Hands-on plumbing courses aimed to equip students with essential skills needed to complete work away from the centre.
At Construction Skills College (TradeTeacher), our intensive plumbing courses in the UK are designed for beginners, career changers and tradespeople who want practical, job-ready plumbing skills. The aim of our courses are for you to build your knowledge, confidence and skills in plumbing so that you can successfully complete plumbing jobs in the real world and start earning money as a plumber in the UK. To enable you to accomplish this our training is hands-on and delivered in realistic training bays, by experienced tutors with all tools and materials supplied. We don’t just teach the ‘how to’, we teach the ‘why’ as well, so that you have the knowledge to overcome problems, as no two jobs are the same. We will also provide ongoing support after you have completed your course to help you progress into either employment or self-employment.
Our training centre is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and we welcome learners from across the UK and overseas. Over the years, we’ve trained students who have travelled from across the Midlands, the North West, London and the South, as well as Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and internationally from Europe, the USA, Brunei and the Caribbean.
Many people search for a “plumbing course near me”, but when you’re investing your time, money and future career, choosing the right course matters more than choosing the closest one.
You are always welcome to visit our training centre and see our courses running before enrolling. If you can only visit in the evening or weekends, please get in touch and we will arrange for someone to show you around.
5 days £600
Fast, practical introduction to core plumbing skills. Ideal for DIY, property work, and building a solid foundation. This is a non-accredited course, you will receive an attendance certificate.
9 days £1,150
A more in-depth course with more practice time. You will install all pipework and a full bathroom suite twice, complete repair work, hang and connect a radiator and add a radiator to a system — ideal for career changers wanting stronger confidence for real plumbing work. On this course you will receive a Level 3 accredited unit certificate titled ‘Plumbing Skills’ issued by AIM Qualifications.
4 Saturdays £575
Train around work and commitments. A steady way to build practical skills without taking weekdays off. This is a non-accredited course, you will receive an attendance certificate.
2 days £300
For learners who want their skills assessed and receive an accredited qualification. This can be added to the 9 day plumbing course. After this assessment you will receive the 6219-08 Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plumbing).
9 days £1,450
Accredited City & Guilds plumbing course for learners who want a recognised qualification to support their practical training. On this course you will receive the 6219-08 Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plumbing).
6 weeks £3,000
This is an ideal course if you want the skills to complete bathroom installations and refurbs. The course includes training in plumbing, tiling and plastering and you will achieve a Level 3 Certificate in Bathroom Installation Skills qualification.
| Your goal | Best course option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Learn the basics quickly | Introduction to Plumbing – 5 Day Course | Core skills and practical tasks you can apply immediately for DIY and basic plumbing work. |
| Build confidence for real paid work | Advanced Plumbing – Intensive 9 Day Course with level 3 certificate | More content and practice time. Install two bathroom suites and all pipework, hang radiators, remove and replace a radiator, add a radiator, complete repair work. |
| Train around work and commitments | Saturday Plumbing Course | Progress steadily over weekends while keeping weekdays free. |
| Need accredited certification | City & Guilds Plumbing Qualification – 9 Days plus home study | Achieve an accredited qualification alongside our 9-day practical plumbing training. |
| Need recognised assessment | City & Guilds Plumbing Assessment | Formal assessment route for recognition of skills (can be added to our 9-day course and attended at a later date). |
| Offer full bathroom install / refurb services | 6 Weeks Bathroom Installations Course with Level 3 qualification | Multi-trade course including training in plumbing and heating, wall & floor tiling and plastering. |
Many of our learners have progressed into paid employment, undertaking plumbing work in both employed and self-employed roles after completing our 9 day intensive plumbing course. As our course is delivered by a plumbing tutor who still runs his own business, we teach you the key skills you need to complete jobs in the real world, this coupled with being able to contact your tutor directly after the course, builds your confidence, which will further increase as you complete more and more jobs.
Our courses are designed for people who have never done any plumbing work before. We start from the basics on day one by going through the tools and materials, and you get to practice soldering and using speedfit and compression fittings. On day two you start first fixing your first bathroom suite install. As everyone on the course has given up their time and paid to attend, everyone wants to learn, which is why we can cover so much in such as short period of time.
Our courses are ideal it you want to retrain and have a career change. The majority of our learners are aged between 30s and 50s and are on the course to learn new skills.
Our plumbing courses are ideal for current tradespeople who are wanting to learn new skills to add to their portfolio. the courses are popular with bathroom fitters, property renovators and maintenance teams who want stronger plumbing capability to complete jobs without relying on subcontractors.
| Course | Duration | Price (inc. VAT) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Plumbing | 5 days | £600 | View |
| Advanced Plumbing Course (Intensive) Level 3 certificate is £100 extra | 9 days | £1,150 | View |
| Saturday Plumbing Course | 4 Saturdays | £575 | View |
| City & Guilds Plumbing Assessment | 2 days | £300 | View |
| City & Guilds Plumbing Course (Accredited) | 10 days | £1,450 | View |
| Level 3 Certificate in Bathroom Installations (Multi-trade) | 6 weeks | £3,000 | View |
To secure your place, we ask for a £150 deposit, with the remaining balance due four weeks before your course start date.
Your plumbing training is delivered by Steve, an experienced plumbing tutor with nearly 40 years of industry experience. He began his career in 1986 through a plumbing apprenticeship and has worked continuously in the trade ever since.
He is fully qualified in plumbing and heating systems, giving learners a broad and practical understanding of modern plumbing work. Steve has extensive experience in both domestic and commercial environments, teaching real-world skills aligned to current standards and best practice.
