Should you become a gas engineer?

Have you always had an interest in becoming a gas engineer? Perhaps your current career has stagnated and you want to make the switch? Whatever the case may be, it can still be a daunting prospect making the transition into becoming a professional engineer in the gas sector.  

Yet if you desire a career which provides real prospects and rewards, becoming a gas engineer makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s also the type of job that offers spontaneous tasks and challenges, ensuring no day is the same and you don’t have to worry about being bored.

If you still have reservations about joining this trade, the following guide will list the reasons to become a gas engineer.

What does a gas engineer do?

Before breaking down the advantages of this profession, it’s important to gain a full understanding about what a gas engineer does. In short, this job will see you install, service, and repair your client’s heating systems and gas appliances. In terms of appliances, this includes boilers, gas fires, and cookers.

You need to possess a number of skills to be a successful gas engineer. Along with proficiency in maths and science, you need to have a keen eye and strong problem-solving skills. It’s also essential you possess great people skills as you will be venturing into the homes of customers to fix their gas-based appliances.

Now it’s time to take a look at some of the main reasons to become a gas engineer.

1. It is an in-demand trade

As the world moves forward and continues to evolve, certain job roles are becoming obsolete. However, this isn’t a situation the gas industry will face – at least for a significant amount of time. From maintaining gas systems to installing appliances, there’s always going to be a demand for these services to be carried out by professionals.

If you seek a career which supplies stability and strong job prospects, becoming a gas engineer could certainly be the correct move.

2. You can start earning the necessary qualifications right now

It doesn’t matter if you’ve just left college or have been in an entirely different industry for 20+ years, you can join the gas engineer trade whenever you feel the time is right.

Skills Training Group is a specialist educator which provides a range of gas engineer apprenticeships and courses, where you can sign up and earn the qualifications that employers seek when hiring in this field, such as CCN1, CKR1, CPA1, HTR1, and CENWAT.

While you will require a large slice of commitment and hard work when taking this route, it’s one that you can take regardless of your history.

3. Variety is the spice of life

A lot of jobs demand that you do the same tasks day in, day out. When you have done this for a number of years, you can quickly suffer from burnout – not something you want from a full-time career which takes up a large portion of your life.

This isn’t something to worry about when it comes to being a gas engineer. As you visit multiple houses a day and tackle a wide variety of issues, it’s fair to say no day is ever the same. This type of variety presents a welcome challenge that will keep you on your toes and fight off any feelings of boredom.

When you can do something enjoyable while also paying the bills, there’s no reason to fall into the trap of simply doing a job just for the money.

4. You receive a suitable salary

Yes, money shouldn’t be the sole motivator when selecting a career path to take. With that said, a rewarding salary is always something you will want to acquire. Well that’s what you can gain as a gas engineer.

You might have to gain additional experience before you can start earning a solid wage, but if you were to go direct into the position via an apprenticeship you could expect to earn an annual salary around the £15,000 mark. This is no great shakes, admittedly, but that pay packet increases significantly if you stick with job.

Based on 2020 research from Indeed, the average gas engineer receives a yearly wage of £35,311.

5. The chance to run your own business

Aside from earning a solid wage as an employee, you could go that step further and become your own boss. This is a great option if you have built up your skills and knowledge in gas engineering, as well as if you have the ambition and contacts to translate this into a viable business.

If you decide to go this route, then the sky’s the limit.