Are you being left behind by the UK government's new plans for those aged 16 to 24?

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak recently announced that the government would be creating more than 300,000 paid job opportunities for unemployed people aged 16 to 24. This is great news and a much-needed show of support for young people who may be struggling to find work right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But where does this leave everyone else? What options are available for unemployed 25-year-olds and others who are too old to benefit from the UK government's new initiative?

Photo by J J Ellison (Wikimedia Commons)

"The most dramatic hit to the UK labour market in 100 years"

The number of people out of work and claiming work-related benefits in the UK recently jumped to more than 2 million as the coronavirus crisis forced thousands of businesses to close. Highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the workforce, the figures for May found that the number of jobcentre claimants increased to 2.8 million from 1.24 million in March, representing a 126% increase since the beginning of the lockdown.

The UK government have revealed strong plans to help unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds, but have not announced any support for the country's largest working demographic.

Because of this, people aged 25 and older are now looking for the best way to achieve both job stability and job satisfaction. It is widely accepted that careers in the construction, electrical, and plumbing and heating trades are some of the most stable positions available in the current UK climate; these career paths also provide job satisfaction with the option to be your own boss.

Construction training providers across the UK are now seeing increased demand for training and an increase in demand for tradespeople. Trade courses are seen as a viable solution for those struggling or wanting to change career.

Call Access Training on 0800 345 7492 or contact us online to learn more about our wide range of trade training programmes for people of all ages.

Electrician Courses   Plumbing Courses   Construction Courses

Research conducted by the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme has uncovered some startling statistics that could land the UK in deep water.

Leaking Information

According to the WRAS survey, over a quarter of Brits would wait over a week to fix a dripping tap, equating to almost 170 litres of water.

Meanwhile, over a fifth of all Brits would wait more than four days to address a leaking toilet, with the collective potential to waste between 215 and 400 litres a day, with a median of 72 litres per toilet a day.

Not only can this unnecessary water wastage see your water bills creep up needlessly, it can also have a potentially damaging effect on the population and the environment.

Down the Pan

It’s estimated that the UK wastes approximately 400 million litres of water every day as a result of leaking toilets. To put that into context, that’s enough to cover Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool combined.

Naturally, the sheer scale of this wastage is a concerning issue, made all the more concerning following Defra’s recent findings on population density.

Environmental Impact

According to Defra, the population density in the UK means that there is less available water per person than in many Mediterranean countries. As a result, effectively managing the water supply is all the more vital.

WRAS Managing Director, Julie Spinks, had this to say:

“We all have a duty to use water more wisely and consider the impact we have on the environment. When a plumbing problem first arises, a quick call to a local approved plumber can not only give you peace of mind but also help ease the burden on the environment.”

A Quick Fix

According to Waterwise, around 70% of leaking toilets can be fixed by a plumber on the very first visit, saving a considerable amount of water if caught early on.

Waterwise has made their stance on water wastage and unfixed leaks well-documented, once again highlighting the importance of plumbing maintenance in the home.

With a national campaign planned to raise awareness of water wastage, the already high value of plumbing professionals only looks to get stronger as the years progress, making it a safe and lucrative trade to become a part of.

Plumbing Training

If you’re looking to enter the plumbing trade, Access Training UK has a whole host of courses available to help you get started.

Meanwhile, we also have a range of courses specifically designed for existing plumbers to help more experienced tradesmen and women grow and progress on their professional journeys.

Check out the plumbing courses below to see the full list of what we have on offer at Access Training UK:

• Essential Plumbing Course

• Professional Plumbing Course

• Premier Plumbing Course

• Bathroom Fitting Course

• Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems

• WRAS - Water Regulations Advisory Scheme

• NVQ Level 2 Certification – For Experienced Site Plumbers

For more information on plumber courses and plumbing training 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 link below.

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Self-employed electricians in the UK have been left buzzing this month as average earnings reached their highest level on record.

According to data analysis by Hudson Contract, October payroll figures confirm that earnings for electricians in England and Wales rose by 5.8%, amounting to a weekly average of £1165.

Record-Breaking Wages

Hudson Contract is a payroll firm responsible for well over 2000 construction companies in the UK.

The firm has been analysing subcontractor earning since March 2008 and in the entire 11+ year span of those records, electrician wages have never been higher.

Welsh electricians saw an incredible spike in earnings growth with a rise of over 25%. Meanwhile, both the south-east and the north-west also saw sizeable peaks, both with a growth of over 8%.

Despite the boosts elsewhere, electrician’s in the east of England remain the highest earnings, topping off at an average of £1363/week which equates to a theoretical £70k/annum.

A Lucrative Career Path

On average, electricians regularly find themselves within the top three earners in the construction industry and this latest statistic proves once again just how lucrative an electrical career can be.

Managing Director of Hudson Contract, Ian Anfield, had this say:

“Despite political uncertainty and a general election, freelance electricians have never earned more. We hope this message reaches young people considering a career in construction.”

Electrical Careers at Access Training UK

As the figures suggest, there’s never been a better time to consider a career in the electrical industry, with the potential to earn respectable annual salaries that rival and surpass most graduates.

Here at Access Training, we can help you get your career on track with our variety of electrician courses. Whether you’re a total novice taking your first steps in the electrical game or a seasoned veteran hoping to sharpen your skills with some additional knowledge, we have the course for you.

