New traders hows it going - Tile Advice

Good morning all would like to here from people who have recently started out as sole trader and career changed
Points like what courses you have taken
What tools you started with / transport van or car maybe donkey
How quickly you found work and how did you promote yourself
Size of jobs
Setting up accounts/ hmrc
Any other usefull tips or advice
Bit about me im 35 curently a machanical maintainace engineer looking to go self employed in domestic tiling
Thanks in advance and have great day

Simon p said:

Good morning all would like to here from people who have recently started out as sole trader and career changed
Points like what courses you have taken
What tools you started with / transport van or car maybe donkey
How quickly you found work and how did you promote yourself
Size of jobs
Setting up accounts/ hmrc
Any other usefull tips or advice
Bit about me im 35 curently a machanical maintainace engineer looking to go self employed in domestic tiling
Thanks in advance and have great day

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Hi Simon,
I have done something similar, I retrained as a tiler about 18 months ago. I was in my previous job around 26 years. I went to Leeds Building College, City and Guilds very good course, gives you a good idea about the basics of the trade, cutting, setting out etc. You being a Rotherham lad it’s not that far from you. You can just work at your own speed and take your time. Course was two and half days a week ( so I was still able to work the rest of the week) it was over about 12 weeks or so, can’t remember exact details. After this time you may have the option to stay on and get your diploma ( I think) Give them a call and they will send you a bit more information.
I got good quality tools from the start as you get what you pay for.
Hope this helps mate. All the best

@H573 great reply just a quick couple questions
What was the cost for the 12 week course i was thinking doing the pro tiler course but not sure if its accredited and would involve couple weeks away
Also do you do demestic or commercial would like to know pro and cons for each
Thanks for your time

Simon p said:

@H573 great reply just a quick couple questions
What was the cost for the 12 week course i was thinking doing the pro tiler course but not sure if its accredited and would involve couple weeks away
Also do you do demestic or commercial would like to know pro and cons for each
Thanks for your time

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No probs. I Can’t remember exact price, I paid approximately £750 and it’s roughly same for your diploma but it’s all accredited. Give them a call and they will give you more exact information on prices, I think you can pay it over a few weeks but I may be wrong. I just did the initial 12 weeks as I moved away, I’m hopefully going back next September to get my diploma ( you can go back whenever to get your diploma doesn’t have to follow straight after the initial 12 weeks or so)

It’s maybe a bit different because I’m working outside of the uk, I’ve never done paid work in UK just jobs for friends and family, as I moved shortly after I finished the initial 12 weeks.The principals are the same though I suppose, I just try to take my time,(
My biggest challenge so far has been time, you can put yourself under a lot of pressure to get the job finished and I find myself inadvertently rushing that’s when I’ve made mistakes. So now when I feel like that I just take a step back and have a breather for 10 minutes and just calm down
), work tidy and turn out good quality work to the best of your ability, it’s a STEEP learning curve!!!!! I don’t have access to most of the materials that you would normally use( backer boards, tanking systems etc).
So that brings different challenges. Im enjoying it though.

More experienced tilers can probably help more with differences between domestic/ commercial. I’ve only done a few domestic jobs here so far,because of the heat most surfaces are tiled so even domestic jobs are on a large scale, whole houses, large floors etc. I have a couple of big commercial jobs coming up, on one I’m going to be working nights as it’s in a public place so that could be a difference you may face!? I’ll let you know after and during.

Thats an excellent reply thank you very much all the best with your upcoming jobs @H573