Are you considering a career as a freelance plumber? There is strong demand for skilled plumbers in the UK, which means that it can be secure and lucrative work. Additionally, being a freelance plumber makes you your own boss, which provides a level of freedom, flexibility, and control, which is hard to beat. Here are the main steps involved in starting a career as a freelance plumber.
Qualifications & Experience
Of course, you will first need to make sure that you have the proper qualifications to become a plumber and gain professional experience. There are a few routes that you can take, including an apprenticeship, a fast-track course, and on-the-job training.
The recent approval of new Level 2 and 3 plumbing apprenticeship standards by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (ifATE) aims to improve standards, heighten course accessibility, and provide additional career entry points. This is designed to address the shortage of plumbers in the UK, with an estimated 73,700 required by 2032.
Legal Requirements & Registrations
You must have a strong understanding of your legal requirements when starting a career as a freelance plumber, as you will not want to encounter any legal issues. This means that you need to register your business with HMRC, obtain the necessary insurance, and join a professional body. If you will be working with gas appliances and systems, you will need to obtain Gas Safe registration beforehand.
Setting Your Rates & Managing Finances
Next, you can think about setting your rates. This can be tricky as you will need to make sure that you are profitable but competitive, plus you will need to factor in things like experience, location, and job complexity as well as your expenses. You will need to manage inventory and equipment costs, such as looking for boilers for sale so that you can install replacements. It is important to do your own research on plumbers in your area, but as a guideline, self-employed plumbers in the UK charge between £20 and £50 per hour.
Marketing & Building a Client Base
It is then a case of promoting your business and building a client base. This can be tricky when you are just getting started, but due to the shortage, it is possible to succeed with clever marketing. This should involve creating a professional website, being active on social media, and using digital marketing to boost online visibility. You should also network in person and ask people to recommend your services – word-of-mouth marketing is highly effective in this sector. When you get customers, make sure that customer service is a top priority and try to build relationships.
The information in this post should be useful for anyone thinking about starting a career as a freelance plumber. With such a shortage in the UK, this can be an excellent career move and one that puts you in control as your own boss.