New Career Courses

Perfect for those with little to no experience, our beginner courses include the following:

- Essential Electrical Course

- Professional Electrician Course

- Premier Electrical Course

Trade Professional Courses

For the more seasoned professional, we offer the following courses, designed to expand your existing knowledge:

- Part P Domestic Electrical Installer

- 18^th Edition

- Part P & 18^th Edition

- PAT Testing

- Initial Verification

- Periodic Inspection & Testing

- Fundamental Inspection Testing

- Combined Inspection & Testing

- Electrical Design Course

For more information on the wide range electrician courses 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 link below.

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According to figures recently released by Direct Line, plumbing and electrical issues are the two primary headaches commonly faced by buy to let landlords across the UK.

While the diagnosis is far from surprising, the extent of the problem is certainly shocking, racking up sizeable bills nationwide.

Landlord SOS

According to Direct Line’s statistics, over half of UK landlords have had to enlist the aid of an emergency contractor in the last 12 months.

In fact, on average, landlords in the UK are said to have called out a contractor once every three months, amounting to 4.7 million landlord SOS calls a year.

The most common emergencies relating to these calls were all plumbing related, closely followed by electrical/gas supply issues and water problems.

Plumbing issues, in particular, accounted for 365k rental homes being evacuated, with electrical/gas supply racking up 293k evacuations and water issues relating to 267k.

A Hefty Bill

While buy to let properties have proved to be a savvy investment for many property owners, the subsequent maintenance issues have seen the need for emergency contractors impede those profit margins considerably.

Overall, Direct Line noted that Britain’s landlords have had to shell out a collective £4.5 billion on emergency contractors over the course of the last year. Statistically speaking, that equates to an average sum of £764 per call out and £2141/year per landlord.

Every Cloud...

Naturally, the figures paint a rather devastating picture for landlords and anyone looking to enter the buy to let property market. However, for those in the plumbing and electrical trades, the news is anything but that.

The demand for top-quality plumbers and highly skilled electricians remains strong in the UK, as the national skills shortage in this area continues. The result is healthy profits, a steady stream of work and a reliable income for those in the trade and attractive career prospects for those thinking of making the jump.

Plumbing Courses and Electrician Courses

At Access Training UK, we have a wide variety of courses on offer for potential plumbers and would-be electricians. These range from entry-level courses for complete novices with no prior experience all the way up to NVQ Level 2 Certification and PAT Testing courses.

Whether you’re looking to enter the electrical trade, build on your existing plumbing skills or anything in between, an Access Training course can help you get where you want to be quickly, efficiently and affordably.

Check out the buttons below to find out more right now and begin your skills journey today.

Plumbing Courses                    Electrician Courses

For additional details on the various plumbing and electrician courses available at Access Training UK, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 345 7492 to speak with one of our expert advisors or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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A Lancashire plumber recently made headlines after generously fixing a 91-year-old, terminally-ill women’s boiler completely free of charge.

The story of humanitarian plumber, James Anderson, soon swept the nation after the photo of his bill for £0.00 – posted by the elderly woman’s daughter – went viral.

Under normal circumstances, the job would have cost just short of £500. Nevertheless, the fee was simply wiped clean by the 52-year-old plumber.

The rare act of unprompted kindness warmed the hearts of the nation (as well as the woman’s home); however, the aftermath has been equally uplifting.

In Hot Water

Despite making news across the country for the 91-year-old’s boiler job, Anderson has actually been helping the sick and the elderly for years.

Inspired by hearing how an elderly man was scammed by a cowboy plumber, Anderson launched Depher (Disabled and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair) in 2015, aiming to provide free or low-cost plumbing to those in need.

However, the switch from private firm to not-for-profit outfit landed the kind-hearted plumber in hot water as he racked up around £8k worth of debt.

Luckily, as the old saying goes, one good turn deserves another and good karma certainly repaid the favour in the case of Mr Anderson.

Good News Spreads Fast

After the story went viral, Mr Anderson received praise from all over the world as word quickly spread of his admirable generosity.

The result has seen him receive almost £80k worth of donations, allowing him to pay off debts and sustain the charitable work for the future.

Speaking of future plans, Anderson said: “My hope is to get Depher national, in every city and town,”

The influx of donations now allows Mr Anderson to carry out his charitable plumbing outside the boundaries of Lancashire, making that nationwide dream one step closer to reality.

To donate to Depher, visit Mr Anderson’s GoFundMe account for further details.

Shocking Statistics

According to a study by National Energy Action and E3G, more than 3000 people in the UK die each year as a result of not being able to heat their own homes. In 2019, those statistics are hard to comprehend.

While Mr Anderson and Depher are undoubtedly making a difference, the charity currently only operates in Lancashire and the surrounding areas. Those outside of the wider Lancs area are (as of press) largely out of luck.

Worse still, a skills shortage in the plumbing trade has seen demand outweigh supply. Meanwhile, the shortage of skilled tradesmen has also resulted in a rise in plumbing fees, pushing heating maintenance even further out of reach for some.

With that in mind, there’s never been a better time or reason to get involved in the plumbing trade. Not only does it offer a solid career path in a trade that’s in demand, you could genuinely make a difference to someone’s quality of life and potentially save a life in the process – even if your services aren’t completely free of charge.

If you’ve been inspired by this story and would like more information on how to become a plumber, get in touch today on 0800 345 7492 or drop us an email using the button below.

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