Am i entitled to call myself a sparky?

[hillen1986]

Ok , so i completed 2365 level 3, and also 17th edition. At my place of work , I'm the go to guy, as well as another very experienced electrician, to do the electrical work. They don't seem to have a problem with me not having the nvq completed ( maybe naive) . I've had some issues with a new contract, and am seeking more pay. but am basing it on my quals that i already have, do i have a ground to fight for better pay?

4 years experience and 2365 level 3, i also have engineering maintenance level 2 nvq, IOSH, HACCP , 17th edition. Surely with these quals i can insist on this?

This is an engineering environment predominantly, but of course electrical work needs doing too.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Its an emotive issue, for those who did the nvq am2 route, fair play and good for you. I appreciate why you get annoyed with people calling themselves an electrician after you spent so many years training.
Do i call myself one , yes i do, if you described my work and asked customers they would all say i am an electrician. I do not have the NVQ and AM2, never got around to it, I came to this career after leaving the forces with a technical background. I have the 2365 L2&3 17th edition, 2392 and 2394 and due to sit 2391 version of the old 2395 in new year. I also have a NVQ in aerospace engineering.
Have 8 years in this career now, I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable and always willing to keep learning,I have an eye for detail and am very safety conscious. Registered with NICEIC purely to sign stuff off. So in eyes of some I am a DI. I dont do industrial stuff but stick with house bashing and light commercial stuff.
The point I make though is that I have met some people with all the qualifications nvq, am2 etc but they are dangerous and shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver. The quality of the work is questionable.
I have met electricians mates who I would sooner trust and are sometimes more knowledgeable.

 

[westward10]

Another bloody charlatan.

 

[telectrix]

£11 /hour is taking the pi$$. that's less than mates rate.

 

[Dillb]

What does your new contract say about your role? As that will have a large bearing on how much your paid not what qualifications you have.

 

[hillen1986]

Another bloody charlatan.

Well , i certainly know what I'm talking about, and certainly have the skill.

 

[westward10]

Well , i certainly know what I'm talking about, and certainly have the skill.

Wasn't aiming at you I was jesting to #31

 

[hillen1986]

This

Its an emotive issue, for those who did the nvq am2 route, fair play and good for you. I appreciate why you get annoyed with people calling themselves an electrician after you spent so many years training.
Do i call myself one , yes i do, if you described my work and asked customers they would all say i am an electrician. I do not have the NVQ and AM2, never got around to it, I came to this career after leaving the forces with a technical background. I have the 2365 L2&3 17th edition, 2392 and 2394 and due to sit 2391 version of the old 2395 in new year. I also have a NVQ in aerospace engineering.
Have 8 years in this career now, I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable and always willing to keep learning,I have an eye for detail and am very safety conscious. Registered with NICEIC purely to sign stuff off. So in eyes of some I am a DI. I dont do industrial stuff but stick with house bashing and light commercial stuff.
The point I make though is that I have met some people with all the qualifications nvq, am2 etc but they are dangerous and shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver. The quality of the work is questionable.
I have met electricians mates who I would sooner trust and are sometimes more knowledgeable.

This puts a lot of perspective on the conversation. I guess it depends on where you came from and what you do. When finished I'll have level 3 in engineering maintenance, level 3 diploma 2365, amongst many other smaller quals, am i a sparky as per the jib? No. Am i a competent worker, that understands the job and what to do? Yes, do i have the knowledge to design an installation to the current regulations? Yes.

Thanks for your input, i feel better knowing someone else is on a similar path, and doing well.

 

[Spoon]

The reason is because I'm still considered by them, to be training. But at the same time, get me doing work that only a qualified sparky can do. It's an odd situation granted, just wanted some input from guys who are fully qualified and long term served.

As @Dillb has asked above "What does your new contract say about your role?"
If they consider you still to be training then technically you should not be 'doing work that only a qualified sparky can do' without supervision.
If you are doing the work unsupervised then they are classing you in the same ranks as a qualified electrician and should pay you as such. Ask why this is not happening.

 

[PEG]

And anyway,why the big deal about the "electrician" bit?

Argue your case on the merits of ALL your skills and the benefits you bring to the role. If you cannot do this,then maybe they have the rate about right.

You are not going to find a "set" rate,or consistent skills acceptance,so tell them how you can pipe their rats away,and give em' the cost

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Another bloody charlatan.

