Hi all , career change advice needed

[BCMurray]

im 30 years old and am lookin for a career change, i would need to train around my current job which is Mon-Fri day job, ive done some research and not 100 percent sure what courses / qualifications i need. I live in Glasgow and have seen various training courses and different centres (OLCI, FI, Connaught etc) offering different levels of qualification. They also reach costs up to £5500, and i can see from going through some other threads on the forum there is a very mixed response to these types of courses and how worth it they actually are. i also see that some of the colleges offer some part time courses but couldnt see any that where a night or weekends which is what i would need. Therefore i'm starting to think the expensive training centres might be my only option due to my age and the requirement to remain in full time employment while i learn.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Dan]

Welcome to Electricians Forum | Electrical Advice Forum | An electrical forum for electricians in the UK!

Hi BCMurray and welcome to electriciansforums.net!

 

[Guest123]

Welcome along.

 

[CRAGS]

Hi and welcome

 

[Sintra]

Hi & welcome.

 

[dan_sparks]

hello there, im 34 and have recently paid around £6000 to retrain as a domestic spark with trade qualified and new career skills.
If its what you want go for it, but believe me its a struggle to get work, as basically these courses only qualify you to do domestic work, you need 2330 level 3 and NVQ level 3 to be a fully qualified electrician.
I have my qualifications but no experience, so they mean very little, and am still no where near doing my 2391 which i have paid for.
My advice is have a look at new career skills, there training is all done in house, and they offer support with looking for work and business start up.
Dont be fooled into believing all these training providers say..its still tight for work, so stick with what you have for as long as poss

 

[JUD]

Hi & welcome on board

 

[millwall ken]

Hi there,
Before you even think of retraining I would ask myself 'if it is really, worth it?' Do YOU really want to enter an Industry where costs are being driven up and wages down? Where 'suits' scrawl their noses at you, pubs refuse you entry because of your work clothes and every home owner thinks that you are out to rip them off?
If you are unhappy in your present job and you are money orientated - then why not try and get yourself elected to the Euro gravy train? I am. Or failing that I'm gonna retrain as a female hair stylist.
On the other hand you could get yourself as qualified as possible and sell your services somewhere else where a 'sparkie' would be appreciated.
THINK LONG AND HARD.

 

[brucelee]

hi mate welcome

 

[BCMurray]

Hi guys

Thanks for the welcome and and the feedback, unfortunatley just as unsure about what way to go about things.

Still feel the whole college/apprentice route is not going to be an option in my current position with mortgages and bills to pay although agree that this would be the better way to learn.

have been looking a bit more into the available training courses and in particular any that can offer a training centre in scotland. they seem to be OLCI(Livingstone), FI Electrical and Connaught.

The connaught one really worried me as they are stating 6 weeks to achieve, EAL Level 2 Domestic Installer Scheme Qualification,City & Guilds 2382-10 17th Edition Wiring Regulations and City & Guilds 2392-10 Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification of Electrical Installations, which they then offer you a weeks extra course in starting your own business. Surely this is nowhere near enough time to be trained and competent to run your own business.

Out of the other 2 the OLCI one has the most feedback on here although it is a bit mixed between good and bad, and the FI Electrical dont state what qualifications they are offering, i have e-mailed FI for further info and hopefully get some feedback.

But really need some advice from employers and tradesmen out there on whether this is going to be worth up to 6k to go through.

Thanks for all your help so far.
Brian

 

[brucelee]

hi mate,
well like you i was in the same position really I did a electrical apprenticeship which i never completed in 1986 i then returned to doing new builds for about 3yrs or so then lost job in last recession then did other various low paid jobs including maintainance and other low paid

i had always regretted not completing my apprenticeship and tried a few times over the years to get back on a similar course and was always told I was to old or there was no funding / training courses so after looking at all the private courses and 3 yrs of deliberting i decided to go with reactfast in atherton manchester
I looked at connaught, Able skills, and many others which were all at some distance from me and would have meant more cost in travel and having to stay, which with my family commitments as a full time carer for my mrs was really out the question the one that looked the most professional was Able Sklls
as they were offering the most quals for the money but the distance is a problem for me

