More information: Course Content Taster Sessions & Start Dates Testimonials Do not confuse our courses with inferior ones with misleading marketing. Any shorter course that claims to train you as a plumber (even if the centre claims to register you for 6129 - this means nothing) will not prepare you for the industry. Don't be mislead or train to be a cowboy!

MPK Plumbing Courses - Frequently Asked Questions

• There are a lot of centres offering this course, why is yours better?

This is a difficult question to answer without you meeting us and our students in person.

For a start we are the best value by far and from feedback about other centres from students we have heard tales of intense sales pressure and constant telephone calls, being mislead into thinking that a shorter course or lesser qualification prepares you for the trade, taster days that are only sales pitches, crowded workshops, extra charges for materials, claims that course books are worth a lot more than they actually are, promises of memberships to trade organisations that are largely unknown, free tools that would be of no use to a professional plumber, doing the course in less time than awarding bodies prescribe making the course useless, the list goes on.

All we can say is that our attitude is quite different to all around us and the majority of centres around the country. We are interested in producing competent tradespeople in the long term. We've been around since 1997 years as a private centre and our staff were in the industry and/or trade education for many years before this, most other private centres are under 4 years old and their staff qualification/experience requirements are not as based on quality as ours - in our opinion no ethical company would offer or trainer/assessor work with any lesser course. We only have small classes, plenty of room in our workshops, pathways to more qualifications such as gas and oil, we employ no salespeople and we will not tell you that you can do this course in less time than you need to feel competent because the only loser would be you. Come and meet us, you'll notice the difference if you have been to other centres.

 

• How can I tell if I am capable of doing the course?

Come and have a go at a taster session. You get the chance to get your hands dirty and talk to past/current students to see what they thought. At the end, we will not sit you in a room with sales people and try and pressure sell like some other centres nor will we badger you with telephone calls or turn up at your house (it happens!).

 

• Another centre is claiming that a 2 or 4 week course will prepare me for the trade, will it?

We consider these courses relevant only to people who want to have a go at DIY and are constantly hearing comments from the qualified tradespeople about having to put jobs right that such people have done. A very small minority would able to do such a course and hold their own in the trade.

 

• I am already pretty handy at DIY, will this help me do the course quicker?

It will stand you in good stead but we have to apply City & Guilds timings to the course to maintain quality. This means that you may finish some of the assessment tasks sooner than others at each stage but we are not permitted to guarantee a reduction in the course length.

 

• I am an absolute beginner, is this course suitable for me?

We have trained and retrained people from all walks of life. If you are equipped with basic English and Maths skills and have the interest and aptitude to succeed, you will get a great deal out of the course. Why not come and have a go at a taster session to make sure?

 

• I have dyslexia, will this cause me problems?

We are an equal opportunities centre and often deal with this and similar conditions. Speak to us in complete confidence about how we can help.

 

• Can I become self employed after the Technical Certificate (6129)?

There is nothing in legislation to stop you doing this yet and it greatly depends on your own confidence. We always advise that you should take on the job work experience under the supervision of another NVQ2+ qualified plumber or company after this stage if possible. However in the real world this is not always possible as, despite there being a lot of work around for competent plumbers, people naturally want to protect their market from competition. Therefore the only way you may be able to access your new career will be by self employment.

Once you are equipped with the skills that this qualification will give you, you need to think about whether you can estimate correctly and work quickly to a high standard to make you competitive.

You also need to consider that the NVQ2 is done on the job too and it costs less if you work for or with another qualified plumber and they can witness your work.

 

• I will be self employed, can I get tax benefits from the course fees?

Yes, you can include your training fees as a business expense against your profits and save tax. If you decide to be VAT registered (or you turnover enough to have to be), you can reclaim the VAT portion of the course fees.

 

• Can I do the NVQ2 whilst being self employed?

Yes you can, ask us how this works.

 

• Still have a question that is not answered here?

Give us a call, drop in and see us or post it in our discussion forum and we'll answer it (all you need is an email address to register).