Electrical vs gas courses

[Aurora123]

Hi

I’m 18 and recently cancelled my uni application, I did a levels in biology, chemistry and psychology and did pretty good. Someone introduced to the trade saying it’s lucrative etc etc and can courses can be acquired in about a. Year. I thought it’s better then me doing 3 years uni and having 27k in debt. For these courses I spend less then 10k . I’m stuck whether to do a gas course or electrical. I have asked some gas engineers and they say lots of people are already in gas and electrical is better. Plz help as I need to get admission and places are filling up very quickly

 

[DPG]

Hi

I’m 18 and recently cancelled my uni application, I did a levels in biology, chemistry and psychology and did pretty good. Someone introduced to the trade saying it’s lucrative etc etc and can courses can be acquired in about a. Year. I thought it’s better then me doing 3 years uni and having 27k in debt. For these courses I spend less then 10k . I’m stuck whether to do a gas course or electrical. I have asked some gas engineers and they say lots of people are already in gas and electrical is better. Plz help as I need to get admission and places are filling up very quickly

Don't forget as well as the course you will need experience before being able to start doing work.

 

[Aurora123]

Don't forget as well as the course you will need experience before being able to start doing work.

That’s very true , with these trades you don’t find much information online otherwise I wouldn’t even be on this forum

 

[DPG]

That’s very true , with these trades you don’t find much information online otherwise I wouldn’t even be on this forum

It's a really good forum this one. Have a search for similar previous threads - you will probably find these useful.

 

[nicebutdim]

That’s very true , with these trades you don’t find much information online otherwise I wouldn’t even be on this forum

Why not look for an apprenticeship and get paid while you learn and gain experience? You'll come out the other end with much greater skills and understanding of whichever trade you choose, which will lead to higher future earnings. You'll also be better off by £10k in not having to pay for courses.

One year courses will provide what you need to get into the industry, but lack of experience may well limit opportunities thereafter.

I'm in my mid 40s and trying to re-train. If opportunities existed for adult apprenticeships, where I live, I'd jump at the chance.

 

[Aurora123]

Why not look for an apprenticeship and get paid while you learn and gain experience? You'll come out the other end with much greater skills and understanding of whichever trade you choose, which will lead to higher future earnings. You'll also be better off by £10k in not having to pay for courses.

One year courses will provide what you need to get into the industry, but lack of experience may well limit opportunities thereafter.

I'm in my mid 40s and trying to re-train. If opportunities existed for adult apprenticeships, where I live, I'd jump at the chance.

I would of done a apprenticeship, it’s very good but it’s longer. I want to get it done quicker

 

[nicebutdim]

I would of done a apprenticeship, it’s very good but it’s longer. I want to get it done quicker

I fully understand the urge to progress quickly, but doing so may limit future options. Qualified is qualified and people either have knowledge and practical skills or they dont but, having spent considerable time reading this forum, I think it's fair to say that apprenticeships are often viewed more favourably than shorter routes into the industry.

Apprentices who are keen to learn and have a good work ethic might not qualify faster than those among their peers who do the bare minimum, but they'll come out the the other side with a much greater range of skills that can be translated into much greater earnings.

What you do is entirely up to you and I'm simply trying to present reasons why speed may not always be of the essence.

 

[telectrix]

I would of done a apprenticeship, it’s very good but it’s longer. I want to get it done quicker

not a good idea. look at 4 years to get a proper apprenticeship and the right qualifications. as said before practical experience is essential and you'll not get this with a boil-in-the-bag course. it's you future career on the line. do it right and you'll not regret it. rush it and you'll kick yourself when job opportunities favour someone else. Rome wasn't built in a day. it took 12 paddys a week. ????. would have beed 3 days, but they didn'tnt have JCB diggers then

 

[nicebutdim]

On the electrical vs gas question, it does seem as though gas engineers currently have better general earning potential, but earnings fluctuate with demand and the government seem set on getting rid of gas heating and power generation.

Both industries should provide plenty of opportunities during your working life, but it might be better to consider which appeals most and not just look at current earnings. Nothing worse that getting up every day to go to a job you hate, so perhaps one industry appeals more to you than the other?

 

[Aurora123]

I fully understand the urge to progress quickly, but doing so may limit future options. Qualified is qualified and people either have knowledge and practical skills or they dont but, having spent considerable time reading this forum, I think it's fair to say that apprenticeships are often viewed more favourably than shorter routes into the industry.

Apprentices who are keen to learn and have a good work ethic might not qualify faster than those among their peers who do the bare minimum, but they'll come out the the other side with a much greater range of skills that can be translated into much greater earnings.

What you do is entirely up to you and I'm simply trying to present reasons why speed may not always be of the essence.

What you said is completely right , what do you view of the shorter 1 year courses? I will be going in to domestic and staying there. I’m mostly likely to work with someone for quite sometime and then open my own business.

On the electrical vs gas question, it does seem as though gas engineers currently have better general earning potential, but earnings fluctuate with demand and the government seem set on getting rid of gas heating and power generation.

