Wanting a change of career

[andy2306]

Im looking to give up the grind of school teaching and start my own business or get a trade that can suplement my supply teaching or vice versa, I love DIY and after buying a house 6 months ago it seems i have something of a flair for it!!

What im wanting to know is what areas are best to start in, obviously electrics and plumming require lots of college work, which although im not against that, but I couldnt afford to give up work and go to college and start an apprentrice type trade. on apprentice money. joinery again is a very specialised trade.

I realise that plastering and tiling are specialist trades, however i believe (probably wrongly) that these might be the avenue to persue initially and then move into domestic plumming (fitting bathrooms) and domestic joinery (kitchens)

What courses are availiable for tiling and plastering and do you thiunk a good DIYer could just do the course and start a business or would i need trade experience?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Skills can be learned (be it at a course or training or be it starting as an apprentice). Attitude is more important, do you have a 'business-head'?
There's much more needed than 'tricks-of-trade' to set up a proper, sustainable business.

 

[twm.bwen]

Whilst teaching may be a hard slog it is atleast variable. Are you sure you'd want to spend all day tiling or plastering, looking at the same thing all day everyday.

Also unless you are doing work that is notifiable to BC then you don't have to have paper.

It seems to me from looking at the disaster bit that what c'cowboy' tradesmen lack in is pride of work.

Surely if you do something at a competative price to standards and finish qualities that you have set at a high level then you can go and do anything.

I've come across some oddjob guys who's work is certainly equaly to established pro's I've encountered.

Just my thoughts,

Good luck

 

[andy2306]

I definatly have business attitude, ebay business is thriving, i love working for myself, and im always looking at doing odd jobs (generally gardening for people)

The thing is im so miserable working for the government in a school looking after 30 peoples kids and NOT having the opportunity to work overtime!!!

Im branching out (but of course i have a mortgage to pay and a lovely fiancee to keep in expensive cloths)

 

[WoodYouLike]

Cideredd has given some wonderfull starters advice once over at the Ebuild forum. Advice is sound for any type of trade.

 

[andy2306]

Thanks the advice so far is really welcome, keep it coming.

 

[ricicle]

electrics and plumming

Hope you're not an English teacher

 

[BoxBasher]

Why would anyone give up being a teacher? All those holidays you get...

 

[solo]

Going by the standard of teaching at my kid's primary school, he's probably the Head of the english department.

 

[andy2306]

You should take up stand up............. oh but your not funny!!!!!

nevermind

 

[solo]

ooooh. Truth hurts eh?

 

[gcol]

The grass ain't always greener andy. Whatever trade you decide to go for, may I suggest you start doing it part time first. Get a few jobs under your belt and get your good name passed about. You'll know when it's time to pack in your steady pay check and pension. If you try it from scratch then you'll need a pot of money to see you over when you've no work. You'll make mistakes and they need to be rectified at your expense - there's nothing worse than waking up at 4am thinking about what job you're on and realising that you've forgotten something and it's gonna cost you big bucks to put right.
It's worth mentioning the customers too. They'll ring you at all hours - I had a woman phone me once at 11.30pm. I recommend a separate business phone that you can switch off at unsocialble hours. I've found that 80% are ok but the 20% that mess you about can make it a nightmare at times - you'll end up getting blamed for all sorts of stuff.
The money can be good, but don't forget that work usually drops off around Christmas and you'll be eating into whatever profits you've made over the busier periods.
You might be better, trying to get a job with an existing tradesman for a low wage for a few years - that way you'll see how to do the job properly (hopefully) and after a few years when you're ready to go it alone you'll have a better idea.
Good luck.

 

[Nige F]

Whilst teaching may be a hard slog it is atleast variable. Are you sure you'd want to spend all day tiling or plastering, looking at the same thing all day everyday.




.

,

Good luck

Yeah ...go and stand facing the wall and wear a strange hat....don`t turn round

 

[chr15]

Im branching out (but of course i have a mortgage to pay and a lovely fiancee to keep in expensive cloths)

My fiancee would kill me if I bought her cloths,no matter how expensive,she expects expensive clothes,dont see anything wrong in a few loin cloths myself-me tarzan!

 

[gangman]

Go for it Andy. If it doesn't work, so what , at least give it your best shot. Don't be one of these people who looks back and says "I wish I'd done that", get out and do it.

You might not make much money but it can be enjoyable being your own boss. You may even turn out to be good at it, you need to be a good organiser, then there's lots of money to be earned. Anything you don't know how to do, pay someone who does. I know builders who are crap tradesmen but make a living out of organising jobs.

If you're not happy as you are, maybe it's time for you to have a change. I must admit I've done quite well in the building game but I'm now getting out of it and going into farming, people think I'm daft, but I know I'll make money at it. So I'm doing it, if it doesn't work I can always go back and do what I was doing.