Gas boilers are an incredibly popular option for home heating. A whopping 78% of UK households use gas to heat their homes, with just the remaining 22% using alternatives like electricity and oil.
However, with modern science making us more and more aware of the adverse effects that gas can have on the environment, money is being poured into finding a plausible alternative.
Enter heat pumps.
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Gas-fuelled appliances can be very dangerous if they're not installed correctly. Because of this, gas appliances should ONLY be installed and serviced by competent, qualified gas engineers.
Here in the UK, gas fitters are legally required to join the Gas Safe Register before carrying out any gas work. The Gas Safe Register website makes it easy to...
- Check whether your gas engineer is registered
- Report illegal gas work
Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI in 2009, and since then, it has been the sole official gas registration body for the United Kingdom (as well as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey).
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One question we get asked a lot here at Access Training is - am I too old to learn a trade? The short answer is no! Our courses are available to people of all ages and abilities and can work around your pre-existing responsibilities. Whether you're finishing school and looking to become an electrician through a full-time course, or 40 and hoping to become a plumber through one of our part-time courses, we can accommodate you.
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A gas engineer in St Columb will be sentenced after carrying out dozens of jobs in people’s homes without the relevant qualifications.
Darren Masters had apparently serviced and installed boilers, as well as fitting gas hobs and gas fires, leaving numerous homes in danger.
Rogue Trader Full of Hot Air
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 charges of breaching safety regulations, carrying out the work without being on the Gas Safety Register.
Despite not being a registered gas engineer, Mr Masters falsely claimed to be a fully-fledged member of the Gas Safety Register in order to secure work.
After pleading guilty at the Truro Magistrates’ Court on December 16th, the case was adjourned to the seriousness of the crime and sent to the Truro Crown Court for sentencing in the New Year.
Dangers of Poorly Fitted Gas Fixtures
Gas fittings and fixtures that have been improperly installed carry with them a wide variety of potentially life-threatening hazards.
A faulty installation can release poisonous carbon monoxide which can be fatal, as a result. Meanwhile, a gas leak can also lead to significant fire hazards and even cause an explosion.
The incident once again highlights how vital appropriate training really is when it comes to gas safety. By-passing such qualifications can have serious consequences on both the fitter and the customer, with potentially devastating results all-round.
If you are thinking of exploring a career as a gas engineer, Access Training UK can help you do it right. We have a variety of gas courses available to ensure you enter the trade fully capable of carrying out gas work safely, efficiently and correctly.
Check out our relevant courses below to find out what we can offer you in terms of gas training options:
For more information on the gas training courses available at Access Training UK, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 345 7492 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.
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If you want to have a career as a gas engineer, you'll first need to earn the qualifications that certify your ability to work safely and legally. One of these qualifications is the CCN1 gas qualification.
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Gas engineers are among the most in-demand tradespeople of all, and if you're willing to put in the work necessary to get certified and join the Gas Safe Register, you'll be able to do all sorts of jobs that less-qualified workers are unable to tackle.
With that in mind, it's easy to see why gas courses are such a popular choice amongst people who are looking to change careers. But is a gas course the right choice for you? And are gas training programmes really worth the price tag?
Benefits of training to be a gas engineer
- Take advantage of the skills shortage. The UK is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled tradespeople, and our forthcoming departure from the European Union is expected to exacerbate the situation still further. However, this is actually very good news for you if you're considering quitting your current job and learning a trade instead - as a newly-qualified gas engineer, you should have no shortage of lucrative jobs to take on.
- Work on a wide range of appliances. Gas engineers don't just fix boilers. Once you're on the Gas Safe Register, you'll potentially be called upon to fix everything from ovens to hobs to fireplaces. If you're also qualified as a plumber (gas and plumbing qualifications often go hand-in-hand), you can also add sinks, showers, toilets and bathtubs to that list. This should mean that your days are both busy and enjoyably varied.
- Make lots of money! According to totaljobs.com, the average salary for a gas engineer in the UK is in excess of £32,000. That's a very appealing pay packet indeed, especially when the work itself is so rewarding and enjoyable.
How much does it cost to become a gas engineer?
Gas engineers can enjoy lucrative salaries, but of course, it does cost money to train as a gas engineer. However, we think you’ll agree, the pros above are well worth that initial expense!
