I need help to help my DP

[SpringChicken]

Didn?t really know where to post this.

I need your advice ? DP is currently working as a carpenter ? has being doing so since he left school. He got the job through his dad who has now passed away.
As he started here straight from school without any qualifications he used generally as a dogs body ? doing crappy jobs ? he has now been there 4 years and is getting really fed up.
He is still doing all the crap jobs he was doing initially ? the bloke he works with is a miserable git at times who huffs and puffs and moans like an old woman.
Aside from this he is on an OK wage ? should really be on more but big bosses are good when it comes to him taking time off ? he always get sick pay when he isn?t meant to etc ? this is because of the wonderful man his dad was and how much respect everyone at the company had for him.

It is really getting DP down ? he has got other options as far as work goes ? he has been offered to go and work with his brother who works for a double glazing company doing fascias and sophets (sp) ? as DP has passed his driving test he would be given a van and has the potential to earn lots ? BIL sometimes brings home £1000+ per week. However, the downside to this is there is no holiday or sick pay ? if he decides to take 2 weeks off over Xmas he then has to work 3 weeks in hand in January before getting any wages. Also if the weather is particularly bad as it was a few weeks ago, they are unable to work and therefore don?t get paid.

Option 2 is to become a Painter and Decorator which he does some of at his current workplace ? he really enjoys decorating and is a perfectionist when it comes to decorating. My Dad is a very good business and has offered to set DP up with a van and all the right tools ? basically going into business together, DP doing the actual physical work and my dad dealing with the business side of things. Obviously this incurs it?s own set of problems regarding the slow start, getting his business out there with the others etc ? I work in sales and marketing so it should be easy enough for me to help out regarding targeting and making people away of the services.

We are both really stumped ? he likes being a carpenter but feels that he hasn?t been given a fair chance to show how capable he really is ? doesn?t feel he would be able to carpentry elsewhere as has no qualifications or certificates.
He would enjoy working with his brother and obviously a big plus is the potential to earn a hell of a lot of money for someone of his age ? but this has the downside of not being a steady wage, work depending on weather conditions, no holiday pay etc.
He also really likes the idea of my dad?s ? being his own boss, having the opportunity to start us his own business from scratch etc ? but again this has similar downsides.

Basically, I want to now what to do ? I want to support my DP and I want him to be happy ? I see how much it gets his down working where he is at present and I really feel it is not good for him to stay in that situation but with a baby on the way is this really the right time to experiment and move away from the stability he has now.

Sorry this post was so long ? I sat writing it whilst I couldn?t get on to mumsnet ? any advice would be really great. Thanks in advance
Jems x

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but it sounds to me as though he would do really well working for an up-market kitchens type of place- you know the sort with hand-built cabinets? That would potentially involve carpentry and decorating, and maybe a bit more pay and security? Maybe they'd want certificates though. If not, I would have thought the decorating would be a good option if you could handle the initial insecurity. I would bet once he built up a client base there would be loads of people who would need some carpentry done aswell, and then he could combine jobs.
Hope you get something satisfactory sorted, anyway!

Oh dear, I can see advantages to both staying put (you don't want a whole load of insecurity and upheaval when the baby arrives - believe me, and the sick pay will come in very handy in your last months/baby's first months) but the opportunities he has sound fantastic, and with a growing family to support it would be brilliant to do something that he sees a future in and that he feels proud of (cos he will pass his sense of pride & satisfaction onto your little one)

Really haven't helped, have I!

Sc - is there any way of DP carrying on carpenting (word?) whilst, perhaps, doing the relevant qualifications for him to become properly skilled in it either part-time or as a day release? I used to work in the electrical industry and this is what a lot of our labourers did.

I think perhaps it may be better to stick to being a carpenter as this is what he knows and also he isn't trained as such in painting / decorating whereas a lot of painters / decorators are.

(pssst. is the painting / decorating something he could do 'on the fiddle' perhaps occasionally at weekends? He could market himself as an odd-job man - painting, diy, hanging doors?)

Jems try the Learning and Skills Council here

They should be able to advise, but from a quick nose there are plenty of part time and evening only courses.

If his existing company are so good in many ways, why doesn't he research day release courses at your local college and go to them and say that he would like to get qualified, would they allow him day release to to a course. He could sell it to them by saying that he would be a more skilled worker and could do better work.

If they turn him down he should do it in the evenings instead.

Then once qualified if they continued to give him rubbish work he would be in a position to set up on his own.

HTH

Thanks ladies - have spoken to DP briefly today - is obviously having a bad day which is making him more certain he wants to leave.

Said we will have good long chat about it at the weekend though and see what we can come up with - I'm sure we'll work something out.

What's stopping him staying put for the time being - whilst he gets his qualifications through ( perhaps ) evening class. That way he is still earning and advancing himself - Perhaps doing day release course - if the grumbly old boss doesn't kick off!!

THEN - as soon as he has got his certificates - go off on his own - using your Dad's support. That way he can be a fully qualified carpenter - with years of experience behind him ... and your Dad's business know-how to boot.
Just a thought ....

I think that is a good plan crystaltips. Everybody is always looking for a good carpenter - hanging doors, fitting kitchens, decking . . .

Agree with the stay put and get qualifications although that would be very hard work and take up his time but good in the long run. Post his number on MN and he'll be inundated with work, me first