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.

Star of property program Relocation, Relocation, Phil Spencer has advised property developers and those considering property development courses to think very carefully when considering how to invest in their projects. He stated in The Times that there are adaptations property developers can make which will add over 9% to the value of a property. If you are considering attending one of Access Training’s property development courses, then this should come as excellent news. Upon completion of our property development course, you will be in a position to reap the rewards of your hard labour when it comes to selling your home and moving on. 

Adding value to a project is the bottom line for all graduates of property development courses; Spencer explained the most effective way of achieving this was with a kitchen, bathroom or garden refurbishment. The tutors at Access Training’s property development courses whole heartedly agree with this point and teach their students how to carry out such refurbishments to the most exacting of standards.

Those of you considering undertaking property development courses should firstly note Phil’s comments:  “If you are only going to improve one room, make it the kitchen. This has now become the showpiece area of the home. We don’t just cook in it; we do homework, watch television and hold dinner parties in it too. The number one priority is creating a handsome and efficient work surface, ensuring easy access between the three points of the kitchen triangle, namely the sink, fridge and cooker.

“You should also ensure the equipment you install is as up to date as possible, so it won’t look outdated in 10 years. Property development courses teach individuals to ensure the price bracket of your kitchen matches the price bracket of your home. There is no point putting a £25,000 kitchen in a £250,000 house; you won’t see a return on investment. Equally a £10,000 kitchen in a £1 million house will only drag down the value. Typically, a new kitchen will add 4.6 per cent onto the value of your home.”

Phil also offered some valuable advice as to how best refurbish your bathroom: “The secret is to keep things simple. You don’t need to do a lot with the room; it’s all about the features you put in. You should think about a set of new taps (£20), a heated chrome towel rail (£50), a big shower head (£20), a power shower (£250-£750) and a glass screen (£100) or glass door (£125) instead of a shower curtain. A new bathroom puts 2.88 per cent onto the house value.”

The third area that Phil said that graduates of property development courses should concentrate on is the garden: “Make it accessible and enjoyable from the house; glass doors are a good idea, as is outdoor lighting. View the garden as another room; install decking (£250 up to £5,000) and you can add two per cent to the house value.”

If you are considering property development and are looking for all encompassing property development courses, Access Training can offer you property development courses which will teach you the trade skills needed to add real value to your property at a fraction of the cost. Take a look at our bathroom fitting courses, kitchen fitting courses for more details. Alternatively call us now and we’ll answer all you questions.

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.  

The current economic climate has put strain on the purse strings of many, resulting in far fewer individuals finding themselves in a position where they can afford to buy their own home. This is music to the ears of Gas Safe qualified engineers as well as those currently completing gas courses, as landlords have strict legal requirements they must fulfill before renting out their property to ensure the safety of the gas system.

In a rented property the landlord is responsible for ensuring that the pipe work, appliances and gas flues are maintained and kept in a safe condition. It is a legal requirement that a gas safety check is carried out every year; this must be carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer who has attended the relevant gas courses. The landlord must then give their tenants a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days of the check being completed, or prior to them moving into the property.

The employment and business opportunities available for qualified gas engineers are currently plentiful. Only Gas Safe registered engineers are permitted to perform these checks, ensuring a ready supply of work. This is just the type of work you could be carrying out if you are seriously looking into gas courses with Access Training. The courses are delivered with commercial work in mind, so carrying out the necessary checks on a landlord’s property as well as completing paperwork can be performed with ease.

If you would like to enter this growing industry then there really is no time like the present. Enquire with us today about becoming a qualified gas safe engineer and we will help you to decide which of our gas courses is best suited to you.

Thecareerengineer.com website has reported that the average daily wage commanded by self employed individuals working in the gas industry has risen by nearly 30% compared to their level during the same period last year. The figures contrast to the trend shown by other industries indicating that gas engineers and professionals are still in short supply.

Salaries of those employed by a third party have also been gradually on the rise. In other positive news for the industry, employers expect to see the amount of staff they recruit increase by around 5% throughout the year, increasing the employment opportunities once the relevant gas training has been completed. 

Thecareerengineer.com also reported that more than 20% of gas companies expected to see salaries rise by a further 10% over the forthcoming year. These increased rates of pay are a strong indicator that the gas industry remains buoyant and is in fact experiencing growth.

This is good news indeed if you are considering a change in direction. For a whole host of information regarding our wide range of gas training courses, contact Access Training today. There has rarely been a better opportunity to start a new career in the gas industry. 

Attend one of our Gas Safe courses and you will become a fully qualified gas engineer with industry recognised qualifications. Below are examples of some current vacancies in the gas industry which could realistically be your next job.