The cost of training to become a gas engineer can vary greatly depending on a range of factors, including the course you study, the qualifications you’re hoping to achieve, and how long you study for. Here at Access Training we offer flexible training options to suit your unique requirements, including fast track, training finance plans, and ‘earn as you learn’ gas engineer training courses.
Gas courses from Access Training
If you're ready to begin your new career path, you'll be pleased to learn that we offer a comprehensive range of gas engineer training courses here at Access Training Academies. Our training packages are affordable and great value for money; furthermore, we offer flexible payment plans and finance options across all of our courses.
2020 UPDATE: We are pleased to announce that, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now offering live online training sessions. This means that you can begin your gas training at home - join our virtual classroom, put your questions to our expert tutors, and learn the key theory that all gas engineers must know. The practical component of your gas course will take place at our fully-equipped training centre, where you'll be able to put your knowledge into practice and get plenty of hands-on experience.
Click the links below to find out more about each training course:
No matter what trade you'd like to learn, please contact Access Training today to find out how we can help you to achieve your career ambitions!
There are plenty of opportunities for Gas Safe engineers in Britain right now, but it can take a long time to get qualified via the 'traditional' training routes like apprenticeships and college courses. It can take at least six months - and often far longer - to become a gas engineer this way.
Fortunately for budding gas engineers and the homeowners who rely on their services, apprenticeships are no longer the only way to become a qualified heating engineer. Over the last few years, intensive gas training courses have soared in popularity throughout the UK, with an increasing number of career changers opting for the fast-track route and attaining Gas Safe status in just a few months.
Some programmes even allow students the flexibility to learn part time so as to accommodate other commitments. This is great news for would-be tradespeople who need to stay in work and/or support a family while completing their gas training.
How long does it take to become a fully qualified gas engineer?
The UK heating industry has been struggling with a serious skills shortage for some time now. Gas Safe engineers are in very high demand; many have found themselves forced to turn down jobs because there's simply no room in their tightly-packed schedules.
So the country needs more gas engineers, and it needs them now. There are many options available to an aspiring gas engineer here in the UK. The push for apprenticeships in previous years, although successful in introducing many young people to the industry, has spread the narrative that full qualification takes years. Often forgotten is the private training industry, a more costly upfront investment but providing rewards much faster in the form of employment and career progression.
Access Training's fast-track gas courses allow you to learn your new trade and get qualified in a matter of months. This is probably the fastest way to become a gas engineer.
Why become a gas engineer?
Here are three good reasons to choose this career path:
- Gas Safe engineers can make a lot of money - according to Totaljobs, the average salary for a gas engineer in the UK is £37,500
- Once you're Gas Safe registered, you can start your own heating company and enjoy the freedom that comes with being your own boss
- As mentioned above, qualified gas engineers are in high demand - so you're very unlikely to find yourself short of work!
Gas Engineer Courses >
How to become a gas safe engineer
Here's a quick step-by-step overview of how to become a Gas Safe engineer:
- Your gas training journey begins in the classroom, where you will learn how gas appliances work and familiarise yourself with important gas safety legislation.
- Next, you will move on to the practical portion of your gas training course, mastering the skills that you'll use every day once you're a qualified gas engineer.
- Your Gas Safe course will culminate in an initial ACS assessment. At the very least, you will need to pass a CCN1 (Core Gas Safety) assessment, but you can choose to add further qualifications - such as CKR1 for gas cookers or CENWAT1 for central heating boilers - if you would like to work on a wider range of gas appliances.
- Once you have passed your initial ACS assessment, you will be eligible to join the Gas Safe Register (previously CORGI). At that point, you can officially call yourself a Gas Safe engineer - congratulations!
- In order to remain on the Gas Safe Register, you must renew your qualifications periodically. This involves attending an ACS reassessment.
Note that we now offer blended training courses that combine online learning with in-centre training sessions. This means that you can commence your Gas Safe training online from the comfort of your own home!
In our virtual classroom sessions, you will learn the fundamental theory that every gas engineer needs to master - not only will you be able to ask questions and interact with your tutor as normal, you will also be able to rewatch each class for revision purposes. Contact Access Training to find out more.
Become a gas engineer with our intensive training courses
If you wish to become a Gas Safe engineer as soon as possible, we recommend the Professional Gas Engineer Course from Access Training. This is a flexible gas training course that's open to everyone - no prior heating or plumbing experience is required to enrol.
