Are we killing the apprenticeship route into the industry?

[Dave]

Is there the possibility that some of the sites sponsors might be responsible for misleading some folks.

I'm sure I couldn't possibly comment.

e.g. No experience required. retrain as a spark, earn £50,747.00 or even a more modest £30k

Where does it say on thier sites that you can earn that..?

 

[johnnyb]

Absolutely agree, these 12 week courses are a scam, what happened to the old ways the company sent you to college and got you through.
Unfortunataly companies are reluctant to take anybody on as the bloomin country is at a stand still, and thats the Goverments fault, for not giving insetives or not big enough incentives to make it worth while for both the employer and employee, STALEMATE boys, what we goin to do about it?

 

[guitargraham]

Hi all, feel i have to throw my hat into the ring?

i am 47 have been in the retail motor industry for the last 22 years, made redundant twice last year and decided to enroll with access2trade. i dont expect to be a full blown spark at the end, but i will have greater knowledge to help me progress. i spend all my my time at home and at work reading this forum and looking at the links to help with knowledge.

i am a pretty good guy with tools,now in my third house and do all my own DIY so feel pretty confident with doing things, but the main thing that has changed over the years is this thing called " INTERWEB" studying is so much easier but you cant beat old fashioned doing the job, so please remeber all of us who throw money at this dont think we will be up there with you guys but on the bottom rung of the ladder.

When i did my first weeks training course there were 13 of us and noboby thought they would walk strasight into the trade, 5 of us like me wanted a change of career but knew we would have to other things, one was a failed spark who wanted to get back on track, the rst thought it would help them in there current job or get them in with a company.

sorry about the waffle and great repect i love the site, it helps me no end understand things

Graham

 

[Spudnik]

I think another problem is the fact that many people are hoping for a job at the end of their training, wherever they trained.

And thats just it. There arent any.

It does shock me that so many people are spending a lot of money on training knowing full well the state of the industry in general.

I for one, would not even contemplate getting into the building industry whilst we are in this current situation.

Professional suicide.

 

[saveloy]

I think another problem is the fact that many people are hoping for a job at the end of their training, wherever they trained.

And thats just it. There arent any.

It does shock me that so many people are spending a lot of money on training knowing full well the state of the industry in general.

I for one, would not even contemplate getting into the building industry whilst we are in this current situation.

Professional suicide.

I am afraid I agree with that. It's also the same with plumbing. Mate of mine works at a plumbing/ electrical firm. He helps run the office. He says that at the moment they get a huge amount of calls (sometimes 20 a day!!!!) from people who have been on courses and are looking for a start. Unfortunatley their workload is declining apart from that they only use experienced engineers. The whole industry is going down the pan.

On a personal note I put myself through college 3 years ago so that I could add electrical work to my core business (domestic building). I totally agree that there is a distinct lack of decent apprenticeships around and given my time again I would have trained as an electrician from school. I do know my limitations and stick to them. I do feel though, that if you are dedicated enough, and don't get over confident about your knowledge and abilities then you can make it. However there is no sustitution for a proper apprenticeship.

 

[ecclescake]

Hi all.

It's these "for profit" training centers that are ruining the industry IMO. Under an apprenticeship you are not allowed to progress further than level 2 without having an employer as the site experience is again IMO most important.

These chaps coming off the back of a training center course simply do not have the practical know how that experience brings to get on and be successful in the industry from the outset, through no fault of their own I may add. With no jobs available to them due to the state of the country at the mo what are they to do.....start their own business charging peanuts and spoil the trade even more.

You only have to look at some of the questions posted on here by "qualified sparks" to realise some of these courses dont teach a damn thing.

I really find it difficult to understand why people see getting into the electrical industry at this present time as a sure fire way of making a fortune as there is simply no work out there, these training centers are making it all up just to relieve you of your hard earned £5G

Now I'm not apologising for anything I've just said as I feel very strongly about this issue and genuinely believe that these "courses" are making a mockery of the industry and will ultimately be it's greatest downfall

There are no doubt exceptions to this but I have yet to see a good one.

Before anyone spouts off about me being stuck in my ways and past it and eliteist, I'm only 27 and yes I am a time served spark.

Regards

Lenny.

