Industry failing us

[Jonson]

I just wanted to post a bit of a moan I suppose, i think it's ashame how electrical industry falling to peices, with all these short courses on offer to part time cowboys, what happened to 4 year apprenticeships then calling yourself a spark, no wonder wages are rubbish and standard of work is poor, calling yourself a spark when you have done your theory, do you reckon these guys can bend conduit and submit decent work. I know it's a moan but frustrating for us apprenticeship trained guys, what's other peops views on this

 

[Guest123]

I would don your tin hat if I were you......I can see smoke pouring out of es's ears already!!:74:

 

[focusphil]

I just wanted to post a bit of a moan I suppose, i think it's ashame how electrical industry falling to peices, with all these short courses on offer to part time cowboys, what happened to 4 year apprenticeships then calling yourself a spark, no wonder wages are rubbish and standard of work is poor, calling yourself a spark when you have done your theory, do you reckon these guys can bend conduit and submit decent work. I know it's a moan but frustrating for us apprenticeship trained guys, what's other peops views on this

domestic installation doesn't reguire bending conduit ,horses for courses mate !! does this make me a bad sparks

 

[nickblake]

LOL nice one lenny , i nevr served an apprentership as i was a late starter just got the wrong trade and became a spark by default yes i did my 15 16 and 17 edition 2391 2400 etc etc and passed but i now run my own company and take alot of pride in my work if you have a search around my posts you may well see some of my work , but i can understand how you feel especially when you can do a PIR in 5 mins and a course to get you going in three weeks bugs me too i does take time i must admit and what i know is what i have learnt over the years and a lot on here in the few short years ive been here dont put the tin hat on for me mate hold no grudges we all have to start some where and the only real thing we work on is experiance and the way to do that is to get out there even now i look at a job ive done and sit down and work out how i could do it better and improve the way i work ,and im proude to say i have just come runner up in the screwfix britains top trader so what else can i say

 

[Jonson]

Nick fair play mate well done, just annoys me when I see people on here saying how can I pass my 2391 never done electrical work before

 

[Jonson]

Focus phil a house basher don't make you a spark anyway

 

[focusphil]

Focus phil a house basher don't make you a spark anyway

where doe's it say that in BS 7671

 

[Johnny-G]

As far as the Government is concerned (whoever's in power) the *industry* is probably doing wonders for the economy & the unemployment figures so they won't change a thing.
The amount of training centres running at full speed and expanding in to other related areas is just what they covet, these centres are fuelled on the whole by individuals who pump their savings/redundancy/expendable in to them in the hope of a bright new tomorrow.
The longer this perpetuates, the better.

 

[millwall ken]

I just wanted to post a bit of a moan I suppose, i think it's ashame how electrical industry falling to peices, with all these short courses on offer to part time cowboys, what happened to 4 year apprenticeships then calling yourself a spark, no wonder wages are rubbish and standard of work is poor, calling yourself a spark when you have done your theory, do you reckon these guys can bend conduit and submit decent work. I know it's a moan but frustrating for us apprenticeship trained guys, what's other peops views on this

So you're only a decent spark if you've done an apprenticeship then? The industry has been cheapened since the early 90s mate. Its nothing to do with the recent influx of sparkies into the industry - Although I'm NOT happy with five day wonders any more than you are.

However, I do not believe that you are looking at; or are even aware of the bigger picture out there mate. Most blokes that I know, who have done 2 yrs full-time school or 3 yrs part-time are desperate to become decent sparkies.

Is it our fault that firms prefer to use agency labour? As opposed to getting blokes outta school and onto the books? And putting them though the NVQ 3 for example.

If you want to point the finger for falling standards then blame the firms. NOT blokes who are just trying to better themselves.

PS: I've been chucked out of a restaurant and spent 3 nights on the sofa because I had a row in said restaurant over the poor quality conduit work that was done by so-called apprentice trained sparkies. How do I know this? Its now a decent pub with the same owner. The work was done by his next door neighbour.

 

[Bigboy247]

Whether you are a Domestic Installer or a time served spark, if you do not take pride in your work you will soon be out of a job. You might get a start but they will soon kick you out if you can not do the job. As we all know there are thousands of good sparks without work and the employers can ask for every C&G as they have the pick, all the training providers are making money hand over fist as they know this.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

I'd wished I stuck to this trade when I first did it at 17-18, I came back to it later in life so I don't have an apprenticeship, but I re entered the trade older, wiser and wanting to learn, did all the tech certs and 2391, just because I didn't do an apprenticeship does not mean I'm a cheat Or or a fake spark

 

[sparks_114]

I'd wished I stuck to this trade when I first did it at 17-18, I came back to it later in life so I don't have an apprenticeship, but I re entered the trade older, wiser and wanting to learn, did all the tech certs and 2391, just because I didn't do an apprenticeship does not mean I'm a cheat Or or a fake spark

I am nearly exactly the same as this narrative. But I have to say that let's not take it too personal this apprentice stuff. In all honesty being a young fella to devote 4 your of your life, when a year is an awfully long time, has to go someway in showing one's dedication and loyalty to a trade. Money chasers couldn't hack 4 years. Now I am not saying there aren't those who fell into it by accident, or got told to either take it up or live in a cardboard box and the similar. The apprenticeship has been the traditional route but I very much doubt whether the industry could now survive on apprentice served sparks alone. I've always had respect for senior sparks, from the time when I probably was a 5 day wanderer equivalent. But I stuck with it for many years, 4-5 years straight, though I hadn't taken out an apprenticeship, and on and off for many years after that until I could save up to study the courses needed. In retrospect I would have done things different, namely taking out an apprenticeship, which, perhaps some of you also would have too; but this is how it turned out for me and I try to make the best of it. I'd like to believe I am good at sparking but I leave the judgment for my seniors.

 

[ezzzekiel]

, do you reckon these guys can bend conduit

this remark always makes me laugh - i think bending conduit is a very poor example of what an electricians work involves any one with half a brain can learn and master this to a reasonable standard in a very short space of time.

 

[Marvo]

I have to say from an outsiders point of view that I saw a thread somewhere on here that showed pictures of the electrical installation at Batter Sea power station, the workmanship qualified as artwork as much as it was electrical work. I could picture the guys in those days bemoaning the quality of the next three generations of electricians that came through the system same as the older generations here are doing today. I'm not sure if it's times that change or standards that change or some of both..

*Edit* Just thought I'd get my prediction in that this thread is closed due to riotous posting before it gets to page 4 of posts

 

[millwall ken]

this remark always makes me laugh - i think bending conduit is a very poor example of what an electricians work involves any one with half a brain can learn and master this to a reasonable standard in a very short space of time.

Spot on mate, you wanna judge a spark in my opinion? Testing!!! Thats what seperates the wheat from the chaff.