Hi lads firstly can i say how much help this forum is, a big thanks to the moderators who make it happen

Im 35 yrs old and im qualified as a printer but i feel i need a change of direction i want to work for myself in the long term, my plan is to stay where i am for the foreseeable future (mortgage commitments etc i need to work)and to use my afternoons and weekends to build up my tiling skills ive no real experience in tiling but took days off work recently by doing 3 labour days for free for my bro in laws mate

ive been looking at this forum and reading many comments for a while now and after many a searching ive now narrowed it down to 2 courses that im interested in

one is chase tiling
one is Nett

I know everyone is raving about Nett and they sound very in depth its further away as im in Leicestershire and will 4 days do the same at £450 as Chase is 5 days and 10 days for £850 ??

Chase is closer about 45 mins away and i could travel daily

They both appear as good as each other and are on my choice list as well. Chas obviously suits you best for ease and will save you the expense of hotels etc

i can only speak for NETT as i did this course and you will not be disappointed if you choose this course.

oOOOoooo That's a tricky one. Both have plenty of good feedback. Both are good courses. I'll stay out of this one

You will actualy do 5 more hours training on our 4 day course than anyone elses
5 day course. Our course starts at 8.45 - 6.30 over 4 days = 39 hours.

Other courses
8.45 - 4.30 over 4 days plus 8.45 - 12pm 0n a Friday = 34 hours

Hi Paul,

With only 45 mins travel to your local training centre your problably going to go with them rather than travel up North.

Having completed the NETT course in April this year, with NETT only being 20 mins travel for me, I understand the questioning of the course and the additional travel costs etc. . .

I can only say the additional travel costs will be worth while. You will not be disapointed and will come away not only with the practical skills, but will also be provided with a lot of sound business acumen which is also essential and enable you to have that edge over your competion. . .

regards,
PM

Hi lads

thanks for the advice and comments im going to continue saving the cash until i get closer and then make a decision on what to do

A question to Paul martin how did you get on with the training in April and did you go straight into working for yourself ?

i did my course near me in telford,that was a weeks course for £325,that was 18 months ago!
but i hear good things about the 2 mentioned above! i'm not knocking the course i did as i learnt alot,but i hear chase cover ALL types of tile & addy etc. we only ran through stuff but they did offer a 2 week course to go into more aspects!
I guess wot i'm trying to say is you get wot you pay for!!

Originally Posted by NETT Darren

You will actualy do 5 more hours training on our 4 day course than anyone elses
5 day course. Our course starts at 8.45 - 6.30 over 4 days = 39 hours.

Other courses
8.45 - 4.30 over 4 days plus 8.45 - 12pm 0n a Friday = 34 hours

Not entirley correct Darren as our 5 day course times are:

Mon -Thur 8am - 5:30 = 38
Fri 8am - 2pm = 6

Total 44 learning hours,
Not trying to take your glory or anything but just thought i'd mention it

Hi Paul i'm going on the NETT course on he 1st Sept but it's taken me 9months or so to do something about it.Got advice on hear Brian C has advised me a few times and gave me a tool list twice so you will get loads of help.Just don't drag it out the longer you think about it the hard it is to take the jump.Once you have the money just go for it don't sit about on your a**e like i did make the change.

Hi Kenny (diamond) was talking about the majority of courses, i know your course is longer than most as well, just wanted people to know the value of tuition we give on a shorter course

Hi Paul,

The course was spot on and just what you'd be looking for. It is hard graft
and fast paced.
Out of a class of 15 I was one of 5 who were living local, the rest had travelled from the four corners of the country, most were very dubious at first, that the distance travelled was gonna be worth it, but by the end of the course they were all well impressed with what they had learned.

NETT offer a 5th day specific for Natural stone installations and those that had not booked it were gutted that they hadnt. I did, and it was well worth paying the xtra.

After the course I through myself right into starting my own business, got a new 1.6 Citroen dispatch van, had it badged up with my company name, bought a shed load of tools and got out there. I have to say it has been very slow with the odd job here and there and just breaking even but, I know Iam not alone there in this current climate. The work is starting to pick up a little now and I am gaining more confidence with each job.