Both industries should provide plenty of opportunities during your working life, but it might be better to consider which appeals most and not just look at current earnings. Nothing worse that getting up every day to go to a job you hate, so perhaps one industry appeals more to you than the other?

gas boilers will finish after 2025 i'm assuming.This means the ACS will change and everyone will have to retake etc etc. I find theory part of electrical more interesting and is mainly why i'm thinking of doing it. Don't they have a similiar earning potential? Anyways they both make alot. As I said I'm likely to stay in domestic thus i'm less likely to need to more experience and qualification if you understand me. Anyways sorry but asking again overall what is better if you sum up everything in pros and cons?

 

[telectrix]

the money is in industrial. esp. if you later sepecialise in plc etc. domestic is a shambles where customers go for cheapest quotes., even if it's dave from the pub working fot £100/day. as long as it works, even if lethal.the shiny kitchen looks great till it sets on fire.

 

[nicebutdim]

If I was in your shoes, I'd jump at an apprenticeship, but I'm not in your shoes and have no option other than taking whatever scarce opportunities become available.

The options available to me are college courses or short courses and I'm trying to secure the former as training would be more substantial.

I can not stress strongly enough the value of broad knowledge and wide ranging skills (in any industry), regardless of whether or not you intend working solely in domestic situations. It's much better knowing something you never need to know, than needing to know something you have never learnt.

 

[Aurora123]

Can someone give me a link to show all the qualifications and guide to become a electrician etc etc. It would be very much appreciated.

 

[telectrix]

c&g 2365 levels 2 and 3. then NVQ3 with am2.

 

[telectrix]

but if you're thinking of going the gas/plumbing route.........

sh!t flows downhill, gas goes psssst. there. fully qualified.

 

[Aurora123]

but if you're thinking of going the gas/plumbing route.........

sh!t flows downhill, gas goes psssst. there. fully qualified.

Yh it’s quite quick

 

[DPG]

Can someone give me a link to show all the qualifications and guide to become a electrician etc etc. It would be very much appreciated.

Have you searched the forum yet? There are loads of threads about this subject.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Having had to get a gas safe engineer out yesterday to check my dripping boiler I can safely say they earn more by the hour

£152 per hour (this was call out rate) + materials

fortunately it was a minor repair and thankfully it was a friend of a friend so we got a small discount

but if you can be a busy gas engineer then your earning potential is pretty much limitless

 

[Aurora123]

Having had to get a gas safe engineer out yesterday to check my dripping boiler I can safely say they earn more by the hour

£152 per hour (this was call out rate) + materials

fortunately it was a minor repair and thankfully it was a friend of a friend so we got a small discount

but if you can be a busy gas engineer then your earning potential is pretty much limitless

Now I’m even more confused

 

[nicebutdim]

Having had to get a gas safe engineer out yesterday to check my dripping boiler I can safely say they earn more by the hour

£152 per hour (this was call out rate) + materials

fortunately it was a minor repair and thankfully it was a friend of a friend so we got a small discount

but if you can be a busy gas engineer then your earning potential is pretty much limitless

Annual gas boiler service in NI costs us £60 and takes less than an hour for the basics, which is labour only.

Not sure how many services could be crammed into one day, much less finding enough of this sort of work. No matter what you go for, there'll be easy money and jobs in which you earn every single penny the hard way - probably far more of the latter.

Considering the learning involved, I'm surprised how many experiences this forum throws up where sparks cut prices to the knuckle. Not sure if gas engineers tend to be similarly poor at business.

 

[Aurora123]

Annual gas boiler service in NI costs us £60 and takes less than an hour for the basics, which is labour only.

Not sure how many services could be crammed into one day, much less finding enough of this sort of work. No matter what you go for, there'll be easy money and jobs in which you earn every single penny the hard way - probably far more of the latter.

Considering the learning involved, I'm surprised how many experiences this forum throws up where sparks cut prices to the knuckle. Not sure if gas engineers tend to be similarly poor at business.

So electricians have a lower profit margin? Please I need to decide soon. I maybe irritating but spaces are filling soon for the courses

 

[Dustydazzler]

Gas fitters (gas safe) will almost certainly earn more per day

 

[nicebutdim]

So electricians have a lower profit margin? Please I need to decide soon. I maybe irritating but spaces are filling soon for the courses

No.

The point I was making is that it would seem as though a number of electricians undervalue their trade and price their time at an unrealistic level. A lot of forum threads mention this - particularly in relation to new builds and re-wires.

While gas engineers might currently get a better average hourly rate, who's to say that the situation wont be reversed in a number of years if people re-train to chase better wages and demand for their services drops?

I don't presently work in either industry, so simply wish to provide some alternative angles for consideration. You're looking at a considerable investment of your time an effort, not to mention money, so think about more than what either trade might earn today.

 

[Dustydazzler]

wet pants (plumber) also do okay for themselves, £80-90 per hour isn’t uncommon in my area for a basic plumbing job

 

[telectrix]

thing is, british gas charge £80/hour + vat, but the engineer don't get this. he's probably on £15/hour.