Don’t get taken for a ride by electrical ‘Rogue Trainers’ urges industry body

Want to become a qualified electrician? Look carefully at the training courses on offer to avoid wasting time and money, is the advice in a new campaign from electrical industry body The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP).

With thousands of searches each year on terms such as ‘electrical courses’ and ‘how to become an electrician’, many people are at risk of taking the wrong training path if they’re not aware of the correct routes they should follow.

Alongside the many training providers who are doing the right thing and offering industry-recognised qualifications, there are unfortunately some training providers – dubbed by TESP as ‘Rogue Trainers’ – who don’t deliver on their promises, presenting a range of courses which look impressive to the untrained eye, but on proper inspection don’t lead to qualified status.

Click to view video

In a short, animated video from TESP, an unsuspecting victim is drawn into a house of horrors by false claims which turn out not to be all they seem.

The advice to those wanting to become an electrician is look carefully at what’s on offer and be aware of red flags like hard sells, payment plans, and qualification packages which aren’t recognised by industry.

Full advice is available at www.roguetrainers.co.uk with top tips for choosing a training provider, along with warning signs to look out for when researching a provider’s claims. Visitors are signposted to TESP’s industry approved Training Routes to read more on the right paths to follow to become qualified.

“There are still too many reports of people spending thousands of pounds with companies who wilfully misrepresent where their training leads,” said Ruth Devine, TESP Chair and Managing Director of SJD Electrical. “Some providers use high-pressure sales techniques to trap learners with a large financial commitment, but devious contract terms mean there’s no realistic prospect of achieving the qualification.”

“When so many training providers jump through hoops to do things properly and engage responsibly with industry and employers, it’s important that potential learners are aware of the pitfalls.

“We hope to raise awareness of this campaign to the general public and help those who may fall foul of rogue trainers when looking to become an electrician.”

Watch the video and find out more about the campaign.

Click to view video

 

[Dustydazzler]

THERE IS NO ONE CAP FITS ALL SITUATIONS ELECTRICIANS QUALIFICATION

NEVER HAS BEEN AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL

 

[Vortigern]

Sorry but forgot to mention the OP. Yes I think it is a great thing you are doing highlighting unscrupulous purveyors of electrical courses and exposing them??? But someone needs to do that and maybe we got a bit off topic and you probably feel you had your fingers bitten off in trying to share what is a noble effort. This forum has so many stories of people who have been ripped off and disappointed on these courses preying on genuinely interested and motivated people. I personally wholly endorse what you are doing.

 

[ElectroChem]

 

[Addyrgv]

All well and good when installations go right, it's when they go wrong and someone gets hurt or worst that the legal side will utilise the 'recommended or industry standards' to measure you by.
Whatever form they take.

 

[Marty92]

"Importantly, the routes clearly stress that becoming a fully qualified electrician can only be achieved with valid on-site work experience, as opposed to courses that offer no ‘real world’ practical skills."

There is no standard, body, qualification or overseeing authority that defines 'fully qualified'. In short, there's no such thing.

I thought I was a member her but it’s been so long that I could not find any trace...

I rejoined/joined because of this post.

I saw talk of this on Twitter, I have to say I 100% agree with you.

‘Companies’ like these guys set up, they endorse their mates in the JIB, ECA, NIC, et-al That bunch of leaches then endorse them back and the incestuous circle starts again.

Boils my blood! Can you tell.

Qualified electrician - meaningless let alone ‘Fully’ qualified. No one is ever fully qualified in this field!

Electrical ‘training’ - meaningless

Approved electrician? Really? Approved be a private company with no Legal standing.

Absolute joke.

This lot will be no differant than all that come before them. Wait for the call for the paper in your wallet to be ‘approved’ by another private company.

 

[Petej999]

The closest thing to 'qualified' in todays market is an up to date NVQ3 ?

But as you say the term 'qualified' in the electrical industry means nothing as it there is no formal one size fits all qualification

Its not like a driving test where you pass and then are qualified to drive , the electrical trade has never ever had such a universal standard I dissagree Mate it did when I were a Lad 5 years apprenticeship , indentures at the end of 5 years, nothing more to say. except 6 months trial before signing your indentures and 6 months improving afterward oh and yer cards so you could go and get a job somewhere else. kids today have it so easy.