Where can I do C&G training ?

[thevinnyofoz]

Many thanks everyone. Thats what I needed. I have finally decided on my path, id like to thank you all who have helped me out with all the advice. This really means a lot to me as ive been looking to make a change for the last one and a half years but have kept putting it off as it has not been clear which path to take.

 

[UKTT Darren]

I am not discouraging any new tilers into the industry, far from it, but i am being real on the employment side of things, NVQs dont stand for nothing really to a customer that wants her bathroom done, how many people ask if you are qualified when you turn up at a job, very few if any, most dont even ask the gas trademan and by law they have to be, Do some reasurch and ring 20 tiling companies up and tell them that youve been tiling for 4 weeks and see how many would even give you an interview, let alone a job, i would predict none.

Self employment is the way to go if you want to break into this industry unfortunatly, get your training, run the tiling along side your other job if you still need the income comming in and find your tiling feet that way until you have built up enough contacts and confidence to move over full time

Anyone thats been on my course will tell you that its a business tiling course i run and that comes from me, everyone that leaves my course should know where there options lye after leaving, its no good getting some bank to tell you how to run a business in tiling, what do they know about how to find work as a tiler, you cant learn to run a business from going to college or Uni, you learn in the real world, if you aint run your own business with your own money, then you aint qualified to tell anybody how it works, thats my opinion on it, watch the apprentice and see some of the pathetic efforts made by these uni people, most of them havent a clue

Business is hard and only the fittest survive, but if you get it right and many do, it will be the best decision you ever make, Ive been self employed for 22 years since i was 18 years old, be master of your own destiny, make the decisions and make it work, failure is not an option in my book, dont let it be yours

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

I am totally amazed that you would make such comments on a forum for new tilers.

As professional training centres we should be encouraging new tilers entering the industry to do things the correct way and get qualified not discouraging them and trying to talk them out of it. This is the way that the construction industry is moving towards at last, that's why so much Government money is being thrown at the industry to qualify our work force through Train to Gain.

Never mind what Mrs Smith asks for when you arrive to tile her bathroom, it will first become a requirement on the commercial side and then it will edge into the domestic market.

Whether it is a requirement or not I will always advise students to go down the qualification route, not walk away after spending their hard earned money with an in house certificate that means nothing.

It is the responsibility of training providers to guide students down the correct path from day one and encouraging development with skills and qualifications.

I feel that is enough said

 

[SmileyTiley]

Hi guys...thought I'd put my thoughts as well... it might help calm you down Danny :grouphug:

I am a career-changer, 40 something and female. A tall order to find something new which will a)pay the bills b)not involve huge amounts of cash to set up and c)doesn't involve spending two years going back to school.

I decided to become a tiler and have just finished a course at Darren's training centre NETT. Now whilst it's true that it's impossible to learn a trade in 4 or 8 days or even 2 - 4 weeks, what I found on Darren's course was the amount of information given on the 'business' side was absolutely invaluable. You can practice sticking tiles down 'til the cows come home, but if you don't 'get' the business side of things firmly in your head - well, you ain't gonna make much money - and that applies whether you decide to go employed or self-employed.

For me personally, there is no-one who's going to give me a full time job as either a qualified tiler OR a trainee..it's just not going to happen. FACT. I've made the calls. The ONLY way to make a career change in today's economic climate is to be self-employed and really go for it.

My advice to you thevinnyofoz if go for a short course of 4-8 days, get registered for accreditation, then get home and tile everything in sight! The course will give you the business confidence and the practice will give confidence to get started. Start small...aim high my friend.

Jeni

 

[UKTT Darren]

Thanks Jeni
I dont think danny above read my post before answering, nowhere does it say that im discouraging people not to take a qualification, I do nvq qualifications myself to experienced people, which is what an NVQ is origionally for, even city and guilds say you need 2 years experience before being assessed on site, thats because they recognise that it will take you time to learn the tricks of the trade out in the real world, 4 weeks in a training centre then straight out to be assessed at NVQ level is a joke in my eyes and no way could you stand up to someone with longer experience, Im not taking anything away from 4 weeks training, just the NVQ bit

Courses are a great way of fast tracking you into a new career, thats what we do and help you get to where you want to be. As said before courses will take you so far then its out in the real world where the real learning starts, as Jenni says above you have to get the business side right or you dont do any tiling if you cant find the jobs.

I stand by what i said, companies will not take you on without the experience, NVQ or not, if you cant keep up your sacked, and as for you only get paid for the work you do, thats rubbish because companies are fined if the deadlines are not met, so someone taking 3 weeks to do what someone experienced will do in 1 week, will not last 2 minuits, Self employment or nothing really, Im not going to tell someone to come on my couse just to get the money and promiss that they will walk straight into a job, reality is you are going to have to find the biz yourself, thats what i teach people, how to build a career as a self employed tiler and take away the fear of being self employed by explaining how to be.

Start off by taking on jobs that you are comfortable with and build from there, NVQ on sites is reallity by 2010, there is no plan at all at the moment to be nvq qualified for domestic jobs, once you got your experience working for yourself put in for your NVQ assessment through OSAT route and a assessor will come to your place of work and put you though your NVQ, this is generally 2 prior years experience, not 4 weeks knowledge and artificial practice in a training centre, 2 years in the real world

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

We obviously see things very differently Darren and that's fine.

Self Employment is not peoples option, we have many students decide to go that route and many others find jobs with companies FACT.

Also it does not state that you have to be in the trade for 2 years prior to being assessed for an NVQ Level 2. It states that you you must be occupationally competent and as I said the modules are at a very basic level. Its not about speed or tricks of the trade, you could be the slowest tiler in the world as long as your work is up to scratch then you are still entitled to pass.

I deal with assessments an a major scale all over the country and for Australia, I also hold various qualifications on assessment and education.

A 4 day course is not enough for a full career change.

 

[UKTT Darren]

Yes we do see things differently Danny, i see things as what works in the real world and it is fact that there are hundreds on here that has made a full career change from attending our short course and earning very good money, so your opinions are clearly wrong, i know you are trying to sell the concept of your longer courses and thats fine, so we'll leave it at that

 

[thevinnyofoz]

I understand you both and I agree with you, Im happy to take a good short coures, set up on my own and practice loads to get the skills but how soon can I be assesed for an NVQ, I need fact if possible. Is it true that I will have to have 2 years experience and is the NVQ going to cost a lot ?

 

[Danny@ Diamond]

I understand you both and I agree with you, Im happy to take a good short coures, set up on my own and practice loads to get the skills but how soon can I be assesed for an NVQ, I need fact if possible. Is it true that I will have to have 2 years experience and is the NVQ going to cost a lot ?

Hi Vinny,

As i said there is no fixed rule on when you can be assessed, as long as you meet the required standards fact.

NVQ level 2 should not cost more than £600, you may even qualify for funding.

All the best

 

[thevinnyofoz]

Best get my *** in gear and get on a training course. Thinking about the YTA in Bradford, its the most local and I read a couple of good reviews. As for the NVQ, 600 squidalies is a fair price, will jump onto it when im skilled up.