Careers Spotlight: Gas engineer

Gas engineers do far more than install and fix boilers – with the right training, they can work with a whole range of gas appliances in both domestic and commercial settings, opening the door to a rich and rewarding career where no one day is like the next.

For most people, a gas engineer is a helpful expert who makes sure domestic gas systems are correctly installed and running smoothly. In more troubled times, they’re even the hero who comes in at inconvenient times, ready to fix a boiler on the blink in the bitter cold of midwinter.

However, that’s not all a gas engineer does.

This is a role that will have you wearing many different hats – and one where you’ll never be bored with routine, as every job and every day brings new challenges. As a gas engineer, your job is to solve gas-related problems in domestic and commercial settings, and often with constraints.

It’s also a role that’s suited for people who enjoy working with other people and helping them. You’ll spend a lot of time in other people’s homes and workplaces, typically installing, servicing, and repairing various gas appliances and central heating systems.

Being a gas engineer is sometimes seen as a hard job. It can certainly be challenging. Despite this, figuring out solutions to complex gas and heating problems can be incredibly satisfying, while the excellent salary and prospects for career advancement make this an attractive career for ambitious people.

What Appliances Do Gas Engineers Work On

When most people think of gas, they think of their boilers. Many gas engineers will spend much of their time working on boilers, either fitting, repairing, or replacing them. Beyond boilers, gas engineers can choose to work with a whole range of gas appliances in both domestic and commercial settings.

These appliances could include gas fires, gas boilers, gas cookers, central heating systems, hot water storage cylinders, and wall heaters, to name a few. However, before you can work on any gas appliance, you are legally required to be on the Gas Safe register, which qualifies you to work on the types of gas appliance you have trained for.

You will not be able to legally work on appliances for which you have no training and credentials. If you are interested in working on specific types of gas appliance, you should be focused on getting the relevant training and certification for them.

Gas engineers continue their training over the course of their career and can either stay working on the same appliances or take training for new types of appliances. As a gas engineer, you’ll be free to choose which direction your career goes – and what appliances you want to work on – through your training.

What Does a Gas Engineer’s Typical Day Look Like

There is no one ‘typical day’ as a gas engineer, which makes this a good career choice for people who don’t want to be trapped in a mundane routine. Usually, you can expect to work between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

You may also be on 24-hour emergency calls; while getting up to fix a gas leak at 3am might not be pleasant, employed gas engineers can enjoy the overtime pay from such jobs, while self-employed can charge their own emergency fees for call out.

While fitting boilers will likely be a part of your job, you’ll also be repairing gas appliances, fixing gas leaks, and troubleshooting gas and energy issues. Your typical day is largely defined by your training and which appliances you are qualified and registered to work on, which means that another gas engineer’s typical day may not be yours.

The ability to maintain good customer service is a part of the job of a gas engineer. All gas engineers will be working with customers, which means that people and communication skills are useful. You might need to explain a problem, offer advice on how to use an appliance, or recommend a replacement appliance.

With plenty of problems to solve and many different environments and situations to navigate, gas engineers never complain about having to do the same thing every day!

What Skills Does a Gas Engineer Need to Be Successful

The gas sector is a growing one in this country and is also the UK’s main source of energy. Despite this, there is a shortage of skilled gas engineers in the country – which means that this is a career path that is very much in demand, not just from gas business employers, but also domestic and commercial customers.

If you are looking for a ‘job for life’ that offers job security, an excellent salary, and plenty of options for promotion and career progression, a career in gas management is a good choice. This is especially true of those with a talent for maths and science.

It’s also a career choice that gives you a lot of independence: as a highly-skilled worker, your experience is invaluable. You may choose to start working with a company, but later decide that you want to become self-employed; some even decide to become more specialised in a specific type of appliance.

You will also need some ‘soft’ skills to succeed: an ability to manage your time effectively while solving sometimes complex issues, and an ability to work well with people and offer good customer service.

No matter what path you choose, all you need to be successful is the right training, the right mindset, and a dedicated sense of commitment to doing a good job to be successful.

How Much Money Does a Gas Engineer Make?

In the United Kingdom, there is a shortage of workers in the skilled trades industries, of which gas is one. While this job may lack the glamour of more popular career paths, it offers an excellent salary, even for freshly trained and qualified workers.

The combination of a nationwide gas engineer shortage and the highly-trained nature of this job means that newly qualified engineers can expect an average starting salary of £32,000 – that’s £6,000 higher than the national average!

As your career progresses, you can expect to make even more money. An experienced gas engineer makes around £37,500 a year, while those with even more experience and skill make as much as £60,000.

This average does vary around the country. As you might expect, gas engineers in London and the South-East generally enjoy higher salaries. Outside of this area, salaries can also be pushed up by factors such as a local shortage of gas engineers, or a town being a regional hub for commerce and industry.

