Hands On - Gas Installers

Demand for gas installers

There are currently around 92,000 gas installers in the UK with another 30,000 being needed by 2006. Action is therefore needed to address the problem of a low new entrant level, an ageing workforce and an increasing medium-term demand for gas of 2 per cent annually.

Some 6,000 installers are required to carry out new initiatives, such as the government’s social programme and the reduction in fuel poverty policy, which are intended to bring central heating to more than one million homes in the next five years. Other market development opportunities in the domestic market include appliance maintenance and inspection, macro/mini combined heat and power generation, district heating networks, domestic air conditioning, condensing boilers and high efficiency boilers and systems.

Some examples of the impact of these factors are:

• over 30 years the industry will need to replace 90,000 km of mains pipeline at a cost of £15 billion and the employment of 3,000 operatives and support staff
• policies for the next five years require 200,000 new central heating installations each year requiring 7,000 more operatives
• 160,000 new gas services installed each year require 600 new operatives.

The demographic profile of the workforce is skewed towards older workers, with 30 per cent of those employed in the industry aged between 35 to 44, and a further 30 per cent aged over 45. By contrast, only 10 per cent are aged between 16 and 24. The position is most acute in gas installation, with 32 per cent being aged 35 to 44, and a further 43 per cent being over 45. This is a demographic time-bomb for which the sector is inadequately prepared.

Several companies offer gas interim intermediate or new training courses and Service leavers are advised to think about what to look for in a training provider. Courses will be intensive if they are to cover the information you will need, not only to pass an assessment but to work in the industry. The following points will help you choose a suitable training provider:

• good classroom facilities. It is difficult enough to absorb a large amount of information without having to contend with uncomfortable condition
• a good workshop area with a wide range and number of appliances and systems on which to carry out simulated work
• visit the centre, meet the training staff and check out the facilities. Does it guarantee a work placement? If so, get it confirmed in writing.

As total training time depends on the appliance types you choose to be assessed on, you may wish to avoid trainers that offer too many appliances. It can be better to concentrate on one appliance type and develop associated skills, like electrics and plumbing, which will help to find well paid work.

Salaries vary across the country and take into account many variants such as call out payments, overtime, benefits etc. Basic salaries before overtime can be expected to range between £20,000 and £35,000 for the first year.

The gas industry is currently looking to train and recruit engineers so opportunities exist for Service leavers to train and work in this profitable market sector. Of the many avenues open to a trained engineer, domestic heating is probably the area with the greatest long term potential. Knowledge of plumbing systems is a big advantage for any gas engineer and so it is relatively easy for plumbers to enter the industry.

Safety regulations require any person working on gas to be competent, demonstrated through assessment. On successful completion of assessment an operative will be issued with a certificate of competence for the type of work that the assessment involved. The main categories of assessment are:

• domestic gas safety
• commercial gas safety
• commercial catering gas safety
• liquid petroleum gas safety.

All of these core areas have related areas. For example; to work on domestic central heating appliances, an operative would need to have demonstrated competence in domestic gas safety and working on central heating boilers. The operative would not be deemed competent to work other appliance types until they had demonstrated that competence through assessment.

Operatives attending an assessment may be:

• Category 1 – operatives with industry experience and relevant qualifications
• Category 2 – operatives working in the industry who are fully qualified in associated trades but without gas qualifications
• Category 3 – operatives with no relevant prior qualifications.

Few Service leavers fall into the first category. Therefore they must pass an interim gas utilisation course before being assessed. Programmes generally involve four weeks formal training followed by four to eight weeks of on-the-job training. Timings will depend on:

• category of the candidate
• work type to be assessed
• individual aptitude.

For further information call Gastec on 01932 772484 or visit its website at www.gastec.uk.com