The reactfast one was the closest and offered 6 week training C&G 2382-10, 2377, 2393, and logic full and defined scope levels A,B,C award. they also gave you BS 7671, On site guide, and other related electrical info, A Megger 1552, and a CK toolkit they didnt have a price on there website so I went to have a look round
they gave me a tour and i spoke to one of the tutors and he asked me a few questions which i was ok with
they then gave me a price for £5019 which my eyes nearly popped out so i went away with my mrs and thought about it some more it seemed really expensive then over the next few months I received a few calls of one of the Sales people they reduced the price first by £100 then £500 then as i still hadnt bit for it last june i got a call saying they were having a summer sale and would give me the comp,lete package for £4020 which is still a great deal of money for my family and I but after another couple of weeks I decided to go with them

I really enjoyed it and passed all the above quals learned more of the theory side of things than I did at Year at college as a apprentice the practical side of things i was ok with as i have done a fair amount over the years the theory side its just a matter of getting used to all the different terminology and calculations etc there were 7 of us including one asian lady she was the only one who did not complete the course but also did not put the effort in or understand things eve with lots of extra help she gave up after failing the 2393 building regs which i passed after studying one book over a weekend and got 100% so its about how much effort you put in

the college route is the best as there is no way you could learn everything in 6 week that a 3 year apprentice can learn but you will learn enough to be able to carry out domestic and small commercial
but they charge a lot as you can see

I have found it hard to get work as all the employers seem to want you to hold 2391-10 so started a 8 week evening course at college for 2391 for £455 + £85 for an optional extra practical study day in march i got half the cost funded by the college and then a further quarter paid by Leigh skills shop so only paid £140 had to buy GN£ as well as other books to study . I studied every day for 4 months took june 10 th written exam and practical exam and found out i passed last week so now i am going to register with elecsa and then hopefully set up self employed doing domestic and small commercial its not been easy ad cost almost £5000 so far for everything and now £370 + vat for elecsa and a VAN + insurance ££££ , as well as stock more tools more books, public liability insurance, profeessional indemnity etc etc
so mate as you can see not easy and will cost lots of your personnal cash but if you want to be i this game be prepared for the long haul as this is deffinatley ot a quick fix which ever way you do it mate Good luck hope thats some help

 

[BCMurray]

Thanks Mate,

that was some good info and to see it from soemones point of view who was in my position and but has now went through what i am thinking about goint thorugh has been very useful.

i'm definately realising there is no quick fix to getting into this type of career and appreciate that these training courses are perhaps only getting you on at the bottom of the ladder as far as pratical experience, but at least they are getting you some of the necessary qualifications and as i say with my current position not allowing the time and financial drop to go through a 3-4 year college apprenticeship the training centre courses might just be my best option even though at a cost.

just need to decide what one would be best for me as the mixed reactions to them all on here is getting me confused.

good luck with your own plans for the future and hopefully i can get something sorted out soon.

Brian.

 

[brucelee]

Hi Brian
cheers for reply yes its a minefield as you say most of the courses for private training are for the first step on the ladder but like you this was the only available option to me. I chose reactfast as for the money the quals they had plus the megger and other items they give you as part of the course I have done 2391 just seperately which I passed with relief even though i am ot yet in the game I have had a fair bit of experience doing new build some rewires, little commercial ad industrial
I plan to register with Elecsa and complete a ccu chang at my brothers for the assessment. One of the lads who was on the course with me set up ltd last september the 1st and had to rap up 1st march this year as work just wasnt coming in from xmas, so he was in business for 6 month in that time he managed to recover the costs for course ad start up etc but now he has given up and got a new job as a operations manager
Its not as easy as the private courses lead you to believe as they are after your cash they will basically tell you what you want to hear
but as you say it may be the only option
I have just contacted my college to try and register for the NVQ 2356 before the cut off date of december but they may not be taking ay more candidates so thats another door shut but what else can you do but keep trying eh mate
check as many of the providers as you can for the best and most cost effective one of them good luck mate

 

[Spudnik]

Hi and welcome to the forums..