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Are you thinking about becoming a plumber?


This year, Gas Safe Register is celebrating 11 years of its annual ‘Gas Safety Week’ (13-19 September), which raises awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. Over the years, Gas Safety Week has focused attention on the problems and dangers associated with the gas appliances in our homes, including the dangers of carbon monoxide, the problems with rogue landlords and the roles tenants have to play in keeping themselves safe, and how to check that those working in your homes are qualified to do so.

To coincide with Gas Safety Week, we wanted to make you aware of our Level 3 apprenticeships in Plumbing and Domestic Heating and Gas Engineering (GEO). We spoke to JTL product manager, Lindsay Talks to find out more.

Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician

Did you know that as a fully qualified plumber you could earn close to £32,000 per year and you can progress into roles such as supervising an apprentice, supervisory roles, project management roles, owning and managing your own business, advanced engineering, design and planning, teaching or training others? By successfully completing the Level 3 plumbing and domestic heating qualification you will have developed the skills, knowledge and behaviours you need to plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems.

On average, this course takes four years.  If you already have some qualifications in plumbing, the length of the course may be shorter. The first three years of the course will focus on the development of the fundamental plumbing knowledge and skills, whilst in the final year you follow a specialist pathway, usually in gas or environmental technologies.

The End Point Assessment (EPA) consists of a multiple-choice test, a design project, a practical installation test, a practical application test and a professional discussion, which usually takes place in the final three months of the apprenticeship. Once you have successfully completed your apprenticeship and passed the EPA, you will hold a Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating.

To find out more about the plumbing and heating apprenticeship, click here.

Level 3 Gas Engineering Operative

Fancy becoming a fully qualified gas engineer? Then why not consider JTL’s gas engineer operative (GEO) apprenticeship. Gas Engineers install and maintain gas appliances in a domestic or non-domestic setting. Appliances can include but are not limited to, central heating boilers, unvented hot water storage, ducted air heaters, cookers, space heaters, meters, alternative fuel, boosters, testing and purging for industrial pipework.

The GEO course takes between 18 and 30 months to complete depending on the level of experience you already have. For those of you who have previously completed the Level 2 plumbing apprenticeship, you can progress to the GEO apprenticeship to become gas qualified.

The EPA, which must be passed successfully to complete the apprenticeship and become a qualified gas engineer, consists of a multiple-choice knowledge assessment and a portfolio assessment. This includes gas safe registration, a competency test, a work log review, and an interview. By the end of the apprenticeship, gas engineers will be registered on the Gas Safe® Register as competent to undertake work on at least four appliances.

For more information and to find out if this course is right for you, click here.

Course delivery

Both apprenticeships are usually delivered on a day release basis, meaning you will go to college or a JTL training centre for one day a week and spend the rest of your time at work. Plus, some of our centres offer a block release option too.

Good news for employers

Are you aware that there is no cost to you to train an apprentice aged 16-18 years? If you recruit an apprentice aged 19 or over then the training costs are five per cent of the full cost of the apprenticeship; £1,050 over four years for the plumbing and £1,100 for the GEO course.

You can still claim an incentive grant of £3,000 for apprentices enrolled with JTL between 1 April and 30 September 2021 regardless of their age, which is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment for all new 16-18-year-old apprentices. The closing date for applications is the 30th November 2021.

For more information about Gas Safety Week, visit the Gas Safe Register website: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek.

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