Anyone know anything about training companies who offer courses to learn a trade?

[ineedalifelaundry]

My DH is thinking about retraining to be a plumber. Having done a good deal of research, he's found quite a few companies that offer flexible trade training. Of course, they all want us to part with large sums of cash. We are feeling a bit sceptical, because there seems to be quite a bit of hard sell involved with getting people to sign up to a course and no impartial advice. They make grand promises about potential future earnings and bleat on about the skills shortage but we just get this feeling that they're just after our money and the training might be really second rate, or the qualifications not worth the paper they're written on.

Does anyone have any experience of this sort of training? Is it genuine? Worth the money?

Thanks.

[TamsinToo]

Have you googled the company in question?? Can they supply you with some of their ex students as references????

[Tortington]

my first port of call would be my local college - i would also ring learn direct - they are always really helpful and if they dont know then they will know the right agency that does.

[justsue]

Dont do it my son wanted one of these courses and they wanted to charge him £3k with no definite offer of a job just that they will "help him find work"

[Aeschylus]

do be careful, remember plumbing and other jobs like it are very practical based ...

you can read the theory over and over, but until you actually get your head down a pan, you aint gonna learn a lot...

and dont forget plumbing is not just about fixing blocked toilets etc, they can fit whole central heating systems, and have to go through years of training before they are allowed to install anything to do with Gas

I would look for a evening course at a college, where they have the practical areas to practice