27 Jan 12 The Consumer Guide to Electricians
There are many things that you can do to ensure that the electrician that comes into your home is fully qualified with the right electrician courses to do the job at hand. Too many people have come to me in the past to fix electrical problems in the home that have been made worse by unqualified electricians when the job should only be a quick fix.
Below I have outlined a few priority checks that can be made to ensure that you will obtain professional advice from a quality source.
Don’t take over the phone quotes as the main source of contact
Like with many services some black hat electricians may try and give you a price over the phone which may be far too high for the job required. They may also provide you with a price and then add “additional costs” once they have started the job leaving the consumer in situation where if they would like a job finished they have to pay the extra costs. To avoid this, ask around for a number of quotations and make sure that they assess the situation with their own eyes.
Ask for a reference
If you are looking to get a large job completed around the home then it is best practice to ask for a reference for other large jobs that the electrician has previously completed. Jobs such as a complete house re-wire would be an ideal time to ask for references. Although if you only need a small job doing, such as adding a couple of plug sockets you may not wish to ask for references.
Check for qualifications or electrician course certifications
It is best to check to see if the electrician is certified to carry out the proposed electrical work. Electrician PEC2 course qualifications provide an ideal way of identifying whether the technician has taken and passed the industry standard to become an electrician.
Alternatively the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), the main trade association for electricians in the UK can provide you with confirmation of an electrician’s identity. The NICEIC has over 20,000 approved contractors who have been screened to a high standard.
Don’t be bogged down in an emergency
If the scenario arises where you need to call out an electrician after regular working hours then it is best that you still ask around a few providers to ask for prospective quotes. Or if you know someone that can recommend a provider that they have previously used then give them a try. Don’t feel that as it is an emergency you have no choice but to agree to the first valuation.
For more information on the electrician courses for professionals certification or if you want to help improve your trade skills knowledge and expertise contact Trade Qualified UK at http://www.tradequalified.co.uk/.
Tags: electrician, Electrician courses, Electrician training, trade
22 Sep 10 How Much Can Plumbers Earn
Many factors need to be considered when assessing the potential earnings of a plumber. Like any other job, plumbers will need to have the right qualifications; to be legally qualified, there are several must have qualifications if they are to be legally qualified to undertake the wide variety of jobs they will encounter in their day to day roles.
As a minimum, plumbers should hold the C&G 6129 as well as their Water Supply Regulations, Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems, and a Part P electrician’s qualification. In an ideal world they will also be Gas Safe Registered to enable them to be self sufficient and able to take advantage of further income opportunities.
Assuming they have all of these qualifications, they then need to consider if they want to be employed or self-employed. There are advantages to both but let’s first consider the employed plumber option.
Salaries can vary enormously depending upon where in the UK your plumbing job may be based. Unsurprisingly, the south east of England offers the largest income opportunity, however this can be easily offset by the higher cost of living in this region particularly with respect to housing.
If you intend to work and live inside the M25 or in central London, you can obviously expect to earn more than a plumber working in Cumbria or Truro. The national statistical average for employed plumbers is circa £28,000 per annum however in central London this will not go far!
If you are a newly qualified plumber, your employer may want to put you on a probationary wage until he is satisfied with your performance and it’s not unusual in these circumstances to initially expect a salary around £21k. After that, it’s just between you and your employer!
Can I earn more in self-employment?
Well that depends. You can definitely earn more as a self-employed plumber than your employed counterpart. You could reasonably expect in excess of £40,000 however, being self-employed has some good things and bad things you should consider before deciding on your employment route.
Being in paid employment has some benefits in terms of responsibility. You can usually go home each day and just forget all about work until the next time you have to go. Any on the job problems of e.g. timescale and budget etc are mostly someone else’s problem!
It’s debatable whether being employed would offer any additional job security because these days very few jobs are truly secure.
On the other hand to be successfully self-employed, you will need to be a particular type of person. You will need to be self-motivated and possess the drive to build your business. Nobody will be telling you what to do and therefore you will also need to have the strength of character to get up and get to work everyday. Finally, you will need to take a much closer look at how you look and behave and at the quality of the work you do. All of these will affect your success.
