Get Gas Safe training to start out as a gas engineer

Why train as a gas engineer?

Training or retraining to be a gas engineer could be a great option for you.

You may be:

• In a job you don’t like and keen for a new challenge.
• Leaving or graduated school and now considering career options.
• Already working as a tradesperson but want to gain new skills and qualifications.

If you fall into any of these areas, then training for Gas Safe work as an engineer is an excellent career choice.

Working as a gas engineer requires a wide range of technical knowledge. It can be challenging but it is also highly rewarding. Rates of pay are generally excellent, and you can expect good levels of independence and flexibility in your working life.

Checkatrade member Andy Murray from A Jude Plumbing and Heating had this to say:

“Often as a newly qualified engineer the hardest thing is gaining experience in the field. One of the best ways to combat this is by volunteering with a local gas company and labouring for them. This will give you real experience in the field and hopefully they’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.”

What does a gas engineer do?

Gas Safe engineer training covers all you’ll need to install, service and maintain all types of gas appliances. Engineers will need to train for both the residential and commercial sectors, however will tend to specialise in one.

Engineers may need to work alongside other trade professionals on construction sites or in people’s homes for renovation projects.

Gas engineers also work with gas pipe systems; cutting, bending, and fitting pipes to connect appliances to the mains gas source. Engineers that are Gas Safe registered will also be required to attend to suspected gas leaks and ensure the suspected leak is made safe.

All gas engineers must be certified as Gas Safe to work on gas appliances and supply systems. It is why Gas Safe training is imperative, to ensure you are approved for the Gas Safe register.

How to choose the right Gas Safe training provider

Once you’ve decided to become a Gas Safe engineer, you’ll want to know your first steps to make it happen. You’ll first need to find a quality training provider.

There are numerous companies offering Gas Safe training courses across the UK.

On this training, you’ll learn the theoretical side and the essential practical skills to help with your gas engineer qualifications.

Following your time in the training centre, you’ll then:

• Be placed with an experienced and fully qualified mentor
• Go on-site and learn hands-on
• Expand your knowledge in a real-life working environment

Finally, you’ll complete an ACS Initial Assessment. Once you’ve successfully completed your Gas Safe training, you can apply to join the Gas Safe Register.

Concerns about gas vs renewable energy changes

There is currently a drive to reduce carbon emissions worldwide. In the UK alone, natural gas is set to be phased out and replaced with renewable energy sources with no new gas boiler installations after 2025.

So, is it worth retraining as a gas engineer?

The answer is most definitely yes.

Almost 86% of UK homes use natural gas to heat their homes. There are an estimated 22 million gas boilers in homes across the UK. Once the new gas boiler installation date has passed, all these boilers will still require regular servicing and maintenance.

The long-term plan for UK energy will likely use a combination of natural gas and hydrogen. The infrastructure for hydrogen power in the UK is still being developed.

However, Gas Safe training centres are already planning to offer updated training provisions to new and existing gas engineers. That means that up to date training will ensure they are fully compliant with new system installations and maintenance.

There are also other green energy training courses that might match your skillset. As well as other gas training courses, this could also be for renewables, such as solar panels or heat pumps.

How to get experience once trained as a gas engineer

Once you’ve completed a Gas Safe training course and are registered with the Gas Safe register, you’ll want to find work. There are several ways to do this.

• If you already work as a tradesperson, you can offer your new skills to your existing contacts
• You can apply for gas engineer jobs, using sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Total Jobs
• You could talk to your training provider who’ll likely have industry contacts
• You could go it alone and start a new business with a new set of potential customers in your area

A great place to start building your business and getting your name out there would be through Checkatrade.

After becoming a Checkatrade member, you will:

• Be a recommended tradesperson on a trusted trade directory
• Save on the cost of business essentials like tools and workwear
• Get access to the dedicated trades app
• Enjoy fantastic savings on business software like Quickbooks

So training for Gas Safe engineering work and coming on board with Checkatrade is a good career choice.

How to grow a gas engineering business

When you get your gas engineer qualifications, you can start running your own successful gas engineering business. Once you have a steady flow of work, you’ll want to grow your business and take it to the next level.

Before you begin hiring more staff and spending money on marketing and advertising, it’s essential to have a structured plan. In this section, we’ll help you to create a structured approach to business growth.

It’s not just about getting initial Gas Safe training. You can’t just hope for the best. With good planning and realistic targets, you’ll soon see your business skyrocket!

