.  The pay is poor and the hours are long.  He has a friend who recently completed an intense course and is now a successful plumber. Up until now, his present job has been sufficient. He has been enjoying life and glad of the regular income which supports this. At the age of 30, Dave meets a girl and decides / hopes she is the one. They move in together.  They now have two incomes, and although small the rent is covered, bills are paid and they enjoy regular nights out. 

Dave then reaches his 31st birthday; he decides that now is the time and pops the question. She accepts, he breaths a huge sigh of relief, and they start thinking about buying a house.  Dave then discovers he is due to be a father, and after some thought realises his income really needs to increase if he is going to be able to provide sufficiently for his family.  He needs a change of career and has always liked the idea of being an electrician. He has done some research and discovered that his earning potential will soar, giving him and his family the lifestyle they crave. He has already discussed working with his plumber friend; he currently has no qualifications and doesn’t know where to get trained.  He pays a visit to a few local colleges and enquires about going on an evening course.  The tutor explains the courses are full and there is a substantial waiting list. He also discovers that even after the completion of such a course he will only be qualified to lower level, not giving him full electrician status, allowing him to get a  job as a ‘mate’ or an ‘improver’. He is also put off by the length of the course which lasts a matter of years; realistically he would much prefer a high intensity course which lasts just months. 

He then sees something in the national press which talks about Adult Apprenticeships and thinks great, this could be my chance. After a little research he realises that finding an employer who is willing to take him on an apprenticeship is virtually impossible. Now he feels completely lost.

Then one day just by chance he spots an advert in the local press from Access Training, a company that specialises in providing training for career changers and offers intensive and focused training which fits around an individual’s job, lifestyle and family commitments. This sounds great. He gives them a call and they explain everything he needs to know about becoming an electrician, allaying all the myths and taking the time to carefully explain, impartially, the facts relating to his prospects in the industry. They explain how the technical know-how and industry recognised qualifications he will receive will act as a carrot-on-a-stick to employers; he could even set out on his own when he is ready.  Within a short period of time he could have all the necessary qualifications to work as a fully qualified and graded electrician, more than trebling his previous income. 

Dave attends the course, becomes fully qualified, and because he’s his own boss he can spend as much time with his family as he likes. His earnings leap towards levels he never thought possible. There is also great benefit to the industry as a whole as the skills shortage is addressed, with the addition of an enthusiastic, motivated and well qualified electrician. Everyone’s a winner! 

This wonderful opportunity exists out there in the labour market today; you just have to know where to look. Yet governing bodies such as Summit Skills would not record this as a success. They are so blinkered that they are only interested in youth apprenticeships and not adult trainees with internationally recognised qualifications accredited from the NICEIC and City & Guilds.

With a massive decrease in apprenticeships offered by companies over the last few years, coupled with the ‘Credit Crunch’, there are more people than ever out of work.  Lots of people want to be electricians, plumbers, gas fitters and trades people but cannot find the necessary training to make progress.  Many mature individuals don’t believe they can become electricians at all as they falsely believe they have ‘missed the boat’ or are ‘too old’. Many adult learners know they want to learn a trade and do something with their hands. But for whatever reason, information on how to get good trade training as an adult is not easy to come by. This is where commercially aware, honest private training providers like Access Training come in. Just take a look at our testimonial section for examples.

So is a career change really a good idea when the information and advice can seem confusing?  Well, yes, in the majority of situations it is.  A career change brings fresh impetus, a new outlook on life and for many people, an opportunity to improve their financial situation.  This is the driving force behind most adult trainees, who, with careful introduction and thoughtful application by training providers like Access Training, can successfully change their lives for the better.

The problem is that for a mature individual, interested in a career change, making the right choice is never easy. However, planned correctly with the help of Access Training, adult students have a great opportunity to get out there and fill the skills gap, in a job which is both enjoyable and financially rewarding.

The conclusion is simple: colleges and apprenticeships are not always the answer; certainly not for a mature individual looking for a career change. Here at Access Training, we are not at all worried about the future of our adult students. We have many success stories across all the trades. Amongst all the doom and gloom in the current economy and the jobs market, the future is very bright for any individuals looking to become electricians, plumbers, gas fitters and more.

Call us today to find out how an intensive electrical training course or plumbing training course will prepare you for the trade, putting in place the industry recognised, expert qualifications you need