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

[lucius]

Hi Kilty one thing get your facts right first i have never said i was a time served bricklayer i did a 6 months goverment training course in 1976 after spending 5 years on the hod, the course entailed the full 3 years apprenticship crammed into 6 months so hands on every day "TRAINING"
I have also never said that i was a joiner only that i had carpentry skills picked up from my ex partner of 15 years who was a carpenter and joiner.
My tiling qualifications come from a course i did in Australia in 1980 but i never came out of that thinking i was a tiler but i think ive got the hang of it now. I have also been site manager on various large projects in the U.K. and have worked in Holland, Germany and Australia all in all for five years, oh and plastering is just one of those things you pick up on the way. All in all 37 years experience.
Lucius.

 

[Olz]

Training courses always provide a good debate, and obviously people have thier own opinions on them, often understandably people are passionate about thier work and how they learn't the trade, lets keep this debate friendly though please and not turn it into a feud between ourselves.

I learnt plumbing from my cousin who i still work alongside now for bathroom refits alot of the time, i also often help him out labouring for things like central heating refits, electric rewires etc as he is fully qualified as a pluber, electrician and gas fitter, I'd like to learn the sparky side of things myself, but interestingley most of his work is gas and he also earns the most from it.

 

[P'boro tiler]

the able course sounds cheap. of course you shouldnt get anything for free. would you re-Silicon a splashback for free whilst doing a big job?

 

[tfs]

Just got off the phone to Able Skills (Dartford). They are one of the sponsors of TilersForums......so I had better be careful of what I say! I fancy doing their 5 day Intensive Plumbing course. I've lost 2 jobs this year because a potential customer wanted some basic plumbing done. In fact, I actually had one of the jobs until a few days later I got a text saying that she had found a tiler/plumber so she dumped me. Anyway, I have nothing planned next week so I rang Able Skills for some reassurance about the topics covered on their course. I spoke to a young girl (with a cold). She had no telephone manner and had to check all her answers with someone else that was standing in the office. Basically she said that all the info is on their website. Next weeks course is fully booked so I asked about availability for future weeks, I then asked (cheekily) that if I booked a course would they throw in a couple of their training DVD's. She checked the answer and the answer was "No, they are £10 each". I thanked her for her help and put the phone down. I thought to myself that that experience was not great. I felt like I was talking to the Little Britain character that always says “The computer says no”. I was about to part with £375 and they acted as though they did not want my money or business. First impressions do count and I’m afraid that Able Skills have failed miserably. I feel better now – Thanks Tilers Forums - Sean

Sean cheers for the feedback.

First impressions do count! Sponsers or not it is in our interest to know of any service/ value related issues.

I would welcome feedback on any training provider. It is our choice whether or not to base our own decission on other peoples feedback (which more often than not is helpfull).

Please let us know how you find the course etc.