Posted on: 21/03/2011
Gas Engineers Wanted for 3 Locations
Salary: £660 to £680 per week
Location: Cardiff & Newport & Swansea
Description: Gas Engineers needed to do domestic service and repair work...

Gas Engineer Required
Salary: £12 to £13 per hour (plus vehicle, fuel card, and kit provided)
Location: Hereford & Worcester
Description: Gas service engineer is needed to cover the Herefordshire area. Must be fully ACS qualified. The client will provide a van, a gas analyser and a fuel card. The duration is ongoing. Please call on ... or email a C.V to...

Undertaking a career change can be a daunting proposition for anyone thinking of becoming a professional tradesperson, especially if they are considering enrolling onto a training course such as one of the electrical courses with Access Training. Most people contacting the Course Advisors at Access Training explain their plans but also express their reservations about taking the leap into a subject such as electrics, where they have no previous experience at all. 

To help allay any fears or misconceptions people may have, the team at Access Training decided that some work experience could be arranged for people if they would like to gain a greater understanding prior to attending their training for example, before one of our electrical courses. We approached Steven Walker who immediately jumped at the chance of working with Access Training again, having been in the position himself of changing career and not knowing where it might lead.

Steven Walker had formed his own plumbing and electrical installation company, SK Solutions, last year after completing an electrical course with Access and his company continues to go from strength to strength. He was delighted to be able to show students the ropes and give them an insight into the trade and agreed to show the first two students the type of work he was undertaking. The result being that the student’s fears about their radical change in careers were soon put to one side as they began their work at SK Solutions Ltd.

Since completing his course, Steven has found that the amount of plumbing and electrical work was building up quickly and he was finding his services to be in much demand. He then decided the time was right to recruit a fellow student from the very same plumbing course he attended only a matter of months earlier. Such is the faith and high regard that Steven held for the quality of the student produced by Access Training, he has now gone one step further and decided to take on students before they have even begun their course.

This example shows just how highly the electrical courses offered by Access Training are regarded. We go the extra yard to make sure our students receive the service and training they deserve, every step of the way. If you are looking to start a new career and are considering enrolling on a course then contact Access Training today. Our electrical courses and plumbing courses really are the best around and we always take any extra steps we can to help our students enjoy a stress-free career change.

The UK has for the last few years been suffering from a stagnant housing market as a result of the now infamous financial crash suffered back in the latter half of 2008. As a result many homes saw an average of £10,000 wiped off their housing valuations resulting in home-owners having to put on hold their plans to move up the housing ladder. Many owners have instead deciding to make well considered home improvements to add value to their homes. As a result of this the DIY market has increased in popularity having been less favourable in previous years.

Research carried out by Idealo.co.uk discovered that searches for DIY goods online have increased dramatically compared to the same period a year ago. They accredited this to home owners continuing to view their houses as an investment and not simply a home and were attempting to counter the fall in their house value by making sometimes expensive alterations.

Idealo.co.uk found that the most popular searches were for ‘cheap tools’ which was recently also ‘trending’ in Yahoo.co.uk’s top 10 of all searches in the UK. Evidence also suggests that more people are now searching the internet for home improvement goods and bargains. Notably painting & decorating supplies were high on the list of items searchers wanted in order to create that all important new look. DIY courses as well as property development courses have also seen a rise in popularity as people seek to learn the skills they need to go it alone.

So if you are thinking about making some home improvements in an effort to maintain the value of your property and want to learn how to deliver a professional finish as expected from a tradesman, take a look at Access Training’s DIY courses or property development courses and you can start clawing back any value your property may have lost.

According to research carried out by AA Home Rescue, the level of trade skills amongst homeowners is rapidly dwindling, resulting in fewer and fewer individuals willing to try their hand at DIY projects.

This trend is being attributed to the fact that young people seem less and less concerned with the development of the practical skills required for DIY projects.

The survey concluded that in order to carry out even basic DIY tasks, many people would require the services of a professional with the relevant trade skills to be able to carry out the work. 32% of individuals under the age of 25 said they would be able to complete a DIY or home improvement task, compared with 73% percent of people aged between 55 and 65.

A Spokesperson for AA Home Rescue, stated: “There seems to be a developing mind-set amongst young people that if something goes wrong, then I’ll get someone in to fix it”.

AA Home Rescue went on to suggest that it believes many young people are becoming more and more occupied with emerging technologies and are spending far much more of their time on computers, leaving little time to learn practical skills or carry out DIY tasks.

It is also suggested that over the next few decades, home improvement, DIY and basic trade skills will diminish further, eventually to the extent that very few people can carry out even the most basic of tasks.

For further information regarding trade skills and the training on offer here at Access, browse our comprehensive list of courses, including DIY and home improvement courses and see just how much money you can save by carrying out odd jobs yourself.