Nicholas Chase |
 At 50 Nick had already worked for many years as an HGV driver but unfortunately he developed an illness which prevented him from working. His time away from his usual routine gave him time to think and he came to realise that he had not been enjoying his work very much anyway! Days and nights away from his family had taken their toll and he decided to turn his illness into something really positive. Nick had previously worked as a kitchen fitter and he decided that he would like to return to that kind of work. He soon discovered that over the years the industry had become much more regulated. He found that he had to have insurance but because he lacked formal plumbing qualifications he could not get what he needed. Rather than just give up, Nick decided that if he needed plumbing qualifications he would go and get them. ‘I'm not the kind of guy who sits around waiting for the world to come to me' said Nick Nick spotted plumbing training adverts in his local paper for several companies and after speaking with all of them he eventually chose Trade Qualified. ‘I thought that the qualifications on their plumbing training course were just what I needed. Other companies offered plumbing courses with just a few ‘starter' plumbing qualifications and I couldn't see the point of that' said Nick. ‘If you're going to make your living out of something you have to give yourself the best chance of succeeding and these days, that means that you have to have the right tickets'. ‘If there was one piece of information I gained from my research that was probably the most important', said Nick. When Nick enrolled on the plumbing training course and received his course materials, he found that everything was laid out in an easy to understand way. ‘I actually found it enjoyable' said Nick. ‘I've always been a practical guy and everything quickly made sense'. ‘What I enjoyed most though was the time in the plumbing training centre. There was a good mix of people there of all ages from their early twenties upwards. We soon made friends after a quick introduction at the beginning of each week and then got stuck in. As I went through the plumbing course I often found myself in the same class as people I had met on earlier weeks which added to the relaxed atmosphere. All of the plumbing tutors were helpful and went out of their way to help me to get the most out of the plumbing training. I could not single anyone out in particular - I just thought they were all great. Nick is now working full-time doing property maintenance which he really enjoys. Said Nick, ‘Although there is some kitchen fitting work I now do a much wider range of things that I did before and I'm enjoying life. I feel a new enthusiasm for work which I had previously lost before my illness and now I'm looking forward to the future.' When asked if he would recommend Trade Qualified's Professional Plumbing courses to someone else Nick said ‘I already have; my Brother -in- Law is on the same course'! Enough said I think. |
