Ok lets open a debate....fast track

[cam_low]

Without the Internet the short coursers would implode. My just over two years tiler taught me so much about care and love and attention I thought he was gonna stick some Lionel Ritchie on a cuddle me.

BUT, that's what taught me the job. Bon soir, I've got a car climbing my prawn crackers

 

[ian158]

so who on here has, and is prepared to take on an apprentice ?

 

[Daveshadowman]

If my growth rate continues at the rate it has in the first 5 months of the year I will be looking for a apprentice later in the year

 

[Time's Ran Out]

so who on here has, and is prepared to take on an apprentice ?

Not me! Done my bit. An apprentice now wouldn't be qualified before I depart the trade .

 

[STEVO]

That's a really good article. I was surprised it was from 3 yrs ago. I wonder how many of these firms are still operating. I enquired about the OLCI course probably about that time but thankfully decided it wasn't worth it.
But back to tiling. I did a short course probably about 7 yrs ago ish. And it was pants!! Absolute rubbish. They didn't even show me how to tile around a window!! Looking back i can't believe how bad it was. It only focused on ceramics , but i'm not sure how much porcelain was around then, let alone stone! If i remember rightly, they hardly mentioned the various types of adhesive available!

From what i have seen recently from firms offering 2/3/4 week courses they are now much more detailed with a lot of tuition about prep and different tile types to reflect what is in the marketplace thesedays.
I have had to learn as i go, teaching myself and researching what i'm dealing with and learning off others. I think it helped that i am a practical person to start with. But i know for sure that there is lots i don't know, probably stuff i could have only learned from apprenticeship (officially) or at the very least working alongside a time served tiler for a couple of years.

That said, i have managed to make a living out of tiling, although not as successful as i really need it to be, have a good reputation and dont have the "couldn't care less" attitude of the cowboy brigade.