Any hope for me?

[thelocaluk]

Hi everyone!!

I started my training to become an electrician back in 1989 and completed 2 1/2 years of my apprenticeship. In that time I successfully passed part 1 and 2 of the C&G's exams and just had to complete the final practical exam to qualify. Unfortunately due to the recession back then, the company I was with was struggling to find work and I lost interest to stick it out.

I have spent the last 16 years working in a totally different industry and only done the odd job for friends and family. I'm now getting older and would like to try and finish where I left of and actually qualify to get back into the trade full-time. Where do I go from here, do I have to retrain from square one?

 

[Bane]

Your fuc*ed mate.

Should have finished it when you had the chance.

Game over.

The end.

 

[Carter]

Your fuc*ed mate.

but not true...

Should have finished it when you had the chance.

true but not

Game over.

'Taint over till the fat lady hands you your 17th Ed, AM2, 2391

The end.

...of wondering how to progress a career change chap.

Your halfway there fellah, plenty of real world sound advice in the training threads as well. Might cost a bit if you want to hasten the process and it's no drink of watter. Retrieve copies of your pt.1 & 2 from C&Guilds, think it's about £30. I guess for someone in your position with your previous knowledge/experience (were you on day release and in the trade?) you could get yourself up to speed and useful in a year 18mths depending on your resources and amout of time you could devote to study. Did you get any hands on with 3ph and machine control?
If you weren't active with a contractor whilst doing your course or otherwise gaining practical experience and being exposed to the full diversity of electrical installation works then that limits your scope probably to the domestic field. It's not so easy to pick up industrial and commercial experience as it is with domestics. Gotta do the legwork and tout yourself around or get lucky or know the right person.

Any transferrable skills from your current job?

Picking a field of specialization might give you an edge, photo-voltaics or home AV systems, marine & yachts? something like that.

 

[thelocaluk]

Your halfway there fellah, plenty of real world sound advice in the training threads as well. Might cost a bit if you want to hasten the process and it's no drink of watter. Retrieve copies of your pt.1 & 2 from C&Guilds, think it's about £30. I guess for someone in your position with your previous knowledge/experience (were you on day release and in the trade?) you could get yourself up to speed and useful in a year 18mths depending on your resources and amout of time you could devote to study. Did you get any hands on with 3ph and machine control?
If you weren't active with a contractor whilst doing your course or otherwise gaining practical experience and being exposed to the full diversity of electrical installation works then that limits your scope probably to the domestic field. It's not so easy to pick up industrial and commercial experience as it is with domestics. Gotta do the legwork and tout yourself around or get lucky or know the right person.

Any transferrable skills from your current job?

Picking a field of specialization might give you an edge, photo-voltaics or home AV systems, marine & yachts? something like that.

Thanks for the advice. I still have the C&G's papers in my possession and I did my apprenticeship with a company mostly doing commercial contracts such as office and hotel refurbs, though I never really touched any 3PH or machine controls which is my major lack of experience. I haven't thought of specialising, I'd be happy to do domestics to start with. I'm not to concerned about cost of training, what is a problem is my time because I'll need to remain in fulltime work leaving me with evenings and weekend to study. Any ideas of a suitable course or college?

 

[Bane]

Sorry about my first post, was only joking.

Most coleges offer evening classes and some even offer weekend courses.

Where are you located?

 

[thelocaluk]

Sorry about my first post, was only joking.

Most coleges offer evening classes and some even offer weekend courses.

Where are you located?

No worries fella, you made laugh in fact

I live in Oxford so I guess my first move should be to contact the local college and see what they could offer. I did call them years ago but at the time they couldn't help me, may be things have changed.

 

[Bane]

Glad I put a smile on your face! That was my intention

As for college, you just answered your own question! Only thing that worries me is that you MIGHT have missed out on this year. So pull your finger out and check/phone TODAY.

The reason I say this is that I enrolled on Friday for my 2330 and I start a week today. I'm 29, on adult learning I know that the college I'm with had the adult enrolments AFTER the school leavers.