Haha... I am really a kitchen fitter, self taught who after reading a idiots guide to diy electrics went to a training centre as after just 3 weeks they said they could make me an electrician, they told me those 5 week wonder schools were rip off merchants and just want my money, reckoned the 3 week course was superior in every way. For just a bit more money they said they would make me a pat testing engineer and i will be able to make lots of money. At the end they said if i come back for another 4 weeks they would train me as a plumber too. They were really nice people and I can not thank them enough as now i am a qualified electrician and plumber. i still do a bit of kitchen fitting on the side but prefer to do slightly iffy electrical work. Not joined a scheme yet as that would involve knowing what I am doing and I dont have a multi tester, i just turn it on and plug a socket tester or light bulb in to see if it trips and works. not gone bang yet. I dont have insurance either as all my work is kosher so dont need it.

 

[hillen1986]

As @Dillb has asked above "What does your new contract say about your role?"
If they consider you still to be training then technically you should not be 'doing work that only a qualified sparky can do' without supervision.
If you are doing the work unsupervised then they are classing you in the same ranks as a qualified electrician and should pay you as such. Ask why this is not happening.

Well my task right now, is to clear up all of the cat3s they had hanging around, which is about 100 all in. Would you trust someone who doesn't know what they are doing for this? Considering they are the old red spot boards, riddled with asbestos, multiple circuits from one fuse (bs88) , loose fittings, broken carriers. Lots of sillys, im good enough to rectify these, but not good enough for a pay rise.

 

[hillen1986]

Haha... I am really a kitchen fitter, self taught who after reading a idiots guide to diy electrics went to a training centre as after just 3 weeks they said they could make me an electrician, they told me those 5 week wonder schools were rip off merchants and just want my money, reckoned the 3 week course was superior in every way. For just a bit more money they said they would make me a pat testing engineer and i will be able to make lots of money. At the end they said if i come back for another 4 weeks they would train me as a plumber too. They were really nice people and I can not thank them enough as now i am a qualified electrician and plumber. i still do a bit of kitchen fitting on the side but prefer to do slightly iffy electrical work. Not joined a scheme yet as that would involve knowing what I am doing and I dont have a multi tester, i just turn it on and plug a socket tester or light bulb in to see if it trips and works. not gone bang yet. I dont have insurance either as all my work is kosher so dont need it.

My brother worked on site with someone very similar to this. 6 month course online, off you go. I'm a sparky. Sacked within the week i believe.

 

[Wilko]

Lots of sillys, im good enough to rectify these, but not good enough for a pay rise.

Hi - Take back some control - polish up your CV and apply for some jobs. Someone may want you and be willing to pay for it (a good thing) and even if you decide to stay on you'll have improved your interview skills .

 

[TJ Anderson]

Its an emotive issue, for those who did the nvq am2 route, fair play and good for you. I appreciate why you get annoyed with people calling themselves an electrician after you spent so many years training.
Do i call myself one , yes i do, if you described my work and asked customers they would all say i am an electrician. I do not have the NVQ and AM2, never got around to it, I came to this career after leaving the forces with a technical background. I have the 2365 L2&3 17th edition, 2392 and 2394 and due to sit 2391 version of the old 2395 in new year. I also have a NVQ in aerospace engineering.
Have 8 years in this career now, I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable and always willing to keep learning,I have an eye for detail and am very safety conscious. Registered with NICEIC purely to sign stuff off. So in eyes of some I am a DI. I dont do industrial stuff but stick with house bashing and light commercial stuff.
The point I make though is that I have met some people with all the qualifications nvq, am2 etc but they are dangerous and shouldn't be allowed near a screwdriver. The quality of the work is questionable.
I have met electricians mates who I would sooner trust and are sometimes more knowledgeable.

Gavin, absolutely spot on. I work for a national maintenance firm and I can tell you that you will be far more knowledgeable than the majority of the so called sparks on there who are JIB registered electricians (the company insist on that) and are a joke. They call themselves Electricians haha..... and can't even wire up a motor .

 

[l4urence]

Oddly, the word Electrician derived from Magician - where some bod produced Tesla sparks and made people hair stand on end with the old van de graaff - the Victorians loved it. Even BS7671 doesn't use the term. Competent Person Electrical, I believe... So yes you can be an electrician, if you entertain at Parties apparently.