Well said totally true

 

[bazza2541]

+1 to what Lenny said.
I'd go even further though.
I'd say, its not the governments job to get you work, thats on your own head. A fool and his money is easy parted, there is no quick money to be made anywhere, unless you got the six magic numbers that is.
If it wasn't for all these fast-track lads coming out there would be work for the real apprentices and we could get back to the industry regulating itself.

 

[Ashley Williams]

Im currently in the siuation of trying to find an apprentaship ive almost finsihed my first year of 2330 and i want to get an apprentaship for my 2nd year but im really struggerling so far ive found 1 apprentasip in my area. I have a mate who has just finished his second year and is a really good spark the company he worked for went bust and he just cant find a new apprentaship. So he has had to take a job as a press operator at a factory.

Ash

 

[boatnik1]

Dave. I only quoted the add on most pages of the forum.

Where does it say on thier sites that you can earn that..?

Become An Electrician
No Exp Needed. Earn Up To £50,747. Re Train As An Electrician Here.
FastTrack.Electrician-Courses.co

Chaps,

It is the site sponsors that help keep the forum going.

If it wasnt for them you wouldnt have anywhere to go, to be a part of a great community.

Appreciated, but is it not possible to ask advertisers to moderate their claims as they clearly imply that a course with them is a sure bet to get into the rich list in a matter of months.

I'm sure most most people wouldn't wish to advertise a product that was destroying their business.
(perhaps not the same thing, but close.)

 

[electricAl]

I think another problem is the fact that many people are hoping for a job at the end of their training, wherever they trained.

And thats just it. There arent any.

It does shock me that so many people are spending a lot of money on training knowing full well the state of the industry in general.

Yes, not unreasonably, they are hoping for a job - no matter quite how or how long they trained.

However, i doubt too many know much, if anything, about how few openings there are at present.

The training organisations have good reason to constantly regurgitate outdated statements re Skills Shortages. Unless the powersthatbe (the originators of such statements long ago) force them to stop they`ll keep making knowingly false claims whilst it lines their pockets.

Spurious training has become a growth industry of late. They may well be the only ones earning good money if the practice continues But why would they care?

With so many losing jobs, it should be no surprise that crowds are flocking at the doors of those promising easy riches - only too eager to spend their redundancy monies on `getting a trade`

And the quicker the route to this promised financial haven, the more appealing it is. Only the canniest will look hard enough to invalidate the claims of these tricksters.

I don`t blame those that genuinely believe the hype. When they find out the truth that`ll be punishment enough.

But i do blame those causing this - the Cheatsters, the Government agencies for outright ignoring it
but especially those that conspire to circumnavigate the system, but then compound the insult by attempting to cover the known inadequacy`s of 5 day Electrician courses by asking us how to carry out an RFC test on the house they`ve just rewired

We all have to learn somewhere, but as the big J suggested recently, not where innocent customers are put in mortal danger.

This whole situation can only end in tragedy one way or another. It`s sad.

 

[ElectroManUk]

hey all!
i av only just joined this forum, already i av read some interresting stuff. It seems like there are alot of newly qalified sparks out there, i have just passed my course which i gained Part P defined scope, 2382 17th editon and 2377 PAT, I will now say i have some experance but nout much, i am hopefully going in an taking Full scope part P, 2330, level 3 and 2391 and 2392! i just need to get on the ladder and start actually working in that field. if any one can point me in the right direction i will be very grate full! i live in Manchester and have my own transport so willing to travel, if any one needs a fitter or some help, i am more the willing to work as a mate or an emprover! many thanks lee

Sorry for using your post, i just aint got round to figuring out how to post new ones yet, thanks again

 

[montybaber]

I have heard from a reliable source that the NVQ may be scrapped in favour of new qualifications combining theory and practical giving the students more structured training allowing a much easier transition into employment.

Does look like the apprenticeship is dying

 

[Jono Pashley]

Electrical Qualifications - Electrical News Page

 

[Guest123]

Electrical Qualifications - Electrical News Page

Well according to that any new sparks will only be trained to install domestically and nothing else.

Taking the MICC and galv conduit out of the AM2, whats the point, seems like a fastrack course in disguise.

Shocking!!!!!

 

[montybaber]

not exactly what I heard, i assumed it would continue like 2360 pt 1 did, part 1 had prob 30% practical but part 2 had none, why not scrap nvqs and have a lot more practical at college?