Wherever you are located, a career as a gas engineer offers an attractive salary with an interesting and varied job. Gas remains the first choice of Britain when it comes to heating, which means you will always have a steady stream of customers, employed or self-employed.

What Qualifications Do People Need to Become a Gas Engineer

To work as a gas engineer, you will need two industry qualifications, both of which are required by law:

ACS in Gas is evidence of your training. This assesses your competence as a gas engineer; the registration is valid for 5 years and must be renewed to allow you to remain on the Gas Safe Register.

Gas Safe registered is an industry database for the UK which shows that you are qualified to work as a gas engineer, and which appliances you are trained and qualified to work on

Before you can get these industry qualifications, you will need to train – for many people, an apprenticeship offering an NVQ or a Gas Managed Learning Programme in a gas-related field is the best route.

Working without these qualifications is illegal. When training to become a gas engineer, you should focus on courses that cover the training for the appliances you want to work with, such as CENWAT (central heating boilers), HTR1 (gas fires) and CKR1 (gas cookers).

How Long Does it Take to Become a Gas Engineer

The answer to this question largely depends on your pre-existing skills and qualifications. In general, a new entrant completing a Gas Managed Learning Programme can expect to be qualified in around six months.

There are two legal requirements you will need to attain before you can start working; first, you must pass your ACS gas qualification and second, you must be on the Gas Safe register.

An adult apprenticeship, such as those offered by Skills Training Group, will cover all the areas you need to know to pass your ACS test. Passing this test will allow you to join the Gas Safe register and start working on the gas appliances you are trained and qualified to work with. At this point, you will be able to either start your own gas business and work as a self-employed gas engineer or seek employment at one of the UK’s many gas firms.

Both paths are valid, and you should choose the one which suits you best – while you can make more money as a self-employed gas engineer, it’s worth remembering that becoming an employee offers more stability and security. Many people start out in employment before starting their own business, or vice-versa, so this isn’t a decision that is set in stone.

You will need to be committed to passing each stage successfully, which requires hard work and motivation; new entrants with this level of dedication are mostly qualified within a year of starting.

If you want to learn more about working as a gas engineer click on the links below

Boosting your CV

So what is a CV?  CV is short for Curriculum Vitae and is a short document which summarises your unique skills, character, experience and achievements.  

For students it can feel difficult to know what to write as you haven't had the time to build up the experience that employers always seem to want.

In this section we will look at ways of making your CV stand out for future employers so you can get that dream job.  So far we have looked at  ideas such as attending after school clubs and work experience placements.  This month we consider what many think of as the core of a CV, your academic achievements.

Make the most of your academic achievements:

Most people list their GCSE and A-level results, but very few make the effort to make their qualifications stand out. For example, if you’ve been highly commended for a particular project or assignment, why not mention it on your CV?

Although your CV should follow a set structure, you should also do what you can to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Think about the order you list your qualifications, putting the best qualifications or the ones that you want to draw attention at the top of the list is often a good idea.

The link below will help you put together your CV

Unifrog

In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers education information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and tailored support when choosing their next step after school. We have invested in an online application called Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform. All students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 now have access to this excellent website.

The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.  Key features of the platform include:

Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career and subject profiles, MOOCs and webinars

Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills

Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK and abroad), FE, virtual work experience and much more

Applications – tools to help students build applications for a range of pathways (e.g., CVs, Personal Statements, Common App Essays)

All students have access to the platform, which is unique to them. They login to Unifrog using their email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone. We would encourage all students to use the platform at home too, so parent/carers can support their child through the process of deciding their next step

Help for Parents and Carers

When it comes to education and careers, parents and carers have a large influence on a students choices. As an adult you are expected to have all the answers, but in a constantly evolving world it can be a struggle to keep up with the latest options out there.  In this section we will highlight resources that will help keep you up to date with careers and the choices available to young people.

Last month we looked at general ideas of how to help your child, this month we consider applying to post 16 colleges.

What is the difference between higher education and further education?

• Further education (FE) includes any study after secondary education that’s not part of higher education, so typically college or 6th forms while higher education involves undergraduate and postgraduate study.

What is the difference between college and 6th form?

• While both options provide students with a pathway to higher education, they differ in a number of ways. Colleges focus solely on educating students aged 16-18. These colleges are often larger than school sixth forms and often offer technical and vocational qualifications.

When do we need to start applying for college/6th form courses?

• Applications can start at any time during Year 11, though typically students start applying during the spring term.

• Any offers made by a college/6th form will be subject to the student gaining the required grades at the end of Year 11.  The specific grades required by each course will be explained by the college/6th form

What if our child changes their mind about the courses they want to do at college/6th form, is this a problem?

