[Andy Hogarth]

I have just been accepted for a free place on the iicrc course next Tuesday and Wednesday which I am Sooooooo Happy about.

I really want to go as this would be an excellent opporunity for me, As you probably know I'm planning to start up soon and could do with all the courses and experience I can get.

My problem is that England play on Tuesday night and work is expecting heavy workloads due to people phoning in sick Wednesday, I'd probably have to  phone in sick as I don't have holidays booked, I've spoken about getting time off to do a course with John Kelley in July and was flat out refused!!!. Work (royal mail) issued a statement that anybody with non sickness knocks will be INSTANTLY DISMISSED If found out and managers have a right to come and check you are actually at home ill during the world cup.

Is this an opportunity not to be missed, As it's free or is it something that I can, in reality miss..........I don't know. I really want to do the course, I can't afford to pay for the course but I can't afford to loose my job either.

What would you guys have done when first starting out and been given the opportunity to do a free iicrc course?? Is it an opportunity not to be missed.

Any Advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

P.S. Any suggestions as to excuses for a couple of days off, I was thinking broken metatarsal lol Family Death....... AAAAAARGH..... Just my bloody luck this!!!!

[John Kelly]

In truth Andy I believe the iicrc course is probably a bit much for someone like yourself who has no experience.
I'm sure you would learn something and as it is free it is probably worthwile attending. However if you can't attend I wouldn't be too disheartened as its always something you could do later on when you have a bit experience under your belt.

[Andy Hogarth]

John, I thought this myself, I know it really, I'm just gutted that I have this opportunity and may have to say no. I'm going to speak to my boss tomorrow, I don't hold out much hope but you never know

Cheers John

[stevegunn]

Don't go I'm a reserve on the list

[mark_roberts]

Keep your job and go on the Prochem course.  its more hands on and only £100.

Mark

[stains-away]

I'd just go and when they call you in for a b*llocking tell them you handed in a holiday form so they mustve lost it, its the Royal Mail, they cant argue against it with their track record, Andy

[tomh]

i agree with john ! think you would benifit more from a hands on experience to start with then do the technical bit. cc is all about fibre & construction identifacation i did a 2 day course with alltec & all was talked about was belgium wiltons yet they never had a sample to show you
infact you would be better off going with a local or out of your area carpet cleaner for a half a day & spend a hour or so in carpet shop identifing carpet day out with your cleaner mate for a day meeting & presenting themselfs to clients away you go for a bit then do training

[Andy Hogarth]

Ha Ha, yeah, say it got lost in the post Andy

Steve I'll put in a word for you when I ring Steve tomorrow if I can't get the time off . You got the question right then

Mark, This was my plan anyhow (only the restormate course) so if I have to stick to plan A, I have to stick to plan A. This was just an unforseen opportunity which would have been good but hey what you don't have........etc.....etc
 

Tom, Good advice, When I first posted on this board a c/c great asked me if I'd like to go out and see how he works, I should have taken him up on it then but regretfully didn't .I'll drop him an e-mail see if the offer still stands.

Cheers

[Mike Halliday]

call on Wednesday morning and say you travelled to visit a relative on Tuesday night and now your car has a mechanical problem,  so you can't get home, if they don't believe you tell them to do 1471 and it will prove that you are out of town. hopefully your car will be fixed be Thursday.

Mike

[carpetclean]

personally i would do the course its very informative and expensive if you have to pay for it. the chap who wasnt shown samples must have been unlucky as the course i did with adam jankowski as instructor was  very good we all had samples in hand we also did some hands on

[simonc]

Why not treat your employers the way you would want your own staff to treat you...what goes around comes around....Simon

[Andy Hogarth]

I had to turn the course down, gutted,Spoke to managers at work and no way was I getting the time off, Anyway it didn't feature in my plans so I'll stick to plan A I hope you get the place Steve

Simon: I'd hope my staff enjoyed working for me and I would never begrudge them wanting to leave and head off to bigger and better things so I'd give them the time off.
The only reason I considered knocking in the first place is the r/m treat everyone like sh#t and expect too much from it's workers now, Hence the reason 90% of the workforce in my dept are hoping to leave soon,Hence the reason I really wanted to do a free iicrc course!!. I hope what goes around does come around and royal mail go tits up! ! ! ! cheers for the advice lol

Andy