UK firm plugs plumbing skills leak

Feb. 22, 2008 - PRLog -- Distance learning specialist, Train4TradeSkills, is tackling the severe shortage of trained plumbers in the UK with new, virtual reality plumbing courses that teach plumbing skills using a revolutionary, 3D virtual reality `house’ to supplement practical and theoretical coursework.

The new `blended learning’ approach combines practical workshops, theory coursework and access to £100,000 custom built, state of the art virtual on-line `house’ to achieve City & Guilds, CITB, BPEC and CORGI recognised plumbing qualifications.

The three dimensional graphics allow the `virtual plumber’ to `walk’ around the house and solve ‘real world’ plumbing problems, attending to heating installations, water supply and sanitary plumbing and even learn to cut and bend copper piping on-line.

The course is neither gender nor age specific, applying equally to school leavers, mid-career breaks or those seeking a second or third career, male or female. The flexible nature of the course, with the revolutionary new plumbing software, enables students to train around existing work commitments, allowing those with no plumbing skills entry to the profession and saving £1000’s in wasted copper piping!

Mike Head, Marketing Manager for Train4Trade Skills said “There’s a UK-wide shortage of plumbers that the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) predict is getting worse and worse.

Although the average newly qualified plumber can earn up £40,000 per year, predictions are that the UK already needs around 5,000 plumbers per year just to replace those that are retiring, yet only around 2,000 currently qualifying each year.

We are stemming the skills leak by offering a course that fits around existing work commitments and open up a combination of ways to study to open the flood gates to a new generation of plumbers to train, qualify and practice”.

Students can work at their own pace, complete modules and course work within a flexible time frame and providing attendance targets for practical workshops are met, the certification can be achieved according to individuals’ personal commitments.

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Contact Train 4 Trade Skills on 0870 402 1955 or visit www.train4tradeskills.com


Additional information:-

The course is structures in three stages:-
Foundation, combining three modules:
City & Guilds 6022-02 Copper Pipework Installation
City & Guilds 6032 - Sanitary accommodation installation, maintenance and design BPEC - Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
Intermediate, encompassing an additional 2 modules
City & Guilds 6128 Domestic Heating & Ventilation Technical Certificate City & Guilds 6084 Energy Efficiency Certificate

And training in the plumbing aspects of a heating system installation and basic electrical principles relating to heating system components including pre-work checks and lawful limitations.
Advanced level, to achieve three further qualifications
BPEC/CORGI certification Part P defined scope electrical qualification
BPEC hot water heating solar energy certification
CITB certification in domestic un-vented hot water storage systems
Students can take the modules in their own time, providing assessments are submitted and commitments to attend practical workshops are met.

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Train4TradeSkills specialises in home learning and virtual reality study courses for men and women of all ages, wishing to qualify and practice in a trade.

Website: skillstrainuk.com