YOUR ROUTE TO A LUCRATIVE GAS CAREER

Why Become A Gas Engineer?

The popular press has stories about the earning potential of gas engineers.These stories, whilst generally inaccurate, are based upon the fact that there is a massive skill shortage in the UK. For years, companies have been reluctant to employ apprentices, and this has led to the current shortage of gas engineers.

In order to fill the gap, opportunities have arisen for new entrants to the industry to undertake training as gas engineers.  All gas engineers are required to hold Certificates of Competence for all work involving gas and gas appliances.

If your intention is to be your own boss, work hours that suit you, do interesting, challenging and satisfying work and make a very good living, then a GASTEC Course could be your first step towards that rewarding goal.

The traditional route to becoming a Gas Engineer in the UK is via an apprenticeship. By undertaking two or three years study at college and working for a gas organisation, you would progress towards City & Guilds 6012 NVQ level 3.

There are limited places available in colleges and some are unable to offer the candidate a satisfactory and dedicated training program. On some occasions, the student is left to read technical manuals in a classroom for hours, simply because there are no available trainers. We know of cases where the student has to go home to “study” because of other unrelated courses being conducted within the confines of the workshop. You deserve better.

With all of these problems, many students are turning to private companies to bridge the training gap. The choice of courses available is bewildering. At GASTEC, we can advise you on which course you should take, depending on your goals and aspirations and what you want from a career within the gas industry

At GASTEC, you are given undivided attention and will work in comfortable air-conditioned classrooms. Our workshops are designed to allow every student to work in a stress-free and user-friendly manner. Each individual has their own tool kit and is allocated set work areas dependant on the tasks being undertaken. All work is overseen by a qualified instructor who will offer advice and help, usually in a one-to-one situation.

Our Domestic Gas Intermediate course is fully accredited with CSkills and is recognised as an approved training alternative to the slow and laborious college route. The course has been designed around our experience in the industry. The real difference between our courses and that of some other centres and colleges is that they are relevant to your needs. The cost of our courses reflects our commitment to train you efficiently and effectively.

We want to provide you with a totally honest appraisal so you understand what getting qualified as a Gas Operative is all about. If we can help you appreciate the commitment you will require, we think you will be better prepared to successfully complete your training.

Mature people looking for a career change and hoping to gain qualifications in the Gas industry could find it to be an uphill struggle. It is not the easiest thing to do especially if you are set in your ways, but if you are prepared to give and learn, it is certainly not impossible.

WHY CHOOSE GASTEC?

We, at GASTEC, in a shorter space of time, have the expertise and ability to train all our students to a proficient level in basic gas work. This enables them to cope with a wide variety of work that gas engineers do in the domestic market place. The alternative is the day release, block release or night classes offered by colleges, all of which will take at least 3 years to acquire the knowledge required to undergo the theory and practical assessments. The classic result of the college route  is a very large drop out rate of students whom can not afford or cannot cope with this type of learning.

We at GASTEC were the first centre to run intermediate-level gas courses on behalf of CSkills. Our courses have been structured to suit New Entrants that require a career change, We have packed a great deal of information into them. As a result, the courses are intensive, and require a high level of personal commitment.  Within the first three weeks, we cover all information relating to gas safety theory, leaving week four to cover training on electrics and combination boilers. This is a course structure that previous students very much favoured.

Our state-of-the-art training centre has a wide range of appliances, with numerous workstations, to ensure that there is no waiting around for a task to become free. Hands-on training is provided on combination boilers (both regular and condensing), system boilers, low water content boilers, as well as the more traditional cast iron boilers, with both room sealed and conventional flues. In total, we have approximately 40 boilers.  You will also receive training on a range of gas fires, cookers, water heaters, warm air units and meter installations.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Whilst we can offer no guarantees of success, since this is totally dependent on your ability, we have achieved a 100% success rate for candidates going on to achieve ACS accreditation.  For the few people that have struggled, we have provided additional one-on-one training and support, to assist them in demonstrating competence to the assessor.

How GASTEC Delivers the Domestic Gas Intermediate Course:

CSkills Intermediate Gas Certificate is a recognized qualification by Gas Safty Register and successful completion of the course enables candidates to undertake ACS assessment. In August 2003, changes were made to the entrance requirements for the ACS certification scheme. In order to qualify for entrance to the ACS assessments, if the candidate is not already ACS registered, they must complete either a gas NVQ qualification which will take up to 3 years to complete, or provide evidence of an auditable extended period of gas training, supported by a portfolio of gas experience.