What is business growth?

You may think that business growth is all about increasing sales. For some businesses this may be true. Business growth, however, involves much more than this.

Alongside generating more sales, business growth may involve:

• Building a larger customer base through marketing
• Increasing the size of your team through further Gas Safe engineer training
• Expanding the services you provide

Business growth can also involve maintaining a positive profit margin. This may involve maximising efficiency and minimising costs.

One of the first things to consider for business growth is your goals. Setting realistic targets will help you to focus your energy in the right place.

Setting growth targets for your gas engineering business

A gas engineering business is a unique and specialist trade. When setting your business goals, you should ensure that you carefully consider the development of the gas engineering sector.

Whether you want to boost sales, expand your team, or increase the services you provide, you need to decide on the direction of your business.

Some points to consider when growing your gas engineering business include:

• Maintenance vs installation
• Commercial vs domestic
• Transition to renewable energy

Marketing for gas engineers

One of the central parts of growing any business is having a marketing strategy. Marketing is just as important for gas engineers as for any other trade.

Today, marketing is generally split into traditional marketing and digital marketing. When combined, the two elements work together to help attract more customers and grow your brand.

Traditional marketing

• Print marketing (eg. Adverts in newspapers and magazines)
• Sponsorship (eg. Sponsoring local events and teams)
• Company branding (Vehicle signs, shop fronts etc.)
• Networking (trade partnerships)
• Word of mouth (customer reviews)

Digital marketing

• Professional business website
• Social media profile
• Online trade directory (such as Checkatrade)
• Google Business profile
• Online customer testimonials

To help plan your marketing strategy, use our free marketing planning guide.

Expanding your team

It’s great to be busy. If you find yourself having to delay or even turn down jobs, however, it’s probably time to think about expanding your team.

Growing your team may seem like a daunting prospect. You need to decide whether you want to employ skilled and qualified professionals or offer apprenticeships and training schemes to people who are new to the industry.

Whatever you decide to do, as an employer, you have certain responsibilities. You’ll want to make sure that any new member of your team has the right gas engineer qualifications. If they’re an apprentice or full-time employee, you’ll still want them to do Gas Safe training.

Have a read of these articles to find out more detailed information about hiring new employees and expanding your team.

• How to tell when’s a good time to hire employees
• Learn about how to make that first hire
• Who to hire? Employees, contractors, or an apprentice?

Specialist trades within gas engineering

Gas engineering is a broad and diverse sector. That means going on the right gas training courses to specialise in one or more areas.

When growing your business, here are some areas within gas engineering that you may want to focus on:

• Boiler installations
• Boiler maintenance and repair
• Safety testing
• Domestic gas engineering
• Industrial gas engineering

When planning to grow your gas engineering business, your growth targets should always be S.M.A.R.T.

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-bound

This formula will help you to monitor business growth and understand when you’ve reached your growth targets.

Win more work as a Checkatrade gas engineer

One of the best ways to promote your business and achieve business growth is by becoming a Checkatrade registered gas engineer.

Checkatrade membership provides a wide range of benefits including:

• Getting more leads
• Securing more work
• Boosting your business’ profile
• Saving money
• Helping customers to see you as a trusted business and tradesperson

Give your business the best chance at success by joining Checkatrade today!

Becoming a gas engineer FAQs

Here are some FAQs around becoming a gas engineer to help you to make a fully informed decision.

Is it still worth becoming a gas engineer?
Certainly. There are still millions of gas boilers in homes across the UK. This won’t change any time soon, so getting the right Gas Safe training means you can meet demand now and for the foreseeable future.

Is there a demand for gas engineers?
Yes. With 22 million boilers in UK homes and an estimated 1.6 million more being installed each year until 2025, there is extremely high demand for gas engineers.

Do gas engineers make good money?
Yes. Average starting salaries are £32,500. Getting the right Gas Safe training means that as an experienced gas engineer, you can earn upwards of £60,000.

Is there a shortage of gas engineers in the UK?
Yes. According to Gas Safe, there is already a shortage of qualified engineers in the UK. The shortage is predicted to rise as 50% of gas engineers are currently over the age of 55 and will retire within 10 years.

What qualifications do you need?
There are a variety of gas engineer qualifications on offer, but not all will be relevant. A good start is the ACS Domestic Gas & Plumbing Course.