Our Guarantee
In all our courses, our pass rates are over 95% - first time! So you can be very confident you’ll achieve. But in the unlikely event you do fail a course, as long as you have completed the theory and practical training parts to your tutor's satisfaction, you can retake the course free of charge. Click here to see our pass rates for 2007/8.
Help with paying
We offer easy payment terms on all our courses and assessments and we can help you find competitive loans too. Some training also qualifies for government funded grants and subsidies. Read more »
Careers in construction
Building services engineering could give you your ideal job, one that you actually enjoy...imagine that! From installing a light show for 30,000 people at a pop concert to providing light, heating, air conditioning and running water in a brand new skyscraper, the opportunities are endless.
Building services covers the electrical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries. The sector’s 50,000 businesses employ about half a million people, carrying out about £20 billion of work each year. And it’s a good business to be in.
So many of the things we take for granted, like the light, heat and water in our houses to the street lighting outside, are only there thanks to building services engineering. It’s a vital part of our lives. Almost every building contains some form of electrical power, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration and plumbing. It is the job of a building services engineer to design, install and maintain these services and as such it requires a highly skilled and professional workforce. As a result, building services offers interesting and rewarding career opportunities.
You’re sure to have read about the UK’s shortage of qualified and skilled trades people. The stories have been widely reported in the national press and on television, and they’re true. Right now there’s a significant shortage of skilled plumbers, electricians, gas installers, heating engineers and even general (but skilled) handymen. And whatever the economic conditions, people always need plumbers, electricians and gas fitters. The Government’s agreed expansion of new residential properties and the increasing regulation limiting work in domestic dwellings to competent (qualified) persons means an even greater need for skilled trade people for years to come. Not only that, but climate change is creating an explosion in demand for building services engineers. Building services is at the forefront of environmentally-friendly technologies; designing and installing energy efficient heating systems, low carbon footprint systems like solar water heating, rain water harvesting and micro wind turbines to name just a few.
Building services and the environment
As a result, there should be no shortage of work for people who decide to pursue a career in this area. As a qualified plumber, electrician or gas fitter, you could choose to work for a contractor or be your own boss. But, if you’re going to learn a new trade which will guarantee you a career, it’s important you learn the right skills and achieve industry recognised qualifications. The choice of course and training provider is therefore very important. As an industry specialist we offer exactly the courses that industry wants and which are accredited by all the leading industry bodies. We can assure you, there are no better respected qualifications in the industry and such is the strength of the training programmes we offer that once qualified, you will have a career for life. And many of these careers are also a passport to emigrate and work all over the world!
All our careers programmes benefit from significant vocational and professional content to build confidence and skills, and many offer you the opportunity for a period of attachment to industry to gain experience and expertise. And if you can put in the time and the effort, our careers programmes leading to NVQ level 2 can be achieved in as little as 12 months
The structure of our careers courses is a particularly attractive feature of the college. In many cases you can delay your final choice of qualification until you have gained other qualifications and experience on-route. This is a tremendous advantage, particularly if you are entering the industry for the first time in a trade that you are not already familiar with. In most areas of study, the range of options is such that you can effectively tailor your course to suit your particular circumstances and ambitions. Full time, or part-time, tutor led, or distance learning, and a mix of these to suit your needs.
Links
Becoming Skilled and Qualified
Competent Persons Schemes
Is this the Career for You?
Becoming a Plumber
Becoming an Electrician
Becoming a Gas Engineer
Study Options
Courses for Young People
Courses for Adults
