Am I a mate or an improved? Opinions..

[JonesyWales]

Hello. I'm a long time reader

Looking for opinions on my status at the moment and my future options.

I am 25 years old
And have completed two years in college city and guilds

I started work on site as a mate.
Self employed.

I'm on £10ph.. but paying 30% tax as still bloody waiting on UTR.

Ive been on site in a different trade for a few years so not new to site work itself.

My main issue is I'm being paid the same as mates who have just started and have zero electrical qualifications or experience.
But whereas they have no tools even etc and no clue on what's what and why we do it.. all they are tasked with is lugging gear around, passing stuff up
General labouring etc.

I'm marking out, using drawings,
Drilling out for cable routing
Then pulling everything in..
Everything from SWA for the supplies
To data and the electrical circuits
Installing boxes etc
This includes communal areas
And plant rooms

complete second fixing ( when houses are ready )
Able to understand how to find switch cables bla bla
Ensuring I have the correct cable and gear. Have my own tools etc.

So in a nutshell I'm doing the exact same as the sparks
But getting paid barely half the money
( These sparks do not hold gold cards, other than one , and only one can test )

So am I an improver? Or still a mate?

I want to improve skill wise and by no means think I know even a small amount that time served sparks do
But I have some papers
And intended to get my gold card
And my inspection and testing.

Finally there is an improver on site
Who earns more than me
Despite having zero electrical qualifications and only a few months site experience.

Colleagues have said if I ask for more money I will be tasked with more responsibility
But in all honesty I'm.not sure what they can ask for that I don't already do..

Sorry for the rant
Thanks

 

[Risteard]

If you do the technical cert under the 17th Edition then you won't need a separate 17th Edition qualification. It's only really important where you were trained under a previous Edition.

 

[suffolkspark]

If you do the technical cert under the 17th Edition then you won't need a separate 17th Edition qualification. It's only really important where you were trained under a previous Edition.

true that, my bad, but I forgot to add C&G 2391 or EAL equiv if that's the chosen path eventually

 

[haptism]

If I was in your position now (and assuming you have enough variety of work) then sign up with any provider for your NVQ3 and get your portfollio going (with the aim of completing it !).
I was in a similar position years ago and never finished the NVQ3, so im not really considered anything other than a mate in the eyes of plenty. I believe the official grade of an "improver" is given to someone in the process of completing the NVQ3.

 

[Rpa07]

And with all the involved work you are doing I do hope that you've had the nouse! to be getting evidence in the form of photographs and even video and written diary types that make up 90% of the NVQ portfolio that will get you that Gold card. If you are not collating it then read up about it on this forum and on the C+G website or ask a tutor and get gathering because when the time comes to put the portfolio together it'll all be there for you to use and believe anyone who is building a portfolio - it doesn't get done quickly as it builds with experience.
All the best.
My answer - you're an improver. Go ask for more money £13 or so approx before CIS and sort out that emergency TaX rate.

 

[dmxtothemax]

If you think that you deserve more pay because you may do more than the average helper, then by all means approach your boss and ask for it ?
But you are in essence still a helper, maybe a bit better than most, but still a helper. Or as we call them here in Australia "Trades Assistant". you cannot really compare yourself with an electrician, as they carry Full legal liability for the work they do.
Do you ?

 

[hightower]

If you do the technical cert under the 17th Edition then you won't need a separate 17th Edition qualification. It's only really important where you were trained under a previous Edition.

That's not true. 17th and tech cert are two very different courses, having a tech cert doesn't negate the need for the 17th

 

[casperLennon]

Get intouch with xs training for your nvq3. They do it through a video link on your phone so you don't have to stop working.

 

[Risteard]

If you do the technical cert under the 17th Edition then you won't need a separate 17th Edition qualification. It's only really important where you were trained under a previous Edition.

That's not true. 17th and tech cert are two very different courses, having a tech cert doesn't negate the need for the 17th

It does. My JIB card listed "16th Edition" despite me never doing the specific course for it because my Apprenticeship was under the Sixteenth Edition.

 

[JonesyWales]

I've had a look at xs..

Is the right one I'm looking for the NVQ3
with the test booked by them? £1900?

If so I'll go for that. And following that look to do my 2391.

I'll chat with the director of the form I sub to. Explain what I'm doing and that I would like a rise to £12.50ph as I feel I am an improver , and will , asap, have a gold card.

I have been completely alone all day , starting an apartment from scratch, sadly I won't be alone throughout.
I would like to be thrown in at the deep end and given my own apartment from start to finish , just to prove my ability.

I do everything sparks do, but as I'm not alone , my own work isn't 'recognised'

Thanks all again,
I feel if I chat to colleagues, they try to dissuade Me from progressing for whatever reason.
So the forum is a huge help.

 

[hightower]

If you do the technical cert under the 17th Edition then you won't need a separate 17th Edition qualification. It's only really important where you were trained under a previous Edition.

It does. My JIB card listed "16th Edition" despite me never doing the specific course for it because my Apprenticeship was under the Sixteenth Edition.

An apprenticeship and the tech cert are not the same though are they...

 

[casperLennon]

Yeah that's the one. Pay monthly aswell which is good if ya not on the best money. I have kids and a house and the rest of it, difficult to get it all done but keep going

 

[Dave OCD]

and Section A being the biggest comprises of:

• Protective devices in a TP&N distribution board
• A two-way and intermediate lighting circuit in a PVC/PVC multi-core cable
• A BS 1363 13A socket outlet ring circuit in a PVC single core cables
• A carbon monoxide detector safety service circuit in a FP200 type cable
• Data outlets circuit in a Cat 5 cable
• A BS EN 60309 16A socket outlet in a XLPE SWA cable
• Protective equipotential bonding to gas and water services
• A 3-phase direct on line motor/starter circuit in a SY cable
• An S Plan central heating and hot water system with a solar thermal sustainable energy element utilising heat resistant flexible cable and PVC single core cables

Only 8 and a half hours to do that lot ? I'm sure I'd fail .

 

[Pete999]

and Section A being the biggest comprises of:

• Protective devices in a TP&N distribution board
• A two-way and intermediate lighting circuit in a PVC/PVC multi-core cable
• A BS 1363 13A socket outlet ring circuit in a PVC single core cables
• A carbon monoxide detector safety service circuit in a FP200 type cable
• Data outlets circuit in a Cat 5 cable
• A BS EN 60309 16A socket outlet in a XLPE SWA cable
• Protective equipotential bonding to gas and water services
• A 3-phase direct on line motor/starter circuit in a SY cable
• An S Plan central heating and hot water system with a solar thermal sustainable energy element utilising heat resistant flexible cable and PVC single core cables

Only 8 and a half hours to do that lot ? I'm sure I'd fail .

What can I say? with statements like that one you have failed before you have started

 

[paul291277]

Jonesy, if you are over 24, look up 24+ advanced learner loans from gov.uk, theres no credit check and you only start paying it off after you start earning over a certain ammount (£21k methinks). Did my 2365 that way and have been told by a few people that noone pays them back anyway, will find out on my next tax return I suppose.

Was really easy to apply and they stumped up £1450 for my course

 

[Dave OCD]

What can I say? with statements like that one you have failed before you have started

Could you do all that in that time Pete ? I don't need to having been qualified for 32 years but it seems a heck of a lot to get through !