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HYi,
I would like to ask for some advice on entering (or attempting to enter) the White Goods service and repair field please ?
I am thinking of taking one of the courses offered in the the service/repair etc and so want to ask if it is REALLY feasible to expect upon completion of a couple of weeks course to be competent and able enough to start a business as a local repair man ? ..I`m aware that obviously there`s a lot of learning to do whilst on the job so to speak but is there enough training in these courses to offer an enthusiastic fella an even chance of success in this field ?
I`m a 50+ year old male..I do have a bit of a plumbing background so am competent in this but only a small level of experience with electrics etc..so a lot of the electrical component stuff would be very new to me.
Basically,I want to ask…are the courses detailed with sufficient information etc in order to consider giving it a go ? …OR is there really not a chance in hell of learning sufficient knowledge from a course ? :rolls:
Hope you can help, 😕
Cheers….. 🙂
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
Citizenette wrote:I am thinking of taking one of the courses offered in the the service/repair etc and so want to ask if it is REALLY feasible to expect upon completion of a couple of weeks course to be competent and able enough to start a business as a local repair man ?
Not a chance. The variety and complexity of this trade takes months of learning. Customers won’t tolerate someone dithering over their dishwasher then guessing what part is needed to fix it then waiting weeks for your return with the part. Every appliance you attempt to repair is nothing like the ones at the training school either.
Over the years we’ve had guys on here that have done just that. Asking the most basic questions of us day in day out. They come, they go, cowboy drifters….. 🙁
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
It’s a difficult question to answer as everybody is different.
If your a logical thinker, have money, have a workshop, then it’s possible to slowly enter into the industry. But the odds are stacked against you. Ideally if you have contact within the industry it would greatly improve your chances.A lot of engineers have little basic electrical knowledge and training, they started in brands and relied upon the technique of adding parts until it works. Smaller outfits cannot afford that, so a strong knowledge of fault finding is essential. If you can gain that you stand a much better chance.
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
Thanks fellas` for your replies.
Yup…I pretty much had thought as much…like every other trade,most of the learning,like everything else,comec with experience on the job…and with a competent tradesperson the learner is accompanying.
In the “old days” there were such things as apprenticeships that actually put a young fella or gal through a period of learning with ended up with the apprentice actually being proficient in a trade…seems that`s all been dispensed with in the name of “efficiency”…and profit.
Thanks again guys.
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
above answers are good advice, i would like to add perseverance and patience is the key with this job, hey that does not stop after learning, every day a new fault or problem needs to be solved.
good background in plumbing is good as you have worked on tools 😉
electrical: safety! followed by understanding circuits and electrical components, ie. motors, pumps, valves etc as each appliance will have them.
1. off to college for the basic electrical part including pat testing.
2. work from home dismantling old appliances and becoming familiar with each component.
3. their are a few books around especially check your main library.
4. offer yourself free to a local repairer for work experience and shadow a competent engineer and ask plenty of questions.their are no formal qualifications needed at the moment like gas safe as long as you are competent which basically means you can work safe and leave the machine is a safe condition using the iee code of practice as a reference that can be bought from good book shops.
good luck and i hope you make it 😀
SimonB
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
Thanks for the advice and encouragement simonb…and to all replies.
Re: White Goods courses and trade advice please ?
There are apprenticeship available, British Gas currently recruiting for trainee White Goods Engineers with a December start, lasting 18 months with college and mentor. Other large outfits also do or are looking into. The last few yrs have seen more self employed peeps entering bigger outfits and struggling, good engineers stay self employed as they no the work. It’s become a recruiting issue.
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