How to become a sparky

[adam673673]

Hi all, first post here.

My name is Adam, and im a alcho...wait, wrong fourm.

My name is Adam, im 21 and want to be a proffesional electrician. Living in Essex with my wife but wanting to move somwhere west.

What is the best way to go about it? I'm currently unemployed and have no training on the matter. Ive looked at various websites wanting 6k for a training program...which is alot when ive found all the qualificaions and training at my local college for 2k and in a shorter time period. (certificates being c&g 2382-10 lvl 3, 2392-10 lvl 2, 2931-10 lvl 3, 2377-12 lvl 3 and EAL lvl 2).

I could jump straight in to it all but have no previous experience apart from wiring the odd plug! Would jumping straight in to the courses be too hard? If not then what certificate is best to start with?

How do i go about the experience route? Just ask companies to take me on with no experience and train me up?

Help needed!

Thanks guys,

Adam

 

[Besim10]

Totally agree with PatrickLondon.

Dimspark, what do you mean by Access 2 Trade will give you practical experience?

 

[dimspark]

I'm in the networking trade and have been cabling for 10 years or so. On a daily basis i'm installing tray work, putting up 3 compartment trunking, routing cables etc.
I'm often in the position to accept electrical work but obviously don't have the skills or qualifications to quote for the jobs.
Access 2 trade will go through the basics of electrical wiring, how to wire a fuse board, how to change lighting circuits etc,This is what I need to learn but I can't afford to work for free with an electrician for a couple of years as I'd be out of business. It will also give me the following qualifications EAL VRQ Level 2, City & Guilds 2382-10(17th Edition), City & Guilds 2392-10 Level 2, City & Guilds 2391-10 Level 3 and City & Guilds 2377-12.Can't see how else I can become a qualified electrician whilst trying to run a small business without taking up 1 of these fast track courses, i'm also expecting our first baby in a couple of months so don't really want to travel to far from Birmingham for the course.
Maybe i'm after something that doesn't really exist!!??

 

[supasparxs]

I'm in the networking trade and have been cabling for 10 years or so. On a daily basis i'm installing tray work, putting up 3 compartment trunking, routing cables etc.
I'm often in the position to accept electrical work but obviously don't have the skills or qualifications to quote for the jobs.
Access 2 trade will go through the basics of electrical wiring, how to wire a fuse board, how to change lighting circuits etc,This is what I need to learn but I can't afford to work for free with an electrician for a couple of years as I'd be out of business. It will also give me the following qualifications EAL VRQ Level 2, City & Guilds 2382-10(17th Edition), City & Guilds 2392-10 Level 2, City & Guilds 2391-10 Level 3 and City & Guilds 2377-12.Can't see how else I can become a qualified electrician whilst trying to run a small business without taking up 1 of these fast track courses, i'm also expecting our first baby in a couple of months so don't really want to travel to far from Birmingham for the course.
Maybe i'm after something that doesn't really exist!!??

Richard Branson is not an airline pilot
Henry Ford never built a car

what you could do is employ an electrician who has the skills and experience to quote and design jobs and until the work starts coming in he will be able to work on the tools installing cable tray and structured wiring.

The hardest part of running a business is getting the customers, if you already have a customer base your laughing

BTW congratulations on your first baby

 

[dimspark]

Cheers supaspraxs, and thanks for the congrats!
I already use a local electrical firm and this is what has convinced me to try to follow this route. They seem to charge twice as much as me for half the work!!!
At the moment work is quite slow so employing a sparky could be a very dangerous move, and because things are slow this is the perfect time for me to get my head down and do some studying!
Like the examples though, never knew Henry Ford had never built a car

 

[Besim10]

I'm in the networking trade and have been cabling for 10 years or so. On a daily basis i'm installing tray work, putting up 3 compartment trunking, routing cables etc.
I'm often in the position to accept electrical work but obviously don't have the skills or qualifications to quote for the jobs.
Access 2 trade will go through the basics of electrical wiring, how to wire a fuse board, how to change lighting circuits etc,This is what I need to learn but I can't afford to work for free with an electrician for a couple of years as I'd be out of business. It will also give me the following qualifications EAL VRQ Level 2, City & Guilds 2382-10(17th Edition), City & Guilds 2392-10 Level 2, City & Guilds 2391-10 Level 3 and City & Guilds 2377-12.Can't see how else I can become a qualified electrician whilst trying to run a small business without taking up 1 of these fast track courses, i'm also expecting our first baby in a couple of months so don't really want to travel to far from Birmingham for the course.
Maybe i'm after something that doesn't really exist!!??

1. You wont be a qualified electrician with the course you have listed
2. You can do the 2330 with a fast track company, colleges aren't the only ones who offer it
3. There are private training providers in Birmingham running the 2330
4. Don't get mugged off as their are companies offering what you have listed for around £3k, not the £6k you were quoted

The work you are being offered, would it be deemed as commercial, industrual or domestic environments?

 

[dimspark]

I've got quite a few customers based in warehouses, offices, schools and hotels. Potentially could get work off all of them. I'll search out some providers of fast rack courses in brum that do the 2330, not having much luck at the moment though!! Thanks again for the advice mate

 

[patricklondon]

dont mean to discourage just a bit of realism about courses. what about subbing in a sparks rather than full time employing, probably much easier accounting too.
ps ive my second due in jan and im in the process of going self employed and trying to learn plumbing at night school to multi skill etc so i know its not easy.
keep on keeping on

 

[Besim10]

I've got quite a few customers based in warehouses, offices, schools and hotels. Potentially could get work off all of them. I'll search out some providers of fast rack courses in brum that do the 2330, not having much luck at the moment though!! Thanks again for the advice mate

None of that work could be satisfied by a domestic course my friend.
Maybe try googling 'City and Guilds 2330 Birmingham'