Lorraine said:
..........I can read, do algebra, use a calculator, solder pipes AND CHECK FOR LEAKS! does that make me competent?
The first bits put you way ahead of lots of tradesmen, the last two are a couple of obvious requirements, however a "Competent Person" is one who is defined as having passed the assessments under a scheme accepted by the government as meeting the requirements. This Competent Person must then be employed by a registered business, even if self employed, and this means no favours for friends in effect as the work will not be recorded in the business records.
So I'm afraid you would not be defined as a "Competent Person", BUT only notifiable work or work defined as a controlled service has to be done by a Competent Person unless you have the work passed by the building control office, you can replace sockets, replace motorised valves, fix oil boilers, repair oil leaks, you can even remove, repair and re-fit an oil tank, as long as you don't replace it with a new one, and so on...........
How much of the various house maintenance jobs have you done, and how confident would you be doing it in someone elses house?
Don't worry about doing jobs for people you don't like, you can choose your customers, just as customers will choose you. Caring, honest and tidy works wonders, (some ustomers don't want this, all they want is CHEAP, I don't work for them) and you should be able to stay solvent without having to work your socks off.
I've never been anywhere near a plumbing course, but I have fixed plenty of problems left by time served plumbers.
If you want more info, my email's in my profile.