Got two jobs from Morrisons car park - customers saw van took the phone number and called me so have covered the cost of the logo. . . and proves it is worth it having your name on the van.

Hope this helps.

Good luck
PM

These times come and go, every business i talk to is down in £££££££ at the moment, down to consumer insecurity, i have been self employed for 22 years now and seen it before many times, things will get better, just got to ride with the econemy at the moment and be ready when the upturn comes as when people get the confidence back they all start spending like crazy
Regards
Darren

Paul (Martin), did you do the 4 or 8 day course? Just wondering, as this is the 1st course i've seen to offer a pro level in 4 days. Most seem to want you there for 2-4 weeks, and your entire savings!

Thats great for you paul im glad things are working out for you, i ve been looking at Nett and chase again and reading all the advice up and down the forum im still saving the cash at the moment and working o/t to get my money together to go,

Im not short on graft whatsoever but nervous about spending all the cash and missing out on important info as its so intense and fast paced in such a short period of time (4days,Nett) will i keep up enough !!!, lol

Probably a silly question, but..... With these courses is there any written material that you can keep for reference?

You will leave our course with about 50, A4 pages of bullet point info to back up everything that has been discussed on the course and you will have my private home email for anything you need to clarify on the course or advice needed in the future
Regards
Darren

Yes like Darren says above !!

(The Bible) i think they call it,

I think having some reading material like that is priceless if you get into dificulty !!!

In addition to the above,if you pay attention to what Darren is telling you thenyou will leave a very competent tiler.You will actually wonder what you are fussing about.The hardest thing is learning about substrates and the different adhesives...so read up on this now to give you a head start and Darren will take care of the practical side of things.(ADHESIVES AND SUBSTRATE ARE COVERED ON THE COURSE,But this will give you a better understanding of things)

Thanks brian ,much appreciated !!!

Hi Beanz,

I did complete 8 days in all, the additonal 3 days consists of intensive practical work, testing you in very difficult senarios, if you can get through this you can tile " owt " when I first saw what Darren and the team had in store - I very nearly turned around and walked out - But I stayed and learned a hell of a lot, it was really worth the xtra and gave me the xtra confidence to go out and tile.

cheers,
PM

Thanks for all the info Gentlemen...

hi darren just a quick question

I know the additional ocurses at NETT only apply to those who have done the 4 day course i just wondered if its possible to go back to NETT and do the 1 day natural stone and 3 days bespoke another time after completing the 4 day one ?

Originally Posted by Paul

hi darren just a quick question

I know the additional ocurses at NETT only apply to those who have done the 4 day course i just wondered if its possible to go back to NETT and do the 1 day natural stone and 3 days bespoke another time after completing the 4 day one ?

Hi Paul,

By the time you want to do the additional courses , you to will have completed the 4 day course so the answer is YES.

Charlie is correct in the fact that you can do the 4 day course, then the 1 day then the 3 day course.
There will soon be a two day bathroom instalation course comming in the next few weeks, all compression fittings and push fits explained, you do not need the pipe bending and heat related problems of plumbing now to refit a whole bathroom suite.
Also im running a plastering course related to the plastering side of tiling including repair work, skimming, rendering and dot and dab plasterboard
All of the above courses are applicable to the course you have followed so they will compliment each other, all courses will come with extensive paperwork with what to do in the real world, not just what you learn in a training centre

I will let you all know when these courses are commencing as im sure a few old faces will be back down

Regards
Darren

That sound great darren , I didnt know you could plaster mate.

Cheers again lads much appreciated

Hi Charlie
I can plaster quite well but i will be getting a plaster in to teach it as i will be still running the tiling, he just has to teach to my standards with the info that is required set by myself, same as the plumbing, it will be taking place in a unit the same size as the tiling ones with about 7 on a course, the plastering unit is next door to the tiling unit so i will be in overlooking whats going on

when are the courses starting Darren as i am looking to go on a course within the next say 6 weeks.

Hi Brian mate, will be looking to have both courses up and running in the next 4 weeks or so, just about to put the course details on the website, will let you all know when they actually start, is it just another visit to south shields your after
Regards
Darren