Is it Worth It??

[carl9254]

Thinking of doing the course, ive got my own sparky business, work good at the minute, is there enough demand for it out there to fork out for the course??

Thanks.

 

[Newsome3]

What course is it your looking at?

 

[Worcester]

@carl9254

It depends what you're looking for. the course (C&G) in itself may allow you to pick up some subcontract electrician work (we use a few that have done the right courses)

What it wont do is allow you to do an install of your own, to do that you'll need to be MCS certified, and asl anyone on this forum what that costs, with your QMS, other fees, cashflow, quotes, and the massive amount of paperwork, and even 'on the margin' it'll cost you in the order of £20k minimum ...)

Read this thread http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...um/28546-what-key-successful-pv-business.html


Just check out SRE's comments here: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...8870-fully-installed-prices-6.html#post284673
and Markc's here: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...8870-fully-installed-prices-6.html#post286104

Do a full business case, make sure you've got at least £20k in the bank to cover casflow, as well as your establishment costs , then quote quote, quote ......

It's a fun business and can be very exciting, however it isn't easy and when you've done the course you've learnt about a quarter of what you really need to know to do an installation.

Come on in the water's fine, just watch out for the sharks swimming around the bottom!

 

[BruceB]

In simple terms, yes it is worth it. But there is a great deal more to setting yourself up as an MCS accredited solar installer than doing a single course. I mean that in knowledge, time and money terms. I am glad I have done it but you really need to understand what you are getting into in terms of the paperwork/process requirements if you are a one man band at the moment. I note there is a steady string of posts on the NAPIT forum from people who have shelled out on a course but at a loss where to go next to actually set up the business.
Regards
Bruce

Edit: What Worcester said! His reply is more detailed than mine.

 

[dansk]

Sometimes your better of not knowing otherwise you may not ever go ahead and do these things - i ditto Worcester and Bruce B, im a one man band but already ISO9001 so the paperwork side wasnt too much of a struggle. Its the hidden costs you do need to be aware off, just little things that start to add up - new ladders, testing equipment, loss of earnings whilst training, and the list go's on.

Your location is also relevent, i operate in West Yorkshire and it appears to me there are more installers than customers, so your sales pitch has to be strong, i just turn up in work outfit and most customers like this as i can give technical replys when needed and its my face they see from start to finish (that may be a bad thing to some)

There is work out there, and you will make the money back, just my experiance is now im MCS so are a lot of others.

One last thing, make sure you enjoy getting lots of Solar suppliers emailing everyday - the MCS database should be renamed "Solar suppliers marketing list"

 

[Newsome3]

Sometimes your better of not knowing otherwise you may not ever go ahead and do these things - i ditto Worcester and Bruce B, im a one man band but already ISO9001 so the paperwork side wasnt too much of a struggle. Its the hidden costs you do need to be aware off, just little things that start to add up - new ladders, testing equipment, loss of earnings whilst training, and the list go's on.

Your location is also relevent, i operate in West Yorkshire and it appears to me there are more installers than customers, so your sales pitch has to be strong, i just turn up in work outfit and most customers like this as i can give technical replys when needed and its my face they see from start to finish (that may be a bad thing to some)

There is work out there, and you will make the money back, just my experiance is now im MCS so are a lot of others.

One last thing, make sure you enjoy getting lots of Solar suppliers emailing everyday - the MCS database should be renamed "Solar suppliers marketing list"

Hi pal
I'm west Yorkshire too and looking at going into this
Is there much work our way out?

 

[Dcf]

just started getting into this myself .the hoops u have to jump through are are expensive and many unfortunately.was at the ideal home show recently and have never seen so many snake oil salesmen in my life. these ***** probably sold double glazing until last year. the figures they quote the public are absolute bollox.there has to be a bit tightening up of best practices etc as some of the installs are nonsense.ithink the big boys are trying to corner the market using dubious methods as well but thats another story eh?ill give it a bash tho.