The good news is i have used Plumbing Academy in Edenbridge
for some things and there OK.I got to do the 6129 level 3 and Gas with PGL Training in Exeter and there OK,and quite cheap as well.

If you are going to do a plumbing course do your home work first,there are some good ones out there!

The first reason came when i researched btsc for a few hours and found out they had the worst reputation and most unhappy customers. (to put it nicely)
Also, I talked to an old family friend of my mum, his name is Howard. As a retired plumber he told me to avoid companies such as this at all costs. You can’t learn the trade in 12 weeks. His advice was to get your books and study in your own time. Once you have grasped a few basics apply for a collage course (2year) then gain an apprenticeship with a qualified plumber. One way to go about this is to make yourself a business card and post it in as many plumbers merchants as you can. Howard said a lot of plumbers find apprentices in such a way. You will want to do this when your doing the collage course, they will probably help you.

The Second reason for not wasting my entire bank balance was simple. The trade has become saturated with fast track students. Companies just aren’t taking on thsese students because they realise noone can plumb efficiently in 12 weeks. They are more willing to give someone a place who has done at least 2 years training beforehand.

Howards now a retired multi-millionaire who still does the odd job for family and friends. If only I had done this sooner he could have taken me on as an apprentice

A few notes here, I think there important enough to mention.

The building trade is still out on its ass.

The plumbers trade has become saturated. (There aren’t as many jobs or opportunities as i thought) There used to be, quite a few years ago. But the current climate of this country has changed things a lot.

(I’m assuming people on here live in the UK so..

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/shortageoccupationlist.pdf
( Official link on job shortages in the UK )

Even our Armed Forces are filling up because people are that desperate looking for work now.. The RAF is full but not sure about the Navy or Army. They will always want infantry i guess.

Closing notes-

Anyway, I would advise anyone to stay away from companies like BTSC. It’s your money, don’t give it away. Take the time to learn the trade and sign up for a collage course. Buy yourself a few books and study in your own time. When you take on course don’t forget to put yourself forward and make some business cards. Your collage can also help with getting you an apprenticeship.

Ive had the inteview and being ex-sales smelt a fish straightaway.

I waiting to read through the TCs at my leisure, certaintly wont be pressured into signing up to anything.

Shame because id really like to be a plumber.

Possibly a shattered dream, more likely saved lots of £

ST

Interview “my arse”…. Distance learning you are having a laugh..

I am not going to name the company I trained with but it cost me half the price of BTSC no pushy sales, just upfront talking and they listened to what I WANTED.

I am about to take my gas quals in January and my work placement (they provided is great).

DO YOUR RESEARCH THOROUGHLY…. leave your details with all of them. Make your own mind up….if you manage to get a call from a company based in Cleckheaton you’ve hit the right one.
They have been trading well longer than the cowboys…and they get all the experienced gas fitters who have been qualified for years coming back to renew their gas ticket.
They train new entrants and also do commercial gas.
Good luck everyone.
Danny

Well that initial excitement soon wore off. (1) the sales director (they always seem to be Sales Directors, don’t they ?) rambled on for an unbelievably long time (>2 hours) and it was actually difficult to get a word in edge-ways. (2) the aptitude test was ridiculously easy.

What really got me thinking were the crude/blunt sales tactics that wouldn’t have seemed out of place coming from a dodgy double-glazing salesman back in the eighties. Firstly they hold back the all-important fees info until the last few seconds of the ‘interview’, likely to be a bit of a shock to most people methinks.

Secondly, having passed the selection process a bizzare time pressure kicked in from nowhere – along the lines of ‘we can offer you a place but will only be able to keep the place open until the end of the week’ kind of thing. Complete Boll%#ks.

That really pissed me off. Had I not just just sat through one of the longest ‘interviews’ of my life where they rambled on for hours about (amongst other things) new modules starting every few weeks for the forseeable future ? And yet all of a sudden now I had to start almost immediately. I’d never even heard of the place a few days ago, now I had to find a massive wadge of cash and sign a contract. F&*k the hell right off!!!

Even if they are legitimate, and I have to be fair here, I think they are. They do physically exist, they have been around a while, they do have training centres and staff, they are C&G certified etc etc. But those sales tactics ? What is that all about. Absolutely no way man.

I can see why they need to talk to me before offering me anything – they claim 100% placement and need to protect that claim. But having met me what the hell difference does it make to anybody if I sign that day, next week, next month or next year ? The whole pressure-selling thing stinks and right or wrong should make anyone suspicious.

And another thing. To buy time I said I had to talk to a family member about borrowing the money. In the meantime I was to call BTSC anytime with queries/questions etc. I did just that on several occasions over the following week and the guy always answered the phone first ring and seemed to have all the time in the world for me. Could be a coincidence, but something tells me that the Sales Director (for it was he) would be one hell of a lot more difficult to get hold of once I’d parted with my cash. Don’t forget this is the same guy that told me they were practically fighting applicants off, the demand was so great. Hmmmm.

To summarise, buyer beware. There are some real scams out there (distance learn plumbing by DVD anyone? – give me strength!). In this context BTSC seem to me to be one of the good guys, in that it appears that they will deliver exactly what they promise. But I just get that uneasy feeling about the whole set up, so I’m out. I wouldn’t go back there if they paid me.

Twelve months and 10 grand is a massive investment by any standards. Spend a few days doing your research.