I chose MidKent College because it was my closest College and offered the programme that I was looking for. Travel is easy as there are buses that travel straight to the campus.
I have attended multiple open events at the College which showcased an incredible range of programmes to choose from. All of the tutors were there to show and explain what their programmes entailed in great detail, such as what projects the student would be up to, and what skills they will learn during their time on the programme. These open events were very insightful and helped me to determine which trade-based programme I wanted to be part of.
I chose Plumbing because I believed it to be an amazing skill to learn alongside carpentry. It’s been even better than I had first expected and I am enjoying it more with every subject presented throughout.
So far we’ve covered health and safety, cold water systems, hot water systems, central heating systems, and sanitation and drainage in our theory classes. There are still a few subjects to cover but so far everything has been going well. Through the practical side of the programme, we have been tasked with installing a variety of different systems and components such as radiators, boilers, motorised valves and wiring in multi-zone systems.
To me the most enjoyable part about the programme is being able to put what you learn in the theory lessons to use in the workshops, which just shows that a little bit of knowledge about the jobs you’ve been assigned can improve your overall quality of work and progression.
Our tutor is very good at explaining and helping us to retain the large amount of information in our theory lessons, as well as giving us thorough explanations on how all the different systems and components of our practical tasks are supposed to operate. The College has done a great deal to help to prepare us for work. We’ve been introduced to different companies that specialize in different areas of plumbing and have been given insight into on-site work ethics and what’s going to be expected of us.
The next step for me is to apply for a level 3-4 apprenticeship so I can gain all the extra necessary skills to make a good career out of plumbing for myself. Afterwards I am considering being self-employed and starting my own company.