• This depends on when the student changes their mind.

• If during year 11 a student changes their mind this isn't an issue, a student can apply to multiple colleges and only has to make a decision about which one to attend once the GCSE results are known in August

• Many students change their mind in the first few weeks of starting a new course.  Colleges/6th forms are used to this and will allow students to move courses as long as they meet the requirements for the new course they wish to choose.

• The longer a student has studied a course before deciding to change the harder it becomes to change to a new course.  This is due to the amount of teaching they will have already missed on the course they wish to change to.

Careers in Hertfordshire: Retrofit

Retrofit is the improvement of existing buildings to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

As demand for retrofit solutions accelerates, the county’s skills capacity is still developing, creating a unique opportunity for local businesses and tradespeople to secure new contracts and expand their services while offering residents a pathway into a high growth, future-focused career.

To support this transition, Hertfordshire Futures is focusing on training and schemes to help businesses and residents upskill or retrain and enter the retrofit market.

The majority of Hertfordshire’s housing stock in old, built circa 1945. 3 in 5 Hertfordshire homes possess an average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘C’ and there are more failing certificates than passing in most districts. The retrofit roles most needed to improve these dwellings relate to the installation of energy efficiency measures, including:

• double or triple glazed windows and doors

• improved wall and loft insulation

• internal energy management systems

• smart heating controls

• modern heating technologies such photovoltaics, heat pumps, geothermal etc.

There is strong demand for both technical roles, e.g. retrofit assessors, installers and heat specialists, and non-technical roles, e.g. project managers, customer service and finance professionals.

For more information please go to www.hopinto.co.uk/ 

Current Opportunities

This month we have opportunities for virtual experience in the NHS as well as details of how to become a local champion with Clarion

NHS Virtual Work Experience

The Medical and Dental Schools Council acknowledges virtual work experience as an equal alternative to in-person shadowing based on a discovery report conducted by Health Education England. I encourage students aged 14 and over, interested in becoming doctors or dentists to participate in our FREE National NHS Virtual Work Experience programme. We are pleased to offer a variety of medical and dental specialties, with a focus this month on Palliative Care and Public Health & Oral Pathology. This enables your students to gain a well-rounded perspective of working within the NHS.

If you feel there are any students in Years 10/S3/NI11 - 13/S6/NI14 missing out on this opportunity, please forward this information to them:

Medicine: https://medicmentor.org/university-hospitals-birmingham-trust-virtual-work-experience/

Dentistry: https://dental-mentor.org/university-hospitals-birmingham-trust-virtual-work-experience/

Developed in collaboration with Birmingham Universities Hospitals Trust, this Virtual Work Experience has proven to be transformative for thousands of secondary school students over the past year. It also provides a strong foundation of knowledge for students who are preparing to undertake future in-person placements.

This 6-month medical and 4 months dental e-learning work experience programme allows students to set their own pace of learning. Covering everything from confidentiality and ethics workshops delivered by the GMC to clinical procedures, our virtual work experience provides a crucial overview to enhance your students’ UCAS applications.

Signing up is easy – students simply need to fill out the free online application form:

Medicine: https://medicmentor.org/university-hospitals-birmingham-trust-virtual-work-experience/

Dentistry: https://dental-mentor.org/university-hospitals-birmingham-trust-virtual-work-experience/

We look forward to interacting with your students and will provide them with certificates upon completion. Thank you for passing on the details.

Warm regards,

Dr (Prof) Dhakshana Sivayoganathan 

Become a Young Community Champion!

I hope you are well.

My name is Tosin Ilemobola, and I work for Clarion Futures in the Jobs Plus team in Borehamwood. Clarion Group is the UK’s largest housing association, and Clarion Futures, its charitable arm, works closely with residents in disadvantaged communities. We support young people in developing skills, accessing opportunities and overcoming barriers through employment support, training, volunteering, and wellbeing initiatives.

We are excited to invite students aged 16–24 to become Young Community Champions, a group helping to shape events, opportunities, and projects for young people in the community.

As a Young Community Champion, students will:

• Plan and run events focused on careers, creativity, health, community, and socialising

• Share their opinions and feedback to influence programmes and opportunities

• Refer residents to our programmes

• Gain real-world experience that enhances their CV

• Connect with local teams, partners, and other young leaders

• Enjoy exclusive perks, including vouchers, free trips, and career coaching

The group will meet once a month to collaborate and create opportunities for young people. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop leadership and teamwork skills, make valuable connections, and have their voices heard.

We would be grateful if you could share this opportunity with your students. For more information or any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Many thanks,

Tosin

Tosin Ilemobola – Employment Support Officer

Jobs Plus Pilot Borehamwood

Clarion Futures Jobs & Training