This week’s #TradesTalk Twitter chat was co-hosted by Drayton and looked at the topic of training.
Despite what the picture suggests, it wasn’t about that kind of training, but covered everything from finding the time to attend courses to how to tell a training session will be right for you and your business.
Here’s our round up of the best bits…
QUESTION ONE
https://twitter.com/GasSafePete/status/1163890235517865984?s=20
A1 – I like to learn more about products I already fit, learn about products I would like to start fitting, broaden my general knowledge on the industry, create new friendships. If your not willing to learn no one can help you #TradesTalk
— Damon Blakemore (@Damon_BPH) August 20, 2019
Learn more about products I already fit but also about new products or ones I don’t understand. Most important to me is price at the moment. I’m apprentice so low cost and almost anything is worth me looking at.
— Ellen (@EllenPlumber) August 20, 2019
A mix of all three. I generally like to keep on top of things that excite me and if I see something that is being done differently, I like to check it out. #TradesTalk
— The Electricians Toolbox (@Tools4Sparks) August 20, 2019
QUESTION TWO
A2 I can’t remember the last physical one I went to. I’d like to go to more but I never find the time #TradesTalk
— S.N.L Home Repairs (@snlhomerepairs) August 20, 2019
Evening everyone @TradesTalk bit late to this evening chat but just spotted this question. Last time was an update on our #CAD software to plan and design houses and refurbs. But personally I very interested in doing my gas.
— McGinleys C & C (@mcginleyscc) August 20, 2019
A2: EV Charging next month. Would like to do more courses but time is the issue #TradesTalk
— ChiElectricians (@Chichester_Elec) August 20, 2019
QUESTION THREE
Hands on , I’ve been lucky enough to shadow a couple of lads on here to gain information on how stuff is done and works
— clive o malley (@cliveomalley) August 20, 2019
A3: I like a pleasant mixture of all: there is a place for online modules and in trades, a need for hands-on experiences, but also a need for information through presentations and documentation to retain #TradesTalk pic.twitter.com/lvryauQNPy
— Dr Boilers 🐰 (@DrBoilers) August 20, 2019
We're glad it's stood you in good stead for so long Pete! #TradesTalk
— Drayton Heating (@DraytonHeating) August 20, 2019
Online is a bore fest. Mix of classroom and practical works well for me #TradesTalk
— Matt (@DripFix) August 20, 2019
QUESTION FOUR
A4 yeah try to do when a bit quite but you know as soon as you book the course you then go mad 🤣 #tradestalk
— Lloyd Stafford (@lloydlwlheating) August 20, 2019
I try and make the effort to go if it's manufacturer training for something I fit or maintain, generally good courses. But it can be hard if you're up against a lot of work and then need time off for training.
— Tim (@WireTestCo) August 20, 2019
I’ve attended courses that we’re supposed to be very technical, to find out they were not, then I feel I’ve wasted a day.
— Ken Bone (@kenbone44) August 20, 2019
QUESTION FIVE
A5. We install @DraytonHeating wiser as our goto smart control. If the customer asks, then we will suggest it. On systems that are too big or complex, I use Watts Vision. And I believe that @RadiantControl can supply that. On @NIBEEnergy systems we use the inbuilt. #Tradestalk
— BTSE Heating (@BeyondtheStove) August 20, 2019
A5 With smart controls you have got to ask your customers the right questions & see if this is for them or not, some people will love them & some will be constantly calling you out to explain how it works 😖
I really like the Nest stat, got one in my own home #TradesTalk— Pete Brown 🚿🛠🔥 (@GasSafePete) August 20, 2019
Once we tell our customers the benefits plus being able to operate lights etc when on holiday, plus can run through Alexa for a £100 is a bargain. Most of our customers take them out now.
— Aigburth Plumbing & Heating (@Larklane) August 21, 2019
QUESTION SIX
I really like smart controls, especially those that can control / modulate the burner too.
Consumer education is an issue but manufactures have dropped the odd clanger too. I removed one set up as it wouldn’t allow the hearing to come on when it was 19°C outside. #TradesTalk— Green Albion Ltd (@GreenAlbionLtd) August 20, 2019
Do you find that a good handover where you talk them through the product helps, or do they prefer to try to get to grips with it themselves? #TradesTalk
— Drayton Heating (@DraytonHeating) August 20, 2019
A6 I read the booklets, ask questions from those more experienced, ask the manufacturer if I need to, but sometime feel out of my depth. Wish colleges would have a special course just for this subject #TradesTalk
— London Gas (@LondonGas) August 20, 2019
Not so much reservations with the fitting of the devices but the products and manufacturers themselves, we try to stick with reputable brands as some of the lesser knowns have already shut cloud services leaving customers with useless devices.#TradesTalk
— JP Electrical (@JPElectrical4) August 20, 2019
QUESTION SEVEN
A7 The good ones do, sadly most of the ones I deal with just dump more crap and flyers on the trade counter top but don't train the staff either about the new products.
How can they sell it to me if they know just as little about it as me!
— HB Chippy (@hb_chippy) August 20, 2019
Often I think marketing departments do a great job. I’m well informed of everything @WirquinLtd do because of the marketing they do on Twitter. Adverts are great too to spark my interest
— Ellen (@EllenPlumber) August 20, 2019
Social media has made it easy for updates to be made available, but more manufacturers should offer training courses in their products. It's a way of marketing, after all.
— Tim (@WireTestCo) August 20, 2019
QUESTION EIGHT
Loads more.
But electricians need to be respected by their own industry first.
Then the industry can inspire them to learn and maintain their own professional development.#TradesTalk
— SparkyNinja (@Sparky_Ninja) August 20, 2019
A8 it should be a personal choice. If you don’t learn new things you can be left behind. The only way to stay at the top is to keep learning and evolving. Maybe I should listen to my own advice 😂 #TradesTalk
— S.N.L Plumbing (@SNLPlumbing) August 20, 2019
Free manafactures courses are a great way to better yourself. I get a great sense of achievement when I've completed something I thought impossible. More articles encouraging people to better themselves and offering free training is great
— Carlosjohnson81 (@carlos81johnson) August 20, 2019
#TradesTalk takes place on Twitter every Tuesday 8-9pm, talking about everything from tools to training.
