carer change 30+

[bazzel]

Hi all. Im looking to change career into a spark.
I have dependents, so apprenterships are out of the question. I was wondering if any one has any experience with the training companys (trade skills 4u etc] and if there training is held in any regard in the trade?
Has anyone succesfully came out of them and walked into a job as a spark?
My salary req is not massive, 20-30K will do.
Any one with any thoughts on a good route into the trade? I appreciate any replys

 

[imago]

What's your work background?

 

[bazzel]

FLT driver at the moment. Been machine op, bookbinder, painter

 

[RWJ]

FLT driver at the moment. Been machine op, bookbinder, painter

Stick with that.... all the painters and decorators I know are flat out at the min I was thinking about giving my mate Barry (the painter) a hand for cash!

 

[imago]

OK, in which case your best route into the trade is to try and get work helping an electrician out on sites. If you try the qualifications route first you will find it very difficult (nigh on impossible) to get anywhere worthwhile to get back the money you'll spend on training. If you get some experience and contacts first you'll be well placed to progress.

One thing you won't do is pass the exams and walk straight into a job. If you're that lucky I'd recommend buying a lottery ticket as a better investment.

I'm not trying to put you off, or saying you shouldn't do it. Just pointing out that passing the exams is the easy part.

 

[sparkiegaz]

try anything else cant say ide recommend being a spark these days,,,finding less enjoyment in it every day ,,,

 

[Dave 85]

Dont know much about the training centres, I went to a college, but whatever type of training you do, it is going to focus on regs, testing, calculations etc, they're not going to teach you how to do the job. Unless you have a lot of experience already in the building trade, don't expect people to be throwing money at you just because you're 'qualified'-it doesn't mean you'll actually be any use to them.
Having said that, being an electrician can be an enjoyable, rewarding and well earning job if you get into the right thing.

 

[bazzel]

Thanks for the replies. So, you d sugest electricians mate is the way to go? What sort of money is a mate on?
As regards the qualifications, these wil be necessary at some point though, wont they?
Are the c&g s the recognised standard in the trade?
A further question I would like to ask is what exactly is a domestic installer. Does that mean you can do any domestic work? Fire alarms, burglar alarms, mains circuits etc. TY

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Thanks for the replies. So, you d sugest electricians mate is the way to go? What sort of money is a mate on?
As regards the qualifications, these wil be necessary at some point though, wont they?
Are the c&g s the recognised standard in the trade?
A further question I would like to ask is what exactly is a domestic installer. Does that mean you can do any domestic work? Fire alarms, burglar alarms, mains circuits etc. TY

house bashin`s all right but the commercial and industrial sector has more kudos and branches out into so many different avenues....thing here with DI`s is.......theres just loads of em......look at it like this...you can sit the C&G 2382......thats an online exam consisting of 50 questions.....open book....and as far as the part p scheme providers are concerned...thats enough to get you through the door as a domestic installer....to me it aint enough isn`t that...but thats just my opinion.......DI`s can often be looked down on in this industry though mate.......what i am trying to say here is that if you feel that you have more in you than that ...then you owe it to yourself to aim higher......only you have the answer to that........as far as these "training centres" are concerned though.....i would stear clear of em all if it were me...but it aint is it..lol....your choice mate....but dont write off the local colleges that will offer proper C&G courses with proper C&G exams and the qualification/s that come with it all........that would be my play personally.....but dont just get the cyllabus from 1....go to several.....even if it means travelling mate........not all colleges are the same.......and if you do decide to work with an electrician for the experience...then why not do the NVQ at the same time......after all the NVQ is site, experience based and as thats what you would be doing anyway working for a sparky....this has been suggested already here.......its good advice and i do hope you take it..........

 

[Dave 85]

To do (and self certify) any work in a domestic premises you have to be registered on a 'domestic installer scheme' by law (otherwise known as part P). This is about £300-£500 a year and requires you to be assessed once a year. No such registration requirement is in place for commercial/industrial work.
Any Tom/Dick or Harry is allowed to do alarms if they know how.
Yes C&G (2330) is widely recognised.
Although I've known people to earn up to £150 a day as a 'mate' while completely un-qualified (yet highly skilled) it is rare. The point is, find someone who's definetly gonna give you a job before throwing money at qualifications.
In my experience an un-skilled mate cant expect more than about £70 a day

 

[bazzel]

Cheers, some food for thought there