Getting started

[adeystevo]

Hi guys,

My name is Adrian and I have decided I am going to do everything I can in my power to become a fully qualified electrician, here is my story:

My dad was a fully qualified electrician, I went on to college and studied IT to then become an IT network engineer, after 4 years realised I hate IT. Fell into sales roles and had a baby who is now 3, own my own home and work full time.

3 years ago I moved back home to hopefully enroll on an apprenticeship but after being successful the company I applied with pulled the plug on the operation due to lack of work etc, had to get a job and ended up in a Business development manager roll with a telecommunications company.

I have been doing this now for 2 years and I have decided that I want to do what I have a natural interest in so hoping to gain some advice, so I work full time Mon-Fri 9-5:30 and have my daughter every other weekend. My initial thought would be to pay for a course and try and obtain some weekend work with a local electrician company and offer my laboring services for free?

I am hard working, very organised, punctual and don't mind getting my hands dirty, live in Nottingham and have a full clean UK driving license and my own transport.

Completely new to this so any help would be greatly appreciated, this is a job I have wanted to do for years so please help guys.

 

[adeystevo]

Mate all we are giving you is the truth here, the industry is in a truly dreadful state just now and a lot of us on here can only see it getting worse. This is down to government apathy, schemes badging up anything that moves, public knowledge of all things electrically related being NIL, DIY Dave, his mate down the pub who knows a bit about this stuff doing the job cheaper than we can because he doesn't do it properly, training centres offering people the world on a silver plate etc etc. Ok the comment about your child was, with hindsight, maybe below the belt but everything else you have been told so far is the truth, you've done the right thing coming on here and asking before you commit but would you prefer us to sugar coat it and tell you everything is hunky dory.
If you're determined you'll succeed, I for one am glad to hear that you're prepared to do this properly and not go down the short course route because at the other end of it you'll have more knowledge and understanding than most of those guys.
I hope it works out the way you want it to

As I said mate, a lot of good advice don't get me wrong and I prefer the truth as it helps paint a picture of what to do, if its **** at the minute then yes that's good to know the truth, but commenting about my situation with my child is out of order, and comments like "don't bother" without actually giving a reason as to why is a bit rubbish.

Someone comments on my parenting skills without knowing anything about me is going to make me defensive as I am sure you can understand, my ex is a nightmare about seeing my kid and I have worked through a year of legal action to get this far so that guy really ****** me off.

Thank you Trev, it is nice to know that there are honest and insightful individuals within the sector of business I hope to work in, in the not so distant future, provided it sorts its self out that is!

 

[trev]

Most on here will give you the cold hard truth Adrian but better that than the hopeless promise of "become a fully qualified electrician in nanoseconds and earn £50k" because that's rare. Only time I earned anything near that I didn't see my wife and kids for months.
Stick around though, it's a handy place to hang out as we all learn off each other and the vast majority of us are pretty good blokes.....well ok blokes.........all right tolerable

 

[ruston]

I am not to sure on the going rate for level two in other parts of the country , but that does seem a bit high.

Taking your background into consideration can you not just go straight into level three?

 

[Rampage]

 

[alarm man]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will have to have a good think about the situation at hand as the course is pretty expensive but I want to do it so.... Alarm Man, your comment is slightly worrying, but at the end of the day every industry is suffering right now, the economy will bounce back in time and by that time I will be qualified and hungry to succeed, at least that is what I am praying on. Not giving up my job to do it, I am going to learn it along side what I do now, I most certainly will not quit my job unless I have a position to move into, but it is what I want to do so that's that really.

P.S. Spoke with my local college and they quoted me £2750 per year for the Level 2 course, is that about right?
While I want to pay the least possible (be mad not to!), I want to make sure I get the best level of education also.

what was wrong with my post,its the truth,just ask around..tho dont ask the people who want your cash,they will tell you what you want to here,

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Prices vary across the country. My Level 2 and level 3 cost around £400 each where I live in wales, but across the bridge in merrie england a guy I know was paying £1200 for the same. Maybe the laws of supply and demand, maybe different funding or subsidies for wales vs england?? not too sure. Around here there are two competing colleges. Have you got the same scenario? How far is the next 'local' college that runs the course and what do they charge?

