To begin with newspapers appear to love discussing what can be earned in Plumbing. It is this need for trained Plumbers that has led to salaries of 30-70k p.a. being advertised. So, is this the truth of the matter, or are we being lied to? Certainly this level of payment is both possible and achievable for the correctly qualified Plumber. So whilst those working in the self-employed role can get incomes of 70-100k p.a., those working in more conventional employment routes often find it hard to achieve this salary.
If you are working for a traditional company within the UK, then the hours of Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm are normal. Furthermore from a UK employer, the usual perks are holiday pay and sickness allowance, as well as salaries of between 15k and 30k p.a. Whilst the ability to earn more than through normal means exists, the self-employed plumber usually has to consider working longer hours. This is clear when self employed plumbers have to work evenings and weekends, where their domestic clients are working during the day.
Around which is the question of self employment which appears to fit some people. Finally there is good ‘business sense’, such as getting the hourly rate correct, advertising and marketing budgets spot on which are all important. Similarly, to cover additional elements such as legal and accountancy fees and materials and transport, will require the planning of most self-employed people. Whilst it is expected that the benefits will be high, the costs can mount up though they should always remain a small part of the income overall. And the downsides are nearly always outweighed by the proceeds!
Firstly, it is the ordinary employer who covers most of the needs and teaching prospects that Student Entrants are interested in. The Self Employed Entrant on the other hand will need to widen their list of plumbing accreditations and certifications as quickly as possible. That noted the main drive of self-employed workers is towards the ‘domestic’ market and not that of the commercial sector. (Whilst not everyone does the majority do!)
In terms of plumbing education, there appears to be some similarity between the certification modules required by each path into the industry. The issue of NVQ’s (or SVQ’s in Scotland) nevertheless appears to cause some difference.
To begin with the NVQ structure appears to be much more important to the Student Entrant than to the Self Employed Entrant. By calling upon a wider range of qualifications Self Employed Entrants will be able to meet their clients’ needs from the start. In order to be able to meet the needs of the typical household, self-employed persons will need to rapidly gain key domestic-centred qualifications. It is within the workplace - where the NVQ element can be appraised that many Student Entrants carry on with their apprenticeship after having covered the key fundamentals through a college scheme. Considering that it is a cheaper way to study then the Student can make practical savings from the start. It is fair to say that long before the Student Entrant the Self Employed Entrant can gain financial benefits through establishing certifications faster and by being more commercially motivated.
It is by covering the study needs along with those of a clear careers discussion that meet the financial rewards. For adults with demands of say a 20kp.a and a family to look after, the prospect of going back to college and spending a further 3 years in low-paid apprenticeship work can be very daunting. Equally, many self-employed students fund the courses themselves whereas the Student Entrants often have their studies paid for them as part of their overall apprenticeships. These costs (for self-employed status) can often end up around 3k-10k+, dependent upon the course structure and the level of certification sought.
For the most part, Student Entrants will study at recognised further-education colleges, whereas the Self Employed Entrant has the option to consider the wider range of private commercial schools. Plumbing training companies can offer commercial routes in to reputable training paths that cover the necessary qualifications and skill-sets. One of the main advantages of this method is the opportunity for evening, part-time, and self-study classes - allowing Self Employed Entrants to train whilst continuing with their existing job, thus maintaining their financial situation. Using the range of sources, it makes sense to gather as much detail as possible and through this be able to work out the training college that suits you best. To review your options why not book mark this page (CTRL-D) and you can come back and review the links and adverts we have provided for you.
By going on added training programs many plumbing students seek to increase their ‘marketability’. It is by training in areas such as Gas, Green Energy and Electrical that Plumbers can gain extra certifications. One of the most popular routes for Plumbers has always been Gas training, as this forms part of the typical domestic and commercial heating system.
With core subjects followed by NVQ’s, Gas Training is a thorough and exact training program. This considers ongoing development, especially for those who trained first as a plumber and are seeking extra skills. It could be said that the blend of training covering Plumbing/Gas training is better matched to the mature student. Indeed, the path for the Mature Student seems to be to drop the NVQ elements and to focus on the core subjects.
It is this blend of training that would appear to satisfy the needs of the self-employed professional. To earn money whilst at the same time as gaining a wider range of perceived skills becomes a desirable prospect. This alone can add to their industrial viewpoint, as opposed to relying on sub-contracting core elements to third parties. Sub-contracting can not only reduce the earning potential of a job, but also erode the value in the customer’s eye, as they may have to wait for key stages to be handled by someone else before the final completion of the job. The more skilled a plumber is in their job role - the more that they have to offer their client base.
In conclusion, the Self Employed Entrant can enjoy a much higher (and more quickly achieved) income than a Student Entrant, but they would have to work at developing a broader range of certifications (and consider the business side of things too.) Note: This information relates to the UK market, policies and industry requirements alone.
Written by Scott Edwards. Pop over to Plumbing Training or www.plumbingqualification.co.uk.
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