Few things are more rewarding than running your own business; being your own boss is just one of them. The prospect of building a business can be exciting and taking on your first employee more exciting still. The first one is the hardest but after that it becomes easier!
Every plumbing business was started by somebody and no matter how big or well known it is, there was a time when they never existed.
If you decide to become self-employed the worst thing that can happen is that you end up working for someone else. However, just consider the huge benefits of making a success of it; the sky is the limit. There are degrees of success but simply being your own boss just has to be worth a shot.
If you plan to give it a try, it may well turn out to be one of the most important decisions of your life so make sure you get the right advice and qualifications by going to a reputable training company with an established track record of success.
Steer clear of the companies who use the ‘double glazing style – I must come and visit you’, sales approach, their objectives will probably be different to yours!
About Trade Qualified:
Trade Qualified deliver a range of City and Guilds approved electrician training and plumbing courses including the C&G 6129, Water Supply Regulations, Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems, as well as the Part P electrician’s qualification. If you are interested in Electrician training, or Plumber and Gas Safe courses visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician courses, Electrician training, Plumbing Courses, Plumbing Training
03 Sep 10 What is a Solar Energy Powered Domestic Hot Water System
Quite simply, it is a system that complements an existing hot water system. Realistically it, will not replace a normal boiler or immersion heating system because in the UK at least, the hot water provided by solar energy alone may not always be hot enough or available in sufficient quantity for everyday needs, particularly so during the winter months..
In a normal installation, the hot water from a solar hot water system is fed into an existing conventional boiler or immersion system where it is then made hotter. The fact that the water has already been heated means that the immersion or boiler system does not have to work so hard to heat the ‘solar hot water’ to the required temperature and this can save a great deal of energy. During the summer months it may not be necessary for the hot water provided by the Solar system to be heated further; depending on personal preferences, it may already be quite hot enough.
Is a Solar Hot Water installation cost effective? As a new installation on an existing dwelling, it’s fair to say that based on the energy savings, you will not be booking your holiday to Barbados anytime soon! However, given that Solar Energy is free and that ongoing maintenance costs are very low, it is a certainty that that you will immediately cut your heating bills.
For some people, there is much more to it than simply saving money; installing a Solar system will definitely reduce your carbon footprint and therefore make an ecological contribution to planet Earth. We should all be grateful to these people because they drive environmental change and without change we would all be clutching facemasks over our mouths as we walked the streets of our major cities.
How much of an issue is global warming? Even sceptics cannot ignore the fact that scientists have been analysing temperature records taken from the air and oceans over the last 150 years. The data they have gathered clearly indicates that despite random year on year temperature variations, each decade has been warmer than the last since the 1980’s.
Much of the warming has been attributed to man made activities leading to notable increases in greenhouse gas emissions since the start of the industrial revolution. The effects of global warming are most evident when considering the rate at which glaciers are retreating in the Arctic, Antarctic and Greenland which is 90% covered by a blanket of ice; Greenland has seen dramatic increases in summer melt waters during the past decade.
The consequences of global surface temperature increases are increasing carbon dioxide levels and rises in sea levels, with Greenland’s melting ice contributing 0.5mm to an overall 3.26mm per year of sea level rise. These measurable increases have led many to believe they will contribute to changes in weather patterns, the expansion of subtropical deserts, possible extinction of vulnerable species and changes to agricultural yields; playing our part in reducing our carbon footprint can help reduce these effects.
What is the future for Solar Energy? For all of the above reasons, the need for it will most certainly become increasingly more urgent and important. New home builders will soon have a legal obligation to incorporate renewable energy sources into their plans and the UK government has already obligated us to meeting eye watering renewable energy targets set by the EU. The latter will surely require subsidies for solar installations on existing dwellings if the targets are to be met.
There is a whole new market out there waiting to be tapped and anyone with even a hint of entrepreneurial flair will undoubtedly be rubbing their hands with glee. Retailing, installing and servicing renewable energy installations is potentially going to as big as mobile phones and fibre-optic broadband! It has government support and falls into the rapidly emerging and powerful ecology sector.
In a market that is still virtually brand new, there is a huge opportunity to quickly become established as the local expert.