You qualify as follows:

Weeks 1 to 4:  Classroom and workshop based learning, covering all aspects of gas safety and utilization necessary to work as a domestic gas operative. Training is carried out at our state-of-the-art training centre in Milton Keynes.

Work Placement: For claimants of ELCAS we can offer Placement with a gas engineering company to gain experience of working in the field. With placement, in many cases, it can turn out to be a permanent job provided both the employer and you find there is a good relationship.

For claimants of ELCAS we can guarantee a work placement for you but you must hold a full UK driving licence, but it will be as near to your home base as we can arrange,or this can be some distance away in certain areas, however if you are in a position to seek and provide your own, that may be more beneficial too you, as then it would be very local to your area. For all others work placement maybe available dependant on demand.

Time spent on a placement is variable. It will depend on the type of work activity involved, individual capability and various other factors. The duration of the ‘on the job’ experience, and development of the portfolio, will be determined by the type and frequency of gas work undertaken by the candidate. For example, a person installing two heating systems a week will take longer than someone attending to eight service/breakdowns a day. The candidate will also be required to demonstrate experience of working across a range of appliance types.

Assessments:  You can return to our Centre after your work placement and evidence portfolio has been completed. Your portfolio will be checked to see if the required work related evidence is adequate, Then your assessments can continue:

·CCN1 Domestic Natural Gas Safety Modules

·CEN1,HTR1,WAT1,CKR1,MET1 Domestic Gas Appliances and Meter  Modules

Together with free Combustion Performance Analyser Module (CPA)

What Qualifications Can I Achieve?

CSkills is acknowledged, by many, as the most prestigious certification body within the gas industry, and its qualifications are recognised around the world.  If you are being trained and assessed to CSkills high standard, then you can be assured your training is to the highest standard within the industry.

Qualifications gained:

CSkills ACS Certification Core Gas Safety CCN1

CSkills ACS Certification Domestic Central Heating  CEN1

CSkills ACS Certification Domestic Water Heaters  WAT1

CSkills ACS Certification Domestic Cookers  CKR1

CSkills ACS Certification Domestic Space Heaters HTR1

CSkills ACS Certification Domestic Meters  MET1

CSkills ACS Certification Combustion Performance Analyser CPA1

CSkills Energy Efficiency 6084

CSkills Certification  Combination Boilers Basic   **

CSkills Certification Essential Electrics  **

** Both of these modules have proved to be very interesting subjects and many previous candidates have given excellent reviews on them. These, incidentally are not featured with any other Centre offering a similar course. If they do them it will be at extra cost, this will never be the case with GASTEC - it’s all in the price.

What Will I Learn?

Theory:

·Combustion of natural gas
·Basic burner design
·Operation of components and how they work
·The need for ventilation and fluing
·How flues work
·Pipe sizing
·Pressure and flow
·Basic electrics
·How appliances work
·How to install, maintain and repair appliances

The following are only some of the minimum performance requirements you will be taught, to work safely and competently as a gas appliance installer:

Proof of Competence - Reference

Flues and Ventilation - BS5400 Part 1 and 2

Fires, Back-Boilers and Circulators - BS5871 Part 1, 2 and 3

Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 - HSE

Installation of Gas Pipe-work - BS6891

Specification for Tightness Testing and Purging of Domestic Gas Installation -  IGE/UP/1B

Installation of Gas Appliances - Document  J Building Regulations

Practical:

You will be shown how to carry out certain tasks, for example exchanging a gas meter or servicing a boiler.  Simulated tasks relating to the installation, planned maintenance and breakdown of gas systems will be conducted within the centre’s training workshop and will have;

• Real time constraints
• A full range of appliances and appliance sub-categories
• A full range of flue types
• Live gas installations
• A variety of installation faults
• A range of potential hazards
• A range of realistic appliance faults that require identification and rectification
• A range of installation conditions

‘Off Job’ Simulation Assessments (Workshop)

Simulation assessment will be carried out by the Gastec assessor prior to the candidate starting their ‘on the job’ period, and will be limited to the following activities;

Where candidates are unable to experience the task, due to the nature of their ‘on the job’ training. For example, should they not encounter installation work whilst ‘on the job’ a simulated exercise will normally have been carried out in our workshop.
All industry unsafe situation procedures will be included in the simulation process, unless the candidate has encountered them as part of the ‘on the job’ experience. Amongst these will be dealing with gas escapes, trace and repair of escapes and actual spillage of products
Medium pressure tightness testing

‘On the job’ Assessments( Work Placements)

‘On the job’ assessments are seen as the primary source of evidence for judging an individual’s level of competence. Both direct observation and outcomes of work activities will be considered as primary evidence sources.

All candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in real ‘on the job’ situations, during the performance of these genuine work activities. Their work will be observed and recorded by a centre approved registered, engineer. All tasks and duties will be those, reasonably expected to be performed, by a competent gas operative.

All candidates will, therefore, be expected to have demonstrated competence in the ‘on the job’ tasks over a period of time, under normal working conditions, to generate a sufficient evidence portfolio.

Each candidate will be assessed ‘on the job’ in the following areas;

• Customer contact
• Tightness testing
• Purging
• Pipe work installation
• Trace and repair gas escape
• Disconnection of pipe work and/or meters prior to work
• Setting of pressures and gas rates
• Risk assessment and safe working practice
• Ventilation requirements
• Appliance controls operation and testing
• Replacement of appliance gas components
• Tools and materials
• Flues
• Use of industry labels and notices

If you are serious about entering the varied, interesting and lucrative field of gas engineering then we, at Gastec, are committed to ensuring your training and development will be the very best available.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Does your course lead to a recognised qualification.

A. YES, Our course leads to the CSkills Accredited Certification Scheme  and  City &  Guilds 6084 Level 3 for Energy Efficiency.

Q. I am a complete beginner, is this course for me?

A. Yes, Our course is designed for people who are seeking a career change and we start with the very basics.

Q. How long will it take to get my qualifications?

A. Our Course is 4 weeks full time followed by a further short duration for your work placement, dependant on types of work carried out. Once the Assessments have been successfully completed you will receive your qualifications in about 20 days.

Q. When will I be able to start working as a Gas Operative?

A. You can start work straight after you have finished your Assessments provided it is with an employer. If you wish to go self employed then you will need to apply to Gas Safe Register for registration with them. You will possess all the relevant qualifications to satisfy them on registration.

Q. I want to be a self employed Gas Operative and start my own business, can I do this?

A. YES, Our course is aimed at preparing you manually and technically for self employment and you can start working as soon as you have carried out the answer to the question above, the course will however not cover “LAW or TAX related issues”

Q. What if I fail an assessment?

A. You will be allowed to re-sit an assessment as many times as is necessary. if you fail an assessment, you may retake it but a charge will be made for the additional time required. However, please note that we will not put you into an assessment until we think you will succeed so the onus is on you to prove you’re up to it.

Q. I live too far to travel every day, do you have accommodation?

A. Milton Keynes has an abundance of Accommodation. A full comprehensive list of local hotels, B&B etc is available on our links page.

Q. Why is your course only 4 weeks compared to colleges that take 3 years?

A. Our course covers the same syllabus and the same qualifications, However, our course is full time 5 days a week and also our students are all career changers rather than school leavers so we can proceed at a much faster pace. We also have small class sizes and most importantly, because each student is paying a fee, the dedication and attention of students is very high.

Q. I am an existing Plumber working without any qualifications; I want to get my ACS do I need to do your course?

A. Yes Because of the New Entrant criteria you will need attend a recognised training program such as ours and work with a Gas registered company to develop your portfolio, Look on the bright side: spending 4 weeks with us is better and cheaper than 3 years at a college.

Q. When could I begin my course?

A. We run the courses every month so we have spaces available at all times; we do however limit all the course class size dependant on demand, this allows our trainers to give quality time to all trainees.

Q. Why should I enrol with you?

A. Because if you’ve read this far you’re probably serious about a new career. GASTEC gives you all the facts, GASTEC will never mislead you and we consider our training and support is the very best available, “We do not promise “Free Lunches or Tool boxes”.  We only deliver what you ask for: A dedicated course giving you knowledge and information relevant to your learning needs in a friendly professional manner with emphasis on quality.

If you require any further information or advice please do not hesitate to contact us on the number below. Please ask for our complete information pack and booking forms and quote “GAS” course.

Telephone: 0800 1958066