Is 25 too old to start learning plumbing ?

Business Man · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:01

Has the title says really, i'm curretly 25 and working as a production operative

. The job is alright and the hours are excellent but im tired of being on such a low wage. Now i've been thinking about learning a trade and plumbing seems intresting. The local college runs a basic course in the evening which would suit me fine as it fits around my work. however being 25 and having no expereince at all in plumbing im unsure if its the right thing to do. would employers be intrested in someone who's my age ? well by the time i'm qaulified i'd be about 28

are there any people on here who have changed careers later on in there life and as it work out ?

Nix · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:02

No. Whatever it is you want to do, and however old you are - unless there are obvious responsibilities or dangers holding you back: do it.

Defcon5 · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:03

I know a few plumbers, and all of them used to be raking in cash. Now they are all out of work. I suppose byt he time you have qualified there may be more demand

sormicoft · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:03

never to old to better yourself

sixty · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:09

In short, no, life's too damn short! Get to it man!

Hedge · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:12

Go for it mate, your age aint a problem.

but dont go thinking that plumbing is easy money. to make big bucks you need to put long hours in and offer a high standard of work.

I did it for 6 years but it wasnt for me. But it can be a good earner if you work hard.

chrism · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:16

never too old m8 i know someone who was 33 before they done it good luck

dave2kdh · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:19

No way, i know of a few people in my family who have now made a job change in there mid to late 30's who don't regret it (on of which is now a plumber!).

Go for it

.one. · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:19

My m8 started at 42 money not very good in my home town but still ok.

DampCat · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:20

25? Good lord are you kidding? You've got 3/4 of your life to go!

Do whatever you want!

MikeHunt79 · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:32

25 is far to old, unless you start wrapping things in PTFE when you're 5 you'll never make it as a plumber!

I get around · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:34

Try it but tradesmen are in decline, theres a fair few people doing their own plumbling, wiring, etc. nowadays.
Is round here anyway.

Wizzfizz · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:41

If it's possible then it's never impossible. Go for it.

Kol · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:44

Defcon5 said:
I know a few plumbers, and all of them used to be raking in cash. Now they are all out of work. I suppose byt he time you have qualified there may be more demand

How odd, my mate here in Hertford is making a mint... maybe it's because others have gone under but he has far too much work and has to keep turning it down.

Lumeycom · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:50

I get around said:
Try it but tradesmen are in decline, theres a fair few people doing their own plumbling, wiring, etc. nowadays.
Is round here anyway.

Try getting a safety cert on your own wiring!

As for retraining then do it, I got made redundant by IBM about 5 years ago and am now working as an industrial electrician. best thing i ever did! (I'm 33 btw).

As mentioned above though anything thats construction/trades based is having a very hard time of it at the moment.

I get around · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:52

Kol said:
How odd, my mate here in Hertford is making a mint... maybe it's because others have gone under but he has far too much work and has to keep turning it down.

Thats just location though, from what i've seen i can imagine people in hertford are less hands on so more likely to pay someone to do a job.

And my wiring is awesome, i'm a perfectionist, it's more satisfying when you finish a job that way, a lot of tradesmen in my family, i've been taught how to do a fair bit properly. I've never had to get a safety cert but i can't see any significant problems as long as you're not a spack and do it right.

Kol · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:54

I get around said:
Thats just location though, from what i've seen i can imagine people in hertford are less hands on so more likely to pay someone to do a job.

And my wiring is awesome, i'm a perfectionist, it's more satisfying when you finish a job that way, a lot of tradesmen in my family, i've been taught how to do a fair bit properly.

You make a very good point about 'hands on'

platypus · 26 Jun 2009 at 13:54

Am I the only one that sniggered when first reading the thread topic?

Lumeycom · 26 Jun 2009 at 14:00

I get around said:
Thats just location though, from what i've seen i can imagine people in hertford are less hands on so more likely to pay someone to do a job.

And my wiring is awesome, i'm a perfectionist, it's more satisfying when you finish a job that way, a lot of tradesmen in my family, i've been taught how to do a fair bit properly. I've never had to get a safety cert but i can't see any significant problems as long as you're not a spack and do it right.

Without detouring the thread too much any electrical work now requires certification to meet 7671, even adding a single socket to a final circuit requires at least a minor works cert. Sure you can do without but should you have, for example, a fire that turns out to be electrical that burns your house down good luck with the insurance because they wont touch it!

waso_dude · 26 Jun 2009 at 14:23

My uncle started training to be a sparky at about 30. He was a sparkies mate as a job and decided to train at evening school to get his training partly funded by work, and passed 2 or so years later.

So no way are you too old.

As you can teach a old dog new tricks