EP #47 – Do Gas Engineers Need To Upskill To Stay Competitive? w/ Harry Budd
Overview
What’s the best move after qualifying as a gas engineer?
In this episode, Harry shares when it makes sense to invest in new qualifications, how training differs from real-world work, and why engineers who keep learning are better positioned to stay competitive, motivated, and in demand.
Highlights
Upskilling options for gas engineers
– (1:31) Upskilling includes anything beyond your CCN1 and ACS qualifications. Commercial work, renewables, etc.
– (2:45) Heat pump courses can be done in as little as a few days, and there are manufacturer-specific courses too.
– (4:13) The industry has been evolving, and new technologies have popped up – e.g. software being integrated into the workflow of an engineer.
Should you go self-employed after getting qualified?
– (5:30) Logic4Training also provides guidance and training on how to set up a business.
– (6:20) Newly-qualified engineers can benefit from becoming an employee first, where they can learn how a business is run and gain real-world experience before going out on their own.
– (7:30) Running a business is a competition, and upskilling allows you to offer more services and provide more for customers.
The future of the trades
– (9:22) Fewer people are coming into the trades than what’s needed. The trades need to be better promoted in schooling etc.
– (11:00) The trades are safe from AI-related job losses. In that sense, it’s a safer career path.
– (12:50) The trades aren’t spoken about enough, so young people don’t understand what being a gas engineer or plumber is actually about.
– (14:45) When and where to invest in training:
– (for new entrants/career swaps) Choose your preferred industry
– Avoid online learning. You can’t learn a lot of the practical work necessary purely online.
– (17:50) More people are entering into plumbing, then moving into gas.
– (20:30) Heat pump uptake comes back to the skill gap issue. There aren’t enough qualified installers to meet the government’s goals.