advice appreciated

[maw87]

Hi My name is Mark and I'm brand new to the site , I would really appreciate your time and any advice that you are able to offer . I'm 25 years old and have been successful in a previous career for 8 years since leaving school . Due to building personal factors I decided on a career change and after a lot of time and thought decided that I wanted to be an electrician . I am enrolled on a course which on completion will leave me as a "domestic electrical installer" a scheme which I know that you are well aware of lately . Due to believeing that distance learning soley isn't enough to become competent enough , I am employed full time for a large JIB electrical contractor as a labourer . I took the position as it is giving me priceless hands on experience rather than reading and learning purely from a textbook and the odd odd week practice . The course that I am on will leave me with the following qualifications :

• City & Guilds level 3 certificate in the requirements for electrical installations (17th edition)
• City & Guilds 2377 level 3 certificate for in service inspection and testing of all electrical equipment (PAT Testing)
• EAL level 2 certificate for domestic electrical installations (part p compliant)
• Emergency First Aid
• City & Guilds 2392 level 2 certificate in fundamental inspection , testing and initial verification
• LOGIC solar photovoltaic installer certificate ...................................When I left school I completed a 3 year cadetship in my chosen career and so fully understand that you cant beat the scheme and no fast track route would come close . Unfortunately being 25 and having worked very hard and done well I know have financial commitments such as a mortgage , and part of a career development loan from my previous career to pay off and so committing to 3/4 years on £3-4 an hour 4 days a week is unfortunately all but impossible for me . Once I am domestically qualified I would like to push on and qualify as a full unrestricted electrician and be able to work in the industrial / commercial field . Does anybody have any advice on how I can continue my learning and work to becoming fully qualified ? are there any courses or routes to get there as It would be a real dead end for me if it it would mean having to enrol on an apprentahsip scheme even with having the mentioned qualifications as for the reasons above I would find this very hard .....does anybody know if I have any options ? ....An option that I thought would be to qualify and then go self employed and work on small manageable domestic jobs ( my dad and brother are in the building industry and would help with sourcing work etc . Working for myself on domestic jobs but I don't want the domestic sector to be a dead end for me as I really would like to become fully qualified . Thank you so much for your time any help is appreciated . Kind Regards Mark

 

[Dez]

My advice would be stick with the JIB contractor to get your practical experience and attend evening college if you can't get an apprenticeship. Speak to your local college, if you are working in the industry you might be able to do an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship with which you end up with an NVQ 3 and AM2, it might be day release, I'm not sure if you can do the theory evenings but worth checking with them. Have a look at the JIB website for grading requirements and you'll see that the courses that the fast track course are offering are not well regarded enough to give you an electrician's gold card.

Just my opinion, others might say different.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Good luck and welcome to the forumn

 

[maw87]

Thank you for your reply and info Dez which was all very helpful , doing evening college would work as I could hopefully remain on my labourers rate and work 5 days . I have emailed some colleges to see what they say . I would really appreciate it if you have any more advice or ideas at any point ! Thanks again Mark

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thanks for the luck ! and the welcome ... I needed both !