About Trade Qualified:
Trade Qualified provide City and Guilds approved Electrician courses and Plumbing training including Bpec and LOGIC qualification in Solar Energy Powered Domestic Hot Water Systems. All courses are run in purpose designed centres located in the north, the midlands and the south of England. If you are interested in Electrician training, or our Plumber and Gas Safe courses visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician courses, Electrician training, Plumbing Courses, Plumbing Training, solar heating installation
31 Aug 10 Solar Energy is Energising the Market
Trade Qualified Ltd, the UKs leading provider of high quality Gas, Plumbing and Electrician training courses is delighted to announce a significant surge in demand for their Plumbing training for Professionals which include the option to gain gas qualifications and the prestigious Bpec or LOGIC qualification in Solar Energy Powered Domestic Hot Water Systems.
A spokesman for the company said, “It appears that there are a growing number of astute aspiring tradesmen who have recognised the opportunity to participate in the potentially huge renewable energy market.
It is not only fashionable at the moment to publicise one’s green credentials but in the current climate it is an economic necessity for the government to take active and demonstrable steps to dramatically reduce the UK’s energy costs.
Huge sums have already been invested in wind and wave powered renewable energy and inevitably legislation will soon be actively enforced with respect to the incorporation of renewable energy sources in new build domestic premises.
More and more aspiring tradesmen are embarking on new plumbing careers with a view to ultimately capitalising on the growing opportunity in renewable energy and in particular Solar Powered Hot Water systems.
Our well established blended learning courses have been developed over many years and are perfectly structured to address this new and exciting market; our plumbing students can complete their courses with a wide range of qualifications that will enable them to quickly establish themselves as plumbing, gas and solar hot water specialists. Having the ability to manage a wide range of work will ensure the best opportunity for them to develop long and lucrative careers.
Our unwavering policy of putting the student first and providing first class customer service has ensured our continuing success in a competitive market. Our advice to career changers coming into this area of the market is to check out the various student forums on the internet; see what is said about our competitors and what is said about us. We are very confident that you will not be disappointed about either our courses or our reputation”.
About Trade Qualified:
Trade Qualified deliver a range of City & Guilds based Plumbing and Electrician training courses as well as Gas Safe training courses for new entrants and engineers and fitters who want to re-register following an expired CORGI or Gas Safe registration. All courses are run in purpose designed centres located in the north, the midlands and the south of England. If you are interested in our Plumbing courses or would like to become an electrician, or Gas Safe Registered fitter or engineer, visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician training, LOGIC qualification, Plumbing Training, Solar Energy Powered Domestic Hot Water Systems
09 Jul 10 Plumbing – Things Ain’t What They Used To Be!
Once upon a time anyone could get a book from the library and with a little bedtime reading could quickly get enough knowledge to have the confidence to install their own central heating system.
It was easy; a boiler, an indirect cylinder with an immersion heater, an expansion tank in the loft, a few radiators and some copper pipe and electric cable followed by a quick call to your best mate for some assistance – sorted!
Boy, have times changed, just go down to B&Q or Wickes and you’ll see a mind boggling array of copper pipes, plastic pipes, flexible pipes, Yorkshire fittings, plastic fittings, welded fittings, push fittings etc. If that were not enough you’ve got to get to grips with Combi systems, Vented and Unvented systems and when you’ve understood the difference and why you should have one or the other you need to size tanks, understand the zoned heating controls and let’s not forget the regulations; phew!
If you’re going to do this for a living rather than simply to save money on your own system you need to be able to quote and to be competitive. To do this successfully, you will need to understand all of the above. Why use an expensive piece of copper tube with a Yorkshire compression fitting when you can use a plastic pipe with a push fit; not just much quicker but much cheaper! If you don’t understand the options for different systems and equipment, you’ll have a very brief and somewhat wet career indeed.
Fortunately, there is help available for people who want to change their careers and become a professional plumber; a job that is consistently ranked in the top 3 for satisfaction and earnings when surveys are undertaken from time to time.
