APPRENTICESHIP

[Sonic70]

Question for the Pros. My son is due to complete his level 2 in plumbing and now has the option to try and find an apprenticeship or stay on at college for another year and do level 3. What's the best way to find an apprenticeship? Would he be better off doing the level 3 first?

Thanks
Victor

 

[Mottie]

I don’t know about plumbing but in motor vehicles, level 3 stuff is normally assessed on-site and in the workplace. The best option would be employment with on the job training and assessments if at all possible. Good luck.

 

[Sonic70]

Thanks, with plumbing you can do level three full time at college.

 

[muggles]

Has he done both his L2 theory and L2 practical? Best to start looking for a job ASAP really, and it's a good time to do it as the trades are mega busy

 

[Sonic70]

Andrew I think he's got a couple of practical and theory tests left to do as they are running behind due to covid. Is he best to contact local plumbing companies direct or is there an internet site of plumbers that offer apprenticeships?

 

[muggles]

Best to just go direct, and make sure it's him writing to them. Anything which starts "My son is looking for an apprenticeship" will go straight in the bin, no matter how good he might be

 

[Sonic70]

Thanks Andrew.

 

[sbgasman]

Get him to write out a little A5 poster on his printer, explaining what point he’s got to, then take them to the local plumbing merchants and ask if you can put it up , screw fix and tool station as well, good luck.

 

[Madrab]

I presume he has completed the Level 2 tech cert? That allows him them to take those skills out to start an apprenticeship as a plumber. If he continues on the apprenticeship and doesn't do anything else then he would end up with an NVQ level 2. If he wants to do advanced plumbing skills (Advanced Hot water/solar/heating/etc) along with entry level gas work (with a view to becoming gas safe) then he would need to go back to college to do his Level 3 Technical and then proceed onto his NVQ Level 3 with his ACS as part of that.

How he does that is dependent on what track he wants to proceed on, he could start an apprenticeship now and agree with the business that he can get day release to go back and do his level 3.

Get him to put together a list of what he done and why he wants to work with a company, get him to be creative so he stands out. Also get him to ask at the college as they usually have good networking links with local companies already in place.

 

[Sonic70]

Thanks Rob, His preference is to start an apprenticeship after completing his c&g diploma level 2 plumbing which is a full time course. He also wants to do all the advanced stuff you mentioned. What is the level 2 tech cert?, I think that is part of the diploma but not 100%.

 

[Madrab]

The C&G Level 2 diploma that he will be doing in college is what's classed as a technical certificate, that gives the grounding in all the essential plumbing technical knowledge with working practices, site skills, water standards, Hot and cold water design, pipe skills, etc. That then sets him well to start an apprenticeship and work towards his NVQ. This is done in the field with an experienced plumber and he builds a portfolio, reporting, gaining evidence up to a prescribed level as required by the qualification and then receives the Level 2 (S)NVQ , that then allows him to call himself a qualified plumber.

If preferred then once he get his LeveL 2 tech he can then continue and do his level 3 Tech Diploma - Advanced water/Gas/etc and then straight to the level 3(S)NVQ through the apprenticeship but as suggested it does require a further course at college or training centre.

 

[Sonic70]

Thanks Rob, really appreciate the very thorough explanation.

Victor