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Gas service technician
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£15,000 + per year
Gas service technicians install, service and repair gas appliances and systems. These include gas fires, boilers and cookers. They also include central heating systems and shower units. So if you are interested in gas systems and you want a skilled and varied career, this could be an ideal choice.
To become a gas service technician, you will need to have good practical skills. You will need to be able to follow technical layouts and diagrams. You will also need a polite and friendly manner.
To qualify as a gas service technician you will need an NVQ Level 3 in Domestic Natural Gas Installation. You would normally need to be employed by a company to complete this. Or you will need to complete appropriate work experience.
WorkDesc
The work
As a gas service technician, you would mainly work at customers' homes, or at businesses like cafes and hotel kitchens. Your job could include:
- installing appliances and systems
- carrying out planned maintenance checks on systems and equipment
- testing controls and safety devices to make sure that they are working properly
- finding and repairing gas leaks using computerised fault-finding equipment
- replacing or repairing faulty or old parts
- ordering new parts when necessary
- keeping records of work you have carried out
- giving customers advice about gas safety and energy efficiency.
You would also give customers quotes for jobs and tell them how long they would take, sell additional company services and occasionally deal with complaints.
Gas service technicians are also sometimes known as gas installation engineers or gas maintenance engineers.
HoursDesc
Hours
Your working hours would usually be 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. You may have to work on a rota if your employer offers 24-hour emergency cover.
Most of your work would take place in customers’ homes or premises. The job can be physically demanding and may involve working in small spaces or at heights.
IncomeDesc
Income
British Gas apprenticeship salaries are around £15,000 a year. Qualified technicians can earn between £19,000 and £30,000 a year.
Bonuses, shift allowances and overtime will increase basic salaries.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To qualify as a gas service technician you will need:
- NVQ Level 3 in Domestic Natural Gas Installation (you normally need to be employed by a company to complete this); or
- appropriate work experience and training leading to safety certification through the Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS).
You will also need to have Gas Safe Registration (this used to be called CORGI registration).
See the Training and Development section below for more details.
You may be able to start this career through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.
Some utility companies offer national apprenticeship schemes in a variety of technical and engineering roles. For more information, see the Energy and Utility Skills website.
Industry organisations strongly recommend that you gain a work placement or job with a gas servicing firm as soon as possible after starting the Technical Certificate (the theory part of the NVQ). This would allow you to work towards the full NVQ. Your college may help you to find a placement, but you could also contact companies directly.
When looking for work, it may help you if you have experience in related areas, such as:
- engineering
- building services engineering
- plumbing.
You may need a driving licence, as this job normally involves travelling to customer's premises.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a trainee gas service technician, you would work towards the City & Guilds NVQ in Domestic Natural Gas Installation and Maintenance at levels 2 and 3. Units include:
- designing, commissioning and de-commissioning natural gas systems
- installing, servicing and maintaining domestic and complex natural gas systems
- applying safety checks to all gas related work through testing and monitoring.
Gas Safe Register (formerly CORGI registration)
You and your company are legally required to be on the Gas Safe Register if you are working in gas installation and servicing work. To apply for registration, you need to show that you have appropriate experience and qualifications for your area of work. To find out more about registration requirements, see the Gas Safe Register website.
Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS)
If you have experience in the gas industry or related fields, you may be able to follow the ACS scheme. This would enable you to demonstrate your ability to work safely with gas systems and equipment, and be eligible to join the Gas Safe Register. You will need to complete safety assessments covering your specific areas of work and the types of appliances you work on every five years.
If you have qualifications from any other fields, you will have to be trained and satisfy safety assessments at an approved ACS centre.
You will be classed as being in one of three categories when you apply for ACS assessment:
- Cat 1 experienced gas engineer whose existing certification has expired, including ACoPs (this also applies to those who qualified abroad)
- Cat 2 qualified worker from a related industry, such as heating engineering, refrigeration, welding or plumbing
- Cat 3 new entrant to the industry.
For details of ACS approved centres, see the Energy & Utility Skills website.
Oil-fired equipment
If you work with oil-fired equipment, such as heating systems and oil storage tanks, you could gain accreditation with the Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry (OFTEC). Contact OFTEC for more information.
Energy efficiency
You could also gain the City & Guilds Certificate in Energy Efficiency for Domestic Heating, which will give you the knowledge and competence you need to meet Part L of the Building Regulations concerning energy efficiency.