There are many courses to choose from that will help you to realise your ambitions. Just be sure to choose one that gives you flexibility, value for money and above all the industry recognised qualifications you will need to follow your trade. For example, every credible plumber should be properly qualified and be able to legally install a power or electric shower or modify a ring main and install spotlights for a kitchen renovation etc. They should also be qualified to work on Unvented systems and ideally be Gas Safe registered so they can offer a complete service. Choose carefully and choose wisely, your career depends on it.
About Trade Qualified:
Trade Qualified deliver a range of City & Guilds Plumbing courses and Electrician training as well as Gas Safe training courses for new entrants and engineers and fitters who want to re-register following an expired CORGI or Gas Safe registration. All courses are run in purpose designed centres located in the north, the midlands and the south of England.
If you are interested in becoming an electrician, plumber or Gas Safe Registered fitter or engineer, visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician courses, Electrician training, Gas Safe training courses, Plumbing Courses, Plumbing Training
06 Jul 10 Trade Qualified updates website to include a new range of Gas Safe training courses
Trade Qualified Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected providers of Plumbing, Gas and Electrician training courses has recently updated its website to include their new range of Gas Safe Courses.
The new courses are aimed at anyone who wants to become registered as a Gas Safe Engineer in the Domestic Gas sector. Options are available for new entrants either with or without a Part P electrician’s registration as well as for engineers who simply wish to renew a previous CORGI or Gas Safe Registration.
Their website provides prospective students with detailed information about the structure of the courses, the outcome qualifications and an insight into the various opportunities for work.
The courses are designed to enable graduating gas engineers and gas fitters to follow lucrative and enjoyable careers in the Domestic Gas Sector.
All of the new gas courses include an option to add Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) accreditations, which provides engineers with the opportunity to take advantage of LPG work in permanent dwellings, static and touring caravans and mobile homes and therefore add to their earning potential.
The Gas Safe training courses are already proving to be very successful, as they complement Trade Qualified’s existing ‘Plumbing for Professionals’ and ‘Electrical Installation Engineer’ courses which have been the core of their training for trade professionals business for many years.
Delegates have been able to enrol on any of the new Gas Safe training courses since May 1st 2010.
About Trade Qualified:
Trade Qualified offer a range of Gas training courses as well as City and Guilds approved Electrician courses and Plumbing training. All courses are run in purpose designed centres located in the north, the midlands and the south of England. If you are interested in becoming an electrician, plumber or Gas Safe Registered fitter or engineer, visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician courses, Electrician training, Gas Safe training courses, Plumbing Courses, Plumbing Training
22 Apr 10 Trade Qualified offer new range of Gas Safe training courses
Trade Qualified Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected providers of Plumbing, Gas and Electrician training courses is delighted to announce the addition of a new range of Gas Safe Courses to enable graduating gas engineers and gas fitters to follow lucrative and enjoyable careers in the Domestic Gas Sector.
A spokesman for the company said:
“We have been providing gas training courses for many years but only as an option for plumbers who have completed one of our ‘Plumbing for Professionals’ courses.
More and more people now want to work in the gas sector, and to address this growing demand, we have developed a range of gas courses to satisfy the needs of every candidate from those who have never done any plumbing, electrical or gas work in their entire lives to the gas engineer who simply wants to renew his lapsed CORGI or Gas Safe registration.”
All of the new gas courses include an option to add Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) accreditations, enabling engineers to take advantage of LPG work in permanent dwellings, static and touring caravans and mobile homes and therefore add to their earning potential.
These new Gas Safe training courses are expected to be very successful, as they complement Trade Qualified’s existing ‘Plumbing for Professionals’ and ‘Electrical Installation Engineer’ courses which have been the core of the business for many years.
Delegates will be able to enrol on any of the new Gas Safe training courses from May 1st 2010.
About Trade Qualified Ltd:
Trade Qualified deliver a range of Gas training courses as well as City and Guilds approved Electrician training and Plumbing courses. All courses are run in purpose designed centres located in both the north and south of England. If you are interested in becoming an electrician, plumber or Gas Safe Registered fitter or engineer visit www.tradequalified.co.uk for more information.
Tags: Electrician courses, Electrician training, Gas Safe training courses, Plumbing Courses, Plumbing Training, Trade Qualified
