Further eduction

[F.J.]

Evening all,

I'm 31 and work for myself repairing machines and commercial vehicles and although im enjoying what I do I feel the time for me to upskill a bit further than the quals I currently have. I have a couple of Level 3 NVQ's, NVQ Assessor quals, Internal Verifier quals, H+S quals (minimal) and 30 units of a teaching diploma. I am also a coded welder but have been trying to find further, more indepth courses for welding. I have been searching for welding HNC's and a few Welding Fabrication and inspection posts came up on google but no college/university seems to deliver it near me in Manchester!! Although at the moment all I have searched for is 'Welding HNC in Manchester' on Google with no results. I will be calling a few colleges/universities over the next few days to see if they do deliver it but am I right to be asking for this course or are there others that are either easier/harder. Maybe one day when I am older I could use the qual to get a job with better pay than I earn now but with less hours as I currently work 7 days a week and regularly do 16 hour days.

Thanks

 

[Keith 66]

With those qualifications you should be on the way to teaching the subject!

 

[pedrobedro]

We spell it "education"

 

[Maker]

We spell it "education"

Hence he needs it.

 

[rory1]

No need to be pedants boys

 

[Rocketman]

Well HNC's with experience often open doors to what would other wise be degree requirement jobs.

 

[F.J.]

With those qualifications you should be on the way to teaching the subject!

I used to teach vehicle repair and welding to 16-19 year olds and loved it until the funding was slashed by the Skills Funding Agency meaning the college had to take more learners on to keep the money coming in. 90%of the students were there simply to claim extra benefits and the amount of pressure was unbelievable to get them completed so we didn't have to give money back. A manageable caseload is around 45 learners. I had 110!!!

 

[F.J.]

Well HNC's with experience often open doors to what would other wise be degree requirement jobs.

Although I love doing what I do now I still look at vacancies that pay well to see what kind of grades/experience you need. They higher paid jobs generally ask for some kind of Diploma/BTEC or other degree hence me taking an interest in learning further. I have considered doing some sort of Mechanical Engineering course and I may do so in the future but first I'd like to learn more about my trade

 

[cumbriasteve]

I agree with the general comments regarding a teaching career of sorts, after a varied life of skills and trades I entered the world of Safety training, it involved some self teaching and of course some course attendance etc but the rewards were well worth it...loved the job and it paid very well.

Those a bit younger and braver than me did freelance safety consultancy, the daily rate achieved by some was astronomical figures.

 

[Keith 66]

That is definately where the monery is, H&S consultancy training. Anyone who works in educational workshops from schools to colleges, vocational & Uni's as well must have some form of H&S training for all the machines, equipment & processes they may use in the workshop. Design & technology association are probably one of the biggest providers for schools & colleges. With all teaching & support staff needing training & updating every 5 years its a licence to print money.

 

[AndyStobbs]

I don't see how further quals will alter the jobs you take on?
I've been thinking of doing an OU degree in Mech Eng. but finding it hard to come to terms with the financial outlay when it wont change anything at work.

 

[Kayos]

I'm in a similar situation, I want to get a project management qualification to tie all my other quals together in a formal way. For me the problem is choice, and while some of the courses are cheap enough, if all you get us a piece of paper that no one recognises it's still a waste of money

 

[daleyd]

I don't see how further quals will alter the jobs you take on?
I've been thinking of doing an OU degree in Mech Eng. but finding it hard to come to terms with the financial outlay when it wont change anything at work.

^^ That's good advice, the trick is to figure out where you want to end up in say 10-15 years time and work out what quals you need to get there.

Also, as Rocketman said, a lot of times a HNC or similar with experience will get you for an interview for degree level jobs. If you want to stay at the practical end of things then its hard to see where a degree would benefit over and above a vocational qualification (I'm not running down degrees by the way, just the need for them at a practical level), though if you progress into management perhaps having a degree may become more and more beneficial.

 

[Richard.]

Have you thought about CSWIP
It will only take a week out of your working life and opens up the door of welding inspection. I did level 2 4 years ago and after my renewal next year I'll be going for level 3 which enables me to teach it.
Highly recommend it. Good examination process also. Practical exam on plate and pipe, 2 macros and a s##t load of technical questions. Get 80% in all 4 exams and come out a qualified welding inspector. Opened a lot of doors for me.

 

[F.J.]

I am not considering further learning to further my self employment, but to educate myself out of curiosity but to also put me in a better position if things were to go belly up and id need a contingency plan to get a job. I didn't think of CSWIP although I have heard of it. My old tutor has done the full course and has been looking for wok in that field as he said he could earn in the region of £5-600 a day

 

[AndyStobbs]

Probably only one day in ten though...
Have you considered where you find the time? OU reckon 20 hours a week for 6 years to achieve the Mech Eng. I looked at. I couldn't find 20 hours in a month sometimes, and thats a single man, no.children, no gf, just work and trappings of life.

 

[Richard.]

I am not considering further learning to further my self employment, but to educate myself out of curiosity but to also put me in a better position if things were to go belly up and id need a contingency plan to get a job. I didn't think of CSWIP although I have heard of it. My old tutor has done the full course and has been looking for wok in that field as he said he could earn in the region of £5-600 a day

Yep. Big contracts will pay very well to have a there welds inspected and signed off by a qualified professional.
I did the course at TWI Cambridge and paid the £2800 out my own sky rocket and I'm going to keep it up to date.

 

[F.J.]

Probably only one day in ten though...
Have you considered where you find the time? OU reckon 20 hours a week for 6 years to achieve the Mech Eng. I looked at. I couldn't find 20 hours in a month sometimes, and thats a single man, no.children, no gf, just work and trappings of life.

I think I would have to seriously reconsider this course then as I like you find it hard to find time for anything let alone 20 hrs a week!! I would be able to manage an evening, maybe two a week to put aside to work towards any sort of qual. I will have a better insight on Friday as im in the workshop all day so will dedicate my dinner hour to ringing around

 

[Rocketman]

The units on a HNC are taken off a degree. So say there are 10 units in a HNC and the degree level is 30. You will only have to do 20 units to get the degree. Obviously the degree has got to be in the same category, like both mech engineering for instance.

 

[Kent]

I am not considering further learning to further my self employment, but to educate myself out of curiosity but to also put me in a better position if things were to go belly up and id need a contingency plan to get a job. I didn't think of CSWIP although I have heard of it. My old tutor has done the full course and has been looking for wok in that field as he said he could earn in the region of £5-600 a day

But strangely enough I will bet he aint picking up a five figure sum annually! Go on ask me how I know that one. Being frank its your business its up to you were you take it an were it ends up but you must focus I have found though, once focus is lost in running the business things head down hill. Look at were you might take the business, plan ahead not sideways into employment and yet more qualifications.
The nature of business is paying people less than they earn you and selling things for more than they cost you- ask yourself were do you fit in, as the guy who gets less than he is worth?