Environmental technologies
With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating systems. To find out more, see the Environmental Technologies section of the SummitSkills website.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a gas service technician, you will need to have:
- good practical skills
- good communication, organisation and problem-solving skills
- basic IT skills and good maths skills for making calculations
- the ability to follow technical layouts and diagrams
- a polite, friendly and professional manner
- the ability to work alone or in a small team
- the confidence to make decisions and accept responsibility
- an awareness of safe working practices, industry regulations and environmental guidelines.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Gas Safe Register 
Tel: 0800 408 5500
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry (OFTEC)
Foxwood House
Dobbs Lane
Kesgrave
Ipswich
IP5 2QQ
Tel: 0845 658 5080
www.oftec.co.uk
British Gas Jobs
The Harrow Way
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG22 4AR
www.britishgasjobs.co.uk
Energy & Utility Skills
Friars Gate
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922
www.euskills.co.uk
Tomorrow's Engineers
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most vacancies with British Gas. Check the British Gas Jobs website for details of vacancies.
You may also find work with manufacturers of industrial and domestic gas appliances, retailers, and specialist servicing and repair companies. Vacancies are advertised through Jobcentre Plus and in the local press.
With experience, you could move into gas engineering, or supervisory and management roles. Some employers may sponsor you to study for higher level qualifications.
Eventually you could also set up your own gas fitting business, but you would need considerable experience to do this.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The gas industry is part of the energy and utility sector, represented by the Energy and Utility Sector Skills Council, which also includes: power; waste management; and water. The UK energy and utility sector employs an estimated 536,200 people.
The gas industry covers the activities associated with the distribution of gas and the fitting/maintenance of gas equipment within a customers’ property. The gas industry can be split into:
- Transmission and distribution of gas – consisting of the transportation of gas from the beach terminals through the National Transmission System, into the Local Distribution System, and then up to, and including, the main control valve adjacent to the customers’ property. Plus, the storage and re‐gasification of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), following its importation, the manufacture and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other bottled gases and the operation and maintenance of network infrastructure (e.g. pipe laying, repair, maintenance and storage).
- Utilisation of gas – consisting of all activities which take place on the customers’ side of the main control valve (including the meter). The major element of this sub‐sector is gas fitters/installers (i.e. Gas Safe registered gas installers).
Key facts:
- There are 142,200 people employed in the industry, which includes:
- 18,500 working in gas transmission and distribution, including an estimated 1,000 self‐employed
- 123,700 working in gas utilisation
- 27% of the gas transmission and distribution workforce is female.
- In gas transmission and distribution, women are concentrated in administrative and secretarial, sales and customer service roles.
- The age profile of the gas utilisation industry is significantly older than average, with almost half of the workforce being aged over 45 years and one‐quarter aged under 34 years old.
- Around 600 new workers per year will be required by the industry between 2008 and 2017.
Jobs in the industry range from:
- Operatives – Assistant to a Team Leader (under instruction)
- Team Leader Main Layer – Installing and maintaining main gas pipe work
- Team Leader Service Layer – Installing and maintaining pipe work from a main gas pipe to the meter.
- Technician – Controls resources and also involved in complex technical jobs
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are around 1,000 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in a very small number of companies. Just over 12,000 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 5,700 companies.
East of England – There are around 2,500 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a very small number of companies. 9,700 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 4,300 companies. Many of the industry’s contractors/supply chain are based in the region, making it strategically important to the industry.
London – There are around 1,500 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a very small number of companies. 11,100 workers are also employed in the gas (downstream) industry in 5,200 companies.
North East – There are around 1,000 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a very small number of companies. 5,100 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 1,800 companies.
North West – There are around 1,500 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a small number of companies. 14,900 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 5,800 companies.
South East – There are around 3,500 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a small number of companies. 10,600 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 5,000 companies.
South West – There are around 1,500 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the South West region in a very small number of companies. 20,200 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 7,800 companies.
West Midlands – There are around 4,000 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the West Midlands region in a small number of companies. Around 11,000 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 4,400 companies.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are around 2,000 people employed in the gas (Transmission and Distribution) industry in the region in a small number of companies. Around 11,000 workers are also employed in the gas (Utilisation) industry in 4,400 companies.
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