This intensive gas course is specifically designed to earn you the qualifications needed to become a professional gas engineer, getting you ready for work within the shortest possible timeframe. All the basics (including gas safety legislation and standards) are covered in online classes; after that, you will attend our fully-equipped training centre for the practical portion of your course. Our expert tutors will make sure you can do everything that's expected of a gas engineer - such as pipework, tightness tests, and repairing a variety of gas appliances.
Our Professional Gas Engineer Course culminates in the ACS gas assessment, which tests students on everything they've learned. If you pass this assessment, you will receive the ACS Certificate - this enables you to join the Gas Safe Register, a legal requirement for gas engineers in the UK.
We also offer a Premier Gas Engineer Course, which includes everything mentioned above plus the Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing. Completion of this course allows you to conduct plumbing as well as gas work, which is a useful advantage for a professional gas engineer to have.
Browse Our Gas Safe Courses >
For more information on how to become a gas engineer, our fast-track gas courses, the qualifications we offer, or how long it will take to complete your training and become a Gas Safe engineer, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Access Training team.
Last updated 5th July 2022
On Tuesday 2nd February, the mayor of London announced The London Boiler Cash back scheme, as part of his commitment to help reduce London’s carbon emissions by 60 per cent in 2025. This is the first major boiler scrappage scheme in England since the launch of the campaign in 2010.
The London boiler cash back scheme will provide home owners with £400 cash back when they upgrade their old, inefficient boilers, with new A-rated gas, renewable or low carbon heating boiler. Currently this scheme will be open to home owners and private residential landlords with properties within the 33 London boroughs. However, it will increase the demand for gas engineers when people decide to upgrade their boilers. This is a great opportunity for a newly qualified gas engineer to increase their work load!
For the home owners to be eligible for the scheme, their boilers must have an energy efficiency rating of 70 per cent or less, and be using gas, oil, LPG or solid fuels. The boilers must also be in full working order, and it must be the homes main boiler, not just the boiler that they use to heat water. The boilers will be replaced with boilers that have a minimum energy efficiency of 90 per cent, and should be gas, Air or ground source heat pumps, solar thermal systems or a boiler with a passive flue heat recovery device.
All of the boiler replacements must be installed by fully qualified, gas safe registered installer. With the announcement of this scheme, it means that there has never been a better time to train and become a fully qualified Gas engineer!
Currently this scheme is only exclusive to London, and only available for 6,500 home owners, however, we are confident that this scheme will prove to be a success. There is a strong possibility that other larger cities, such as Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Newcastle will follow and introduce similar schemes.
So, if you have been thinking about training to become a gas engineer – now is a very exciting time to do so! Click here to view the courses we offer here at Access Training. If you would like to talk to us about enrolment, please call us on (Freephone) 0800 345 7492 and a member of our team will be happy to help you!
Via InstallerOnline
Despite the advances in electric fires and other forms of household heating, gas fires are still proving to be the number one choice for homes. So if you're looking to go out and get your gas certificate to become a qualified engineer, you'll be pleased to know that business is just as good as ever.
As well as the authenticity and flame effect which prove highly popular among the public, gas is still the cheapest fuel to run. On average, 1kW of gas supplied by British Gas costs just 4.662p (including VAT) compared to nearly 14.259p (including VAT) for 1kW of electricity - a number that seems to only be going up these days. Not only that, running a gas fire is actually more beneficial to the environment too, as it delivers half the CO2 emissions of an electric fire.
Gas fires are also far more efficient than they were back in the 80s, with developments in technology making them capable of delivering heat efficiencies of over 80% and heat outputs of 4.0kW - more than enough to heat your living room! But most of all a gas fire is reliable - if by chance your boiler were to break down over the winter (say, due to condensation freeze), you'll still be able to keep safe and warm until everything is back up and running.
Gas heating is just as vital now as it was 20 years ago, and Britain will continue to need engineers who have received the proper gas training. At Access Training you'll be able to learn all about the gas trade on one of our intensive training courses, eventually going on to complete a guaranteed work placement and subsequent ACS assessments. After that you'll be able to join the Gas Safe register and legally work on all forms of gas installation and appliance in the UK. Reckless gas maintenance can cost people their lives, so we're sure to make sure ALL of our students are training to the required professional standard.
To find out more give Access Training a call on 0800 345 7492.