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

 

[Pete999]

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 !

Not having to go through all that Dave I couldn't say, is this practical or theoretical? my thoughts were if you go in with that attitude you would probably failed before you started, if you are having to take this sort of test then a positive attitude is a requirement, there was no slur intended.

 

[Dave OCD]

No offence taken whatsoever Pete, as I understand it that's the practical , just read through it- I'd say 2 days to do that lot properly.

 

[Pete999]

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 !

Not having to go through all that Dave I couldn't say, is this practical or theoretical? my thoughts were if you go in with that attitude you would probably failed before you started, if you are having to take this sort of test then a positive attitude is a requirement, there was no slur intended. Mind you I have to admit I wouldn't have a clue with the S plan, having no experience, but as I said is this a practical test?

 

[JonesyWales]

Yeah it's practical. It's almost identical to the practical I completed for my 2365.

We were allocated 10hours. And by god that was tough enough.

I'd struggle to do the AM2 in 8.5
I've not so much as seen inside a three phase board let alone connected them up.

Same with heating systems. Though I know I can pick that up easy enough.

Never had to use FP or SY as of yet but again. Not too worried.

It's the three phase motor that scares me lol.

It's a challenge , though I passed college with distinctions , so I'll push myself like hell to get the AM2 as good as possible.

 

[uksrevivor]

Hi Jonesy
You will have to have the level 3 2365 city and guilds qualification before you can apply for your NVQ portfolio and AM2 assesment.
You will need photographic evidence of you working in industrial/commercial and domestic electrics and an assessor will need to attend your chosen site to observe and asses you on the job in all 3 fields if im right. That will then be your NVQ portfolio completed. The 17th wiring regs do not come as part of the level 3 and neither does the inspection and testing they only form part of the modules in the level 3 diploma.
You sound like you have a positive attitude towards learning so you should do well m8 and there is no shame in staying up late to study or understand the theory I did it myself.
Hope this helps a bit, the above is what i was told by my instructors in college.
Good luck its worth it in the end

 

[Pete999]

No offence taken whatsoever Pete, as I understand it that's the practical , just read through it- I'd say 2 days to do that lot properly.

If that's the case, then yes Dave it is a tall order.

 

[KJF]

Yeah it's practical. It's almost identical to the practical I completed for my 2365.

We were allocated 10hours. And by god that was tough enough.

I'd struggle to do the AM2 in 8.5
I've not so much as seen inside a three phase board let alone connected them up.

Same with heating systems. Though I know I can pick that up easy enough.

Never had to use FP or SY as of yet but again. Not too worried.

It's the three phase motor that scares me lol.

It's a challenge , though I passed college with distinctions , so I'll push myself like hell to get the AM2 as good as possible.

As far as I'm aware the new AM2 has all of the containment systems and back boxes in place, which was a time consuming job in the AM1 you would have completed on your level 2.