Electricain. Good Trade? Money? and setting up?

[markj82]

Hi

I am considering a change of carrer and becoming an electricain.

The main question really I suppose is it a good trade to be in and is there money to be made? I though this would be the best place to ask.

I have looked at several companies to supply the qulaifications ranging from £2500 to £5000. I will then be "qualified" to 2382,2392 pat testing 2377-11 & 2377-12. And I will probabbly also do 2391 at a later date, and apply for NICEIC. The intention is to set up by myself for mainly domestic work.

I have a shopping basket in screwfix direct with £2800 of tools waiting for me to buy, Public and proffesional insurance and have put £3000 aside for a vehicle. I am an experinced markerter, I am a Google Ads words and SEO proffesional (getting websites to the top of search results) but it is a very boring job.

I do not have that much electrical experince to be honest, but I have refurbished 3 houses and one of them was a complete rewire of a 4 bed victorian house that I done by myself and then got a safety inspection, which passed. although i appreciate that there is nothing better than experince.

I asked a similar question on a forum 6 months ago about becoming a HIPS inspector, they all put me off, and as HIPS have been cancelled was a wise move.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks


Mark

 

[Spa Key]

There's no money in this trade at the minute. There are experiences sparkys on here who can't find any work. For a lot of self-employed people, their phone isn't even ringing.

Remember there are hundreds of people every month doing the same course as you. The 'lack of electricians' is a myth. There's not that much money in it at the best of times, and the earn £50k/year you hear about is carp.

 

[pushrod]

If you do decide to try it i wouldn't go with these expensive courses that promise everything -TBH they might sound good, but the people running them are interested in taking your money, whereas the lecturers at your local college are interested in pass rates. I have just completed my c&g 2330 levels 2 and 3 (two years full time) and my 2382 (Evening classes) at my local college all for less than £900. The extra time it takes at college is a good thing IMO as it enables you to revisit a lot of stuff and learn it well.

Unfortunately the 2330 courses at colleges are just in the process of being replaced.

 

[markj82]

If you do decide to try it i wouldn't go with these expensive courses that promise everything -TBH they might sound good, but the people running them are interested in taking your money, whereas the lecturers at your local college are interested in pass rates. I have just completed my c&g 2330 levels 2 and 3 (two years full time) and my 2382 (Evening classes) at my local college all for less than £900. The extra time it takes at college is a good thing IMO as it enables you to revisit a lot of stuff and learn it well.

Unfortunately the 2330 courses at colleges are just in the process of being replaced.

Thanks, I am not that concerened about the cost, I cant wait years to get quailified although I am sure you leave with a better understanding that just doing a 4 week course.

Have you any idea what the market is like out there at the moment?

mark

 

[pushrod]

unfortunately i am the wrong person to be asking about that one, but i suspect a lot of it is to do with reputation and word of mouth for repeat business. There was however a bloke on the course who was actually working while doing the course who seemed always to have plenty of work, so much so that he was always having to miss days. BTW full tiime only meant 3 days/week in the first year and 2 days per week in the second year so it was quite easy to carry on with part - time work if you wanted to.

 

[confused-fuse]

the trade is dead same as electronic repairs,computer repairs,electrical repairs, the only thing that seems to get money are the banks .. i wish i did accounting now ... the trade is dead and don't believe everything you see in papers " train as a sparky,plumber,chippy make loada money" only the training center make the money from you ... last year a center in birmingham folded owing loads of money to clients who paid for training in all trades even on the day thay folded thay was taking money of students not a nice company ..

 

[pennywise]

Thanks, I am not that concerened about the cost, I cant wait years to get quailified although I am sure you leave with a better understanding that just doing a 4 week course.

Have you any idea what the market is like out there at the moment?

mark

My advise would be to try and find a position with a company as an electricians m8 and get a few years experience. Passing a short course means absolutely sweet FA, I did a full apprenticeship and to be honest I could have completed all the written exams in a year or so and I still would have known nothing but on paper I would have been qualified.A short course just means the customer is going to be paying for you to learn and muck up on their jobs, Your first practical experience should be done under the supervision of a qualified electrician so he can lay down a good base of installation know how and working practices. I'm not trying to put you off or get all high and mighty about the full apprenticeship Vs short course Issue but gain the experience before you embark on your own, it'll take you 3-4 years minimum there are no short cuts in my eyes. cheers good luck.

 

[markj82]

Thanks again.

What are you views on business, is there much out there? or is it over crowded?

Mark

 

[ezzzekiel]

long time establishd sparks ar scraping by, new firms not much hope especially for the untrained

 

[Adam W]

No there isn't much work out there. The domestic market is jam packed full of people who have found there isn't "money in computers" anymore and were suckered in by the "There's loadsa money in trades now" training companies who sell you a load of certificates which don't mean anything.

At worst you're looking at jumping on the bandwagon late.
At best you still have time to look for the next 'Get rich quick' scheme.

 

[KEVINDOE]

Also, another thing to mention is the compitition that comes from rogue traders, semi retired sparks, and sparks that work for firms during the week and do stuff at weekends and evenings on the side, it is almost impossible to compete price wise with the above mentioned and at the moment you would be lucky to fill all five days of the week startin out.
That said , its a good trade, every day and job is different and throws up different problems[ normaly bad].....good luck mate.

 

[caterhamboy]

I am just about to finish my 2nd yr city and guilds 2330 and out of a group off 15 ,7 have lost there jobs this yr, i work for a small company and we are only doing 3 days a wk on average and he has been in the game for 20+ yrs with good reputation. I am going to finish my 3rd yr and try and move onto something else as the market seams saturated with pay to match.

 

[cantabrian9]

DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! i finished my apprenticeship in1967 and the trade is steadily going down hill you get paid minimal amount of money for a lot of knowledge (we can KILL water and wood ETC can be seen!!!!!) show a jib ticket on a site and you will be laughed at!! think it over and all the BEST

 

[CP Electrics]

Dont bother, its tough out there,

 

[ezzzekiel]

a lot to blame on these wonder courses too which have watered down the trade added to this large site work going down the drain.