Apprenticeshipsxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Pete999]

As the title suggests, what constitutes an Electrical Apprenticeship in this modern world we live in today?
There have been a few threads lately "Ive done this course or that course, how do I get an Apprenticeship?"
Well to be honest with you I would like to know, not because I want one at 71 and fter more years than I want to remember after completing mine, I would like to know, to be able to offer some advice to the Lads and Lasses who are aspiring to become Electricians, not Domestic Installers, but real Electricians, I would like to help people, but when you are faced with people in their 20s 30s asking about Apprenticeships, it seems alien to to me, maybe I should give up, cus it's baffeling how to answer.

 

[Adam Lench]

As far as I know nowadays it's all based on the NVQ system. When I left school in 98 I was lucky enough to move straight into a "modern apprenticeship" this constituted of...
1st year full time college sitting NVQ in basic engineering principles. Also 1st year of City + Guilds 2360. This is where you were taught all the basic stuff needed to be a spark. Including conduit bending "sets" and threading as Fredo mentioned earlier.
2nd year was day release sitting C+G 2360 part 2 (1 day a week at college + 4 on job training).
3rd year was again day release where we had options. We had to sit BS7671 and could also do the "C course" this was the follow on to 2360, but a lot harder.
4th year was mainly working on your "portfolio" in preparation for final assessment by the NVQ apprenticeship assessor. You could also attend C+G 2391 in 4th year. The portfolio, final assessment and completion of all the courses gained you the full apprenticeship. It was a while ago now, but that's roughly how I remember it. I do believe this is still the best way to get a broad range of skills to set you up in the trade. I would be really interested to see how it's done in 2017.

 

[Toneyz]

For me, it was always my vocation of what I wanted to do before I left school. I am interested to hear what has made many (as posted on here) go into the industry later on in life. I also feel sorry for a lot of these lads nowadays just used as cheap labour and don't get fully mentored now you could argue the rights and wrongs of it.

 

[Lip.82]

I put myself through college on a evening course for four years (C&G L2&3) I have to wait for the 18th edition to come out before I can do my reg's course and then inspection and testing and then NVQ 3.
I have been lucky enough to be working in the trade for the passed 6 years gaining valuable experience. I'm lucky enough to have a boss who is willing to teach me and help me as much as he can. Not an apprenticeship I know.
I'm now 35 and have 3 kids so I couldn't afford to do an apprenticeship as I hAve a family to provide for so this was my only option to become an electrician. I would like to go down the industrial path so any advice on which courses would help with this would be much appreciated

 

[JAWS]

For me, it was always my vocation of what I wanted to do before I left school. I am interested to hear what has made many (as posted on here) go into the industry later on in life. I also feel sorry for a lot of these lads nowadays just used as cheap labour and don't get fully mentored now you could argue the rights and wrongs of it.

Good question Anthony for me it's something I've always been interested in but when I was 20 took up another trade at the time & decided now in later life I'll give my self a chance on trying to become an electrician.

Will I succeed I'm not sure 50/50, or maybe 30/70 not in my favour I really don't know, will I be gutted if I don't, no not at all.

Unfortunately there are still many electricians about who are unwilling to accept someone calling them self an electrician unless they're time served apprentices but in later life getting an apprenticeship is a non-runner so many do have to take different routes yet they're squirmed upon like "how dare you go down this route, " or if you haven't biked 10 mile everyday to work under another electrician for £50 a week you're throwned upon" or if you just want to be a Domestic Installer then straight away ( you're not a proper electrician) & immediately downgraded.

How many electricians can we safely say who have families to feed, rent & bills to be paid who can honestly say they they'd take on someone & train them up while most probably earning a lot less due to watching over them, I doubt you'd get many rushing to the front of the queue signing up.

 

[Jay Sparks]

The new standards (apprenticeship) for the installation electrician is the Level 3 Electrotechnical qualification (installation) or
(maintenance) (5357-03).

It consists of 3 - 31/2 years at college doing the technical units and portfolio units. Once these have been signed off, the apprentice must pass the AM2. There are a lot of practical exams in the technical units, including 4 different types of safe isolation, a 10 hour build/installation to name a few. The portfolio has 6 units to complete and all but three of them have to be done on at least two separate occasions.

For the portfolio, the apprentice will have to install 4 different cable types from a list of 8 and install 4 different containment types from a list of 10. They will also have to terminate 4 different cable types and install and terminate at least 5 accessories from a list of 11.

There is also the inspection & testing unit and fault diagnosis and rectification units to complete.

There are 126 criteria altogether in the portfolio, so these are just a few of them.

Hope this makes sense?

Jay

 

[Pete999]

The new standards (apprenticeship) for the installation electrician is the Level 3 Electrotechnical qualification (installation) or
(maintenance) (5357-03).

It consists of 3 - 31/2 years at college doing the technical units and portfolio units. Once these have been signed off, the apprentice must pass the AM2. There are a lot of practical exams in the technical units, including 4 different types of safe isolation, a 10 hour build/installation to name a few. The portfolio has 6 units to complete and all but three of them have to be done on at least two separate occasions.

For the portfolio, the apprentice will have to install 4 different cable types from a list of 8 and install 4 different containment types from a list of 10. They will also have to terminate 4 different cable types and install and terminate at least 5 accessories from a list of 11.

There is also the inspection & testing unit and fault diagnosis and rectification units to complete.

There are 126 criteria altogether in the portfolio, so these are just a few of them.

Hope this makes sense?

Jay

Clear as a bell thanks Jay

 

[Squid]

£150 a week went a long way living with parents and to only run a mo-ped!

Jeeez you where minted I was on 89p an hour and took the bus.

 

[Pete999]

My first pay at qualifying was £14 and 7shillings per week take home, £14:70 about in today's money

 

[telectrix]

you maths is slipping, pete £14-7-0 is £14.35.

but for that 7shillings, you could buy 3 pints and 20 smokes.

 

[Pete999]

you maths is slipping, pete £14-7-0 is £14.35.

It's only a number Tel

 

[7029 dave]

Jeeez you where minted I was on 89p an hour and took the bus.

Same as, but was on 62p an hour.circa 1979.

 

[Pete999]

Same as, but was on 62p an hour.circa 1979.

1979, I was just back from a years solitary confinement up some poxy mountain in Cyprus, and don't say a year in the Sun, it bloody snowed for 5 months, snow you have never seen snow like it.

 

[7029 dave]

1979, I was just back from a years solitary confinement up some poxy mountain in Cyprus, and don't say a year in the Sun, it bloody snowed for 5 months, snow you have never seen snow like it.

In the military then Pete.?

 

[Pete999]

In the military then Pete.?

No Dave Department of the Environment, Property Services Agency, Authorised Person, Foreman M&E 1 year tour, might as well have been in the Military though.
And I volunteered what a pillock.

 

[telectrix]

Same as, but was on 62p an hour.circa 1979.

when i started apprenticeship in 1966 was on £6/5/0 a week.