Gas service technicians are the people who work in the homes of customers to install and service their appliances and gas-powered heating systems, which can include boilers and cookers.
You’d be expected to work at either customers’ houses and businesses, or in cafes and hotels, to carry out the necessary installations of repairs.
Testing appliances and making sure that they were safe to use would also fall under your job description.
You’d be giving customers appropriate pricing quotes for certain jobs as well as informing them of the duration of the work, selling company services and dealing with any issues that came up as a result of the company’s work.
Salary & benefits
As an apprentice you’d be expecting to make around £15,000 per year, and this would raise to between £25,000 and £30,000 once you had qualified as a fully fledged technician.
You could also be making a considerable increase on this due to bonuses, shift work and overtime, all of which would raise your salary.
Working hours
You would be expected to work 8-5 Monday to Friday, although if your company offers emergency cover round the clock you would also have to be put on an emergency rota for out of work hours issues.
Most work would take place on site, and you would be expected to travel to and from your destinations, more than likely in a company van which would be supplied.
Entry
To qualify as a gas service technician you will need to obtain a recognised qualification of the gas industry, such as a Level 3 NVQ in Natural Gas Installation and Maintenance, or a Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation, as well as a Gas Safe registration, such as the Accredited Certification Scheme.
You could start out on the Gas Industry Apprenticeship Scheme, where you’d be expected to have at least 4 GCSEs including maths and English, and preferably a science-based subject.
Training & progression
As a trainee, you’ll be taught various skills needed in the trade and the different ways to work with different appliances and systems.
There will also be a lot of work on health and safety guarantees in order to protect you, your colleagues and the general public.
With further training once you have qualified, you could go on to work with renewable energy resources, such as wind turbines and solar panels, and would be able to continue your development down a path which is being explored further with every day that passes.