OK. Some posters here are painting a real life business situation where THEY are. Broadly speaking, work is tight and prices going down, but there are exceptions. I can't comment on the domestic market as I don't work in it, but I'm on £14 an hour for the foreseeable future doing containment and wiring on a large commercial contract through an agency.

You would not expect to get that in your circumstances, BUT, if you commit to your course and don't try to run before you can walk, AND DON'T DEFINITELY PLEASE GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB OR BELIEVE THE SHORT COURSE HYPE!, then, maybe, when the time is right, you will get your break and be able to do what you want to do.

Right now dude, you have bigger priorities, and thank your lucky stars you are in full time employment. This is definitely not something to be sneered at.

Good luck and keep in touch. If you do decide to go down the training route, this will be your GREATEST resource. Forum members have given me work and great advice, and job leads....

x

 

[maye34]

If you're determined you'll succeed, I for one am glad to hear that you're prepared to do this properly and not go down the short course route because at the other end of it you'll have more knowledge and understanding than most of those guys.Click dougleschan.com for help

 

[whitestu]

I'm really surprised how bad the situation seems to be for electricians. £14 ph is only just double the minimum wage. How come there is such an over supply of electricians when plumbers [at least where I live within the M25] seem to be able to charge much higher hourly rates?

Stu

 

[trev]

With gas and to a lesser extent plumbing I don't think that there's such a feeling among the public that an enthusiastic DIYer can carry out those fields of work. Also, to the best of my knowledge, there's not a fast track/short course route into gas. Not intended as a dig at anyone who has taken that route as I don't want to be the one kicking all that off again.
The time will come however when plumbing is devalued just as much as our trade has been.

 

[sparks1973]

Free weekend work may get you around the requirement for you to be working in the industry to qualify for enrollment. Your 'employer' may need to sign something like an agreement with the college and maybe the JTL ( training provider that will look after the on-site side of things for the NVQ part).

what you do here is keep trap shut about wether your gettin paid..or not....as long as the supervisor (the guy you are doing work for/with) can say he`s paying you the minimum rate for an apprentice (its £25 per day for 2 days per week)...and meets all the elf n safety stuff n all..(including insurances and things like having correct stowage for tools etc..oh and a fire extinguisher for the cab)...as long as thats in place you should be good.....it doesn`t matter wether your getting paid or not for this weekend work...just tell em you are and get the guy to verefy it...jobs a good un..lol...

 

[Rampage]

With gas and to a lesser extent plumbing I don't think that there's such a feeling among the public that an enthusiastic DIYer can carry out those fields of work. Also, to the best of my knowledge, there's not a fast track/short course route into gas. Not intended as a dig at anyone who has taken that route as I don't want to be the one kicking all that off again.
The time will come however when plumbing is devalued just as much as our trade has been.

Are you saying that plumbing needs someone with NVQ's etc to do it?
Most electricians seems to think (household) plumbing is as easy as tying your shoe laces. Is this not the case?!
(I'm not having a go, just genuinely interested)

 

[trev]

Are you saying that plumbing needs someone with NVQ's etc to do it?
Most electricians seems to think (household) plumbing is as easy as tying your shoe laces. Is this not the case?!
(I'm not having a go, just genuinely interested)

No that's not what I meant at all, I was talking about public perception. Joe Soap will go to a shed and pick up electrical bits more willingly than plumbing bits, no idea why though. Maybe it's because plumbing sometimes involves poo

 

[kingeri]

I totally agree trev, and more so with gas, folks generally accept that they MUST pay for someone to come and deal with that. Saw an old friend today, he was showing me the 20-odd double sockets he's put into his shop himself, all on a 2.5mm radial and 32a breaker. But electric doesn't smell so it's safe.

 

[Rampage]

No that's not what I meant at all, I was talking about public perception. Joe Soap will go to a shed and pick up electrical bits more willingly than plumbing bits, no idea why though. Maybe it's because plumbing sometimes involves poo

Maybe because water tends to make a mess when it leaks, whereas electricity doesn't! (well it does, but you know what I mean!)

 

[sparks1973]

I totally agree trev, and more so with gas, folks generally accept that they MUST pay for someone to come and deal with that. Saw an old friend today, he was showing me the 20-odd double sockets he's put into his shop himself, all on a 2.5mm radial and 32a breaker. But electric doesn't smell so it's safe.

but that little lot would...should he start loadin it up..lol...