Having spent much of his career self-employed, Steve brings strong practical knowledge of real world work, what problems may occur and how to overcome them. He has been teaching at Construction Skills College since 2007, supporting learners who want to enter the industry, upskill, or complete plumbing work safely and professionally.
Alongside teaching, Steve continues to carry out plumbing, heating and gas work, helping ensure training remains current, relevant and based on real industry experience. His teaching style focuses on practical competence, compliance and confidence.
We are based in Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire (ST6 2DJ). We regularly welcome learners travelling from across the UK and overseas. We encourage visits while courses are running (ideally towards the end of a course) so you can see the quality of work produced.
If you’re travelling, there are many places to stay locally including hotels, B&Bs and campsites, see local options here: Student accommodation.
“Steve’s knowledge on the subject is second to none. From not knowing anything about plumbing and heating to now I feel confident to set up my own plumbing business. It’s an excellent course and the skills you learn are essential for DIY or starting out.”
B Johnson, December 2025
“The course would give you a good foundation if you were to undertake a career in plumbing. It is also very useful if you wish to carry out personal DIY tasks in your own home. The learning environment is well set out and I like the use of individual bays…”
J Storrie, December 2025
“What I liked about the college is the environment, the friendly staff, nothing is too much trouble. Loved every bit of it. All interesting from piping up to fitting a bathroom suite & a sealed heating system.”
D Newark, December 2025
No. Our plumbing courses are aimed at people with little or no previous plumbing experience. The courses start with the basics and assume you know nothing, then build your knowledge and key practical plumbing skills quickly. You’ll receive supporting notes to take away and post-course support as well.
This depends on your route and goals. Many people start with an intensive practical course to build competence, then continue gaining experience over time. We’ve had learners complete our 9-day course and go on to work as plumbers and run their own business, so you don’t necessarily need a 2 or 3 year course to get started.
Many learners use an intensive course as a starting point. On our courses, you’re taught by an experienced plumbing and heating engineer who runs his own business, and the focus is on hands-on learning. This allows you to gain key skills quickly, then build speed and confidence through practice afterwards.
Yes. Many learners retrain to become plumbers in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and the majority of our learners fall into this age range. We have over twenty years’ experience training adults who are looking for a career change, and age is not a barrier to success.
To become a self-employed plumber, you need the knowledge, skills and confidence to complete plumbing jobs safely and to a good standard. You’ll also need public liability insurance, and many insurers expect you to have completed relevant plumbing training. From there, most people start with smaller jobs and grow through experience and recommendations.
Yes. You’re welcome to visit before booking. We encourage visits while courses are running, ideally towards the end of a course so you can see the standard of work produced by learners. We’ll show you around the training centre and answer any questions you have.
If you’re starting with no experience, our beginner plumbing courses are designed to teach the core domestic plumbing skills needed to get started. The focus is on practical ability and clear next steps, rather than unnecessary theory.
Yes. Our plumbing courses are heavily focused on hands-on, practical training. You’ll work with real tools, pipework and fittings, and practice the types of tasks you’re likely to see in domestic plumbing jobs, helping you build confidence quickly.
Many learners use our plumbing courses as a starting point and go on to take on straightforward plumbing jobs. With practice and experience, confidence grows, allowing you to progress to more complex work over time.
At Construction Skills College (TradeTeacher), all tools and materials are provided during the course, so you can focus on learning and practicing essential plumbing skills. If you later decide to buy your own tools, we recommend starting with a small, practical kit and building it up gradually.
Yes. Many of our learners train while working full-time. Our courses are intensive and practical, making them suitable for career changers who need to fit training around existing commitments.
From our experience training adults over many years, plumbing continues to be a strong career choice for people who enjoy practical work and want a skill that remains in demand across the UK.
Our success stories highlight the remarkable journeys of our learners — from enrolling in our courses to achieving tangible, real-world outcomes. Whether it’s a career change, skill development, or personal growth, their achievements inspire us all.
Success Stories
We value every voice. The feedback we receive helps us grow, improve, and continue delivering the best possible experience. Here’s what our learners have to say about their journey with us.
Feedback
Choosing the right training centre is key to reaching your goals. At Construction Skills College, we provide expert instructors, practical hands-on training, and tailored support to boost your success. When you compare our course content with others, you’ll see we cover more in the same or less time. We achieve this by minimizing classroom sessions and focusing on real-world practical work—not small, low-value projects that don’t prepare you for actual job sites.
Choosing A Training Centre
Discover practical plumbing courses designed to build real confidence with everyday plumbing and heating tasks. Whether you’re learning for DIY, upskilling for work, or retraining to go self-employed, training focuses on the skills you’ll actually use — planning jobs, working neatly, and solving common problems.
You’re welcome to visit our Stoke-on-Trent centre while courses are running so you can see the facilities and the standard of work learners produce.
Our plumbing training courses are delivered by working tradespeople who teach clearly and keep the focus practical. You’ll get step-by-step guidance, time to ask questions, and support with the “why” behind each method — so you understand what you’re doing, not just follow instructions.
We also provide ongoing support after your course if you want advice as you start applying your skills on real projects.
We keep classroom time to a minimum and prioritise practical learning from day one. You’ll practise in spacious training bays and repeat key tasks until they feel natural — helping you build confidence for real-world plumbing and heating jobs.
If you’re comparing providers, a good test is to look at bay size, practice time, and whether you can visit during a live course to see the training environment in action.
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