Did you know?

• 5.5 million people trained throughout Europe
• 29,000 newly qualified plumbers will be required in the UK next year
• all our courses offer industry recognised qualifications
• the third 'happiest' profession in the UK is plumbing
• once qualified, plumbers can charge up to £500 per day

Train 4 Trade Skills - About Plumbing

Did you know...

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation received the right to regulate mediæval plumbers, who were, among other things, responsible for fashioning cisterns, in 1365. It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1611. Today, the Company is no longer a trade association, instead existing as a charitable institution. (The Company retains a link to plumbing by awarding medals and prizes in the general building industry.)

The Plumbers' Company ranks thirty-first in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Its motto is Justicia Et Pax, Latin for 'Justice and Peace.'

And fascinating fact number 2:

The term 'plumbing' is taken from the Latin plumbum for lead and is the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures for potable water systems and the drainage of waste. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping systems, plumbing fixtures and equipment such as water heaters. The plumbing industry is a basic and substantial part of every developed economy due to the need for clean water, and proper collection and transport of wastes.

Which leads us to the essentials of plumbing - so what is plumbing actually all about?

What does a plumber need to be able to do?

• Reading blueprints, drawings, and specifications to determine layout of water supply, waste, and venting systems
• Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic, commercial, and industrial plumbing fixtures and systems
• Locating and marking positions for pipe connections, passage holes, and fixtures in walls and floors
• Measuring, cutting, bending, and threading pipes using hand and power tools or machines
• Testing pipes for leaks using air and water pressure gauges
• Communicating with co-workers, other tradespeople and subcontractors, and management
• Planning and performing complex calculations for specialized projects
• Providing time and cost estimates of the work to be performed (both labor and materials)
• Awareness of legal regulations and safety issues
• Being comfortable when working in confined spaces or at great heights
• Ensuring safety standards and build regulations are met.

What qualities does a plumber need to have?

Plumbers need the intelligence to work out complex equations, the expertise and flexibility to install different systems, the knowledge to understand how and why different systems work, the ability and initiative to problem solve, a thirst for knowledge of new technology, a creative mind, sound judgement and most importantly professionalism and honesty.

Most colleges will prefer you to have a GCSE grade A-C level in Maths and Science or equivalent, to prove you have the mental ability for the job. Our training though requires no formal qualifications as we assess your ability at the time of enrolment.

Being a plumber is a physical job; you will have to be prepared to get your hands dirty (some plumbers on a regular basis, some every now and again), learn to use many tools and equipment in a safe and proper fashion, you will need a head for heights, be willing to fit into small, cramped spaces (under sinks etc) and you will need to be a quick learner (plumbers who take you on for work experience will expect you to make the odd mistake, but not to make it twice!).

You will also have to be a 'people person' by having good communication skills and take pride in your work. You have to respect people's properties and uphold high standards in plumbing to protect the public health. The result of all this can lead to immense job satisfaction.

What can qualified plumbers earn?

Stories of plumbers earning £70,000 - £120,000 a year are fairly rare although not unheard of, the average self-employed plumber, however should expect to earn approximately between £30,000 - £50,000 a year. HOWEVER, out of this the self-employed plumber will have to deduct tax and overheads running into thousands of pounds (insurance, cost of running and maintaining a van, cost of parking at jobs, cost of training courses and if you work on gas, the cost of passing the ACS and becoming CORGI Registered, just to name a few expenses). The average plumber employed by a company will earn in the region of £25,000 - £30,000 with a couple of years' experience.

If you are self employed a lot of what you earn depends on how much time and effort you put in. If you are working 12 hour shifts six or seven days a week of course you will earn a lot more. On the other hand, plumbing is a very good trade to learn if you have commitments such as children - if you are a mother doing the school run, or have to be home at a certain time as your partner is still out working, you can fit jobs in around your lifestyle.

The Demand for Plumbers

You're sure to have read about the UK's shortage of qualified and skilled trades people. The stories have been widely reported in the national press and on television, and they're true. Right now there's a desperate shortage of plumbers, electricians, gas installers, heating engineers and even general (but skilled) handymen. We have careers <courses for all of these.

The Government's agreed expansion of new residential properties, the increasing regulation limiting work in domestic dwellings to competent (qualified) persons, the drive towards energy efficient heating systems and the implementation of the European Performance of Building Directive will mean an even greater need for more skilled trade people for years to come.

But, if you're going to learn a new trade which will guarantee you a career, it's important you learn the right skills and achieve industry recognised qualifications. The choice of training provider is therefore very important. Our training course will give you all you need to approach your new career with confidence and to gain the qualifications that will prove your competence to the world at large. Successful completion of the whole course to Advanced level will see you attain no fewer than eight valuable qualifications. With the requisite work experience your studies will lead you toward the industry's leading certifications, there are no better respected, nor more recognised qualifications in the industry. Whether your preference is to be employed or self-employed, this is the course for you. If you really want to become a plumber just click here.