Just started looking into becoming an electrician, advice (38y)

[JoeyWill]

About me; I'am 38 left school to join army as this was all i wanted to do i didnt try hard at school. After going to Afghan i left the army and went to become a chef as i loved food and creativity i became very successful but family life suffered. Then covid hit and after having time off from the industry i could not go back. So i took a new career path that i had some knowledge of ( was a greenkeeper for couple years while joining army) and went into hard landscaping. I enjoy the work its creative and rewarding now after 4 years and my age iam looking at my next career progression being my own business. But after long thoughts iam not sure if i want to be landscaping in my 50's + I enjoy trade work and after some research i figured its never to old to retrain and with my thoughts being on moving to an electrician so i have started to research my ways in, and so here i am with a few questions


Q1, What is best/ most recommended training course provider? preferable close to midlands
I know this has been asked many times on here and has mixed reviews, but iam thinking of a training course reasons being. I live in a small village area so after looking for mature apprenticeship there really is nothing on offer, although i will keep looking i figure doing something is better than nothing. I know many negatives are that on site experience cant be beaten an the course will not make you a qualified electrician but looking at the jobs around me they all want qualifications and experience

Q2, what other things could i do to make myself more appealing to getting a foot in the industry?

 

[Pretty Mouth]

It's a difficult trade to break into, particularly for older learners. What is it that attracts you to electrical work over other trades?

I can't answer Q1. For Q2, knowledge. Learn as much as you can about the trade - read books, watch videos, make notes, ask questions, teach yourself as much as you possibly can. It's competitive, with few opportunities, so you really need something that puts you ahead.

 

[grumpyjohn01]

I can only echo what @Pretty Mouth has said having started myself as an adult learner. You can enroll onto the C&G course at any FE college that offers it (it was 2360 Parts 1 & 2 in my day but it's bound to have changed.) and then start applying for jobs whilst doing as much of your own learning as you can (there are lots of resources around today that are very useful.) You really need to be employed in the industry to have any hope of becoming what is now recognised as 'fully qualified' as the NVQ level 3 parts pretty much require it, although if you are determined enough it can be done independently.
I have mentored and employed on a casual basis several adult learners who have succeeded in this although at least one of them had to relocate to a major city to find employment in the end.
I have long held the belief that our industry would do well to initiate a formal pathway for those looking to retrain as an alternative to the traditional apprenticeship, though that's far from the only thing lacking from our industry stakeholders!!

 

[JoeyWill]

What attracts me is, i enjoy working in trade i like keeping busy an grafting an getting to be proud when a job is finished, with the electrician trade i like the idea of constantