Is it me.......or is it Able Skills?

[cornish_crofter]

Neale - your post is a very good one in this respect. It challenges Sean to consider whether or not he's being reasonable. Let's face it, none of us were witnesses to that conversation, so we don't know what the situation is. Yours is probably the first post I've ever seen written in the way it is that raises some damn good points.

I also think Sean is approaching this in the right way. As Sean says, some of his customers do try to haggle a bit, I know mine do from time to time. I do this with my suppliers and providers.

 

[LM Ceramics]

ill put my point on this obviously i understand where neale is coming from although the post was abit harsh but he has made some valid point there are alot of bad training centres about so its important to do your research as hugo says we dont know the phone conversation i would try them again sean give them another go if your still not satisfied find somewhere else obviously you want the best training value for money

 

[Bling Tiling]

Sean, I trained at able and found everyone very helpfull. Anjie is the one to talk to as Dan said.
I was thinking of going back for the plumbing course for the same reasons as you.
If you do decide to give them another chance, keep us posted on whether you thought the course was worth while ?

 

[Sean Kelly]

I gave Ableskills a call today. Asked to speak to Angie - she was with a client. Asked to speak to Gary - he was busy. So, I spoke to John. John had a very good telephone manner and came across knowledgeable and confident. He told me that the intensive plumbing course was the one for me, except that it does not cater for shower installations.
I want to do some home plumbing. This is the list:

Move a toilet
Move radiator
Move kitchen sink
Move bathroom sink
Install bath
Install shower

So what did I do next? – I booked a weeks course at £375. I did mention Dan’s name, but John did not know Dan. I did not mention my last experience with Ableskills (water under the bridge). Will write a review about my experiences. I’m hoping that they are all good. Cheers Sean

 

[faithhealer]

good man Sean and if you need any advice after your course drop me a pm

 

[cornish_crofter]

Sean

You'll find that installing a shower tray is not that dissimilar to installing a bath. You've just got to think about what you're doing

The thing is with plumbing, I have never done a course but have learned as I went as it were. Having done a load of installations and had only one issue with a shower recently (followed manufaturer's instructions which was useless and got a leak in the cubicle) I am probably 'time served'.

Good luck with the course.

 

[lucius]

Is that what goes on in the U.K. now 5 day courses.I did a training course in the mid 70s that was 6 months and that was frowned upon you darent tell anyone on site that you were a trainer, officialy after you left you had to work as an improver for a year before you were let loose on the world.Ive just looked at some of the vids on Ables website sorry not impressed with the wet trades and as for the plumbing what they are going to teach you would be better finding a good plumber who would let you come with him for a week for nothing you would learn more and save your money.
Disolusioned Lucius

 

[cornish_crofter]

It's all about productivity now Lucious.

Baring in mind that full time served guys take on industrial, commercial, boiler servicing and repairs etc. Sean just wants to be able to change bathroom suites over, he doesn't want to be servicing boilers.

If you look at it this way, he's probably getting as much classroom tuition on the basics of changing a suite as a time served apprentice would. He's getting it in 5 days flat whereas you may have got it day release over a month. The only difference is that you probably got much more practice.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Lucius, the course really is the basics (as described in my last post). There is no way I would market myself as a plumber and start installing boilers etc. My first project will be my bathroom. If I can move some sanitryware around, build a stud wall, tile, and create a wetroom then I would be very happy. In the tiling world I could quote on removing a toilet to enable me to create a better tiled finish. Over here you have to wait about 3 months for a plumber. OK, I made that timescale up, but i'm sure I'm not far off. Have a look at the Ableskills website and you will see what I am about to dish out £375 (375 euros for !!). Cheers Sean

 

[lucius]

I appreciate your point lads and if that is what you have to do to learn the basics fair enough ive seen the website and didnt impress me but thats just me.A pal of mine who used to work for me whent to instruct at a local college a few years ago and gave it up because most of the kids werent realy interested and he spent most of the time teaching health and safety not the actual trade no wonder they werent interested.No my gripe is this what it has come down, to many years ago it was a 5 year apprentiship then 3 then 6 months and a year improving and now 5 days no wonder their are so few good young tradesmen coming through.
Lucius