Plumbers in the UK are being warned by Water Safe, the national plumbing register, to be wary of fast-track plumbing courses and urged to check out the credentials of their training provider…
The organisation is keen to stress that people hoping to become plumbers should not waste their money with rogue trainers offering fast-track courses which are not recognised by the industry. Anyone in the UK, who is thinking of becoming a plumber should be working at a minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing, which will include theoretical classroom work as well as practical on-site experience. This could take anything up to 18 months or even longer.
Fast-track courses could be putting customer’s lives at risk, as well as posing a threat to the life of the person trading as a plumber who’s only training is a fast-track course. The courses in question only last a few weeks, which is shocking in comparison to the length of the recommended NVQ Level 2. The Plumbing and Heating Industry Alliance (PHIA) warn that these courses are not worth the money paid.
PHIA chairman, Chris Neath says: ‘It was extremely disappointing to hear that government cannot legislate against what they call free market practice… Therefore, we have to take our responsibility very seriously in taking action against these organisations with any means at our disposal’.
Trainee plumbers are advised to look at the list of approved qualifications to qualify as a WaterSafe-approved plumber online at watersafe.org.uk/becomeaplumber.
