need advice please :-)

[herbzIOW]

Is there any home university or home learning courses in the uk that would lead to me getting a job in an aquatics shop?

[molliwopp]

Doesnt usually take much qualification to work in your lfs.

[herbzIOW]

I want to open my own shop eventually so I would benifit from it

[molliwopp]

Well quals for working in you lfs is nill but if you want a shop why not study business?

[herbzIOW]

Because I already have a good buisness head. Its more about the fish

[molliwopp]

Well self education is the best when it comes to fish.

[herbzIOW]

I agree with that. That's why I'm running 5 tanks (and 2 to set up if the other half would allow it), all different set ups so I can learn a lot from experience

[herbzIOW]

I'm also going to start collecting 'reputable' up to date books frow well known aquarists

[panathinaikos55]

I would recommend getting a job at a lfs, and getting a business degree. The two are completely different.

Learning all you can about fish will not mean you know how to properly run a small business. Business "sense" is one thing, but there is a lot that comes with running a successful business that you will not understand just by having a good business sense.

Conversely, short of veterinary school (which won't prep you as a business owner) you need to get some experience in aquatic life. I doubt that keeping 5 tanks of fish that you like will prep you in everything required to operate a lfs either.

I defintely think a combination of the two is the only way to go. You can work at the lfs to pay your way through school.

[herbzIOW]

No lfs ever hires over here. I have already done a small course on starting your own buisness and they have give me a few websites that do various recognised qualifications as well as a heap of other help. I also created a forum for people in our local area which I am learning a lot from daily as well as other research. Plus most of the lfs in my area dont have a brilliant rep for advice or knowledge. Like for instance, 1 was selling a super red bristlenose as an albino, they should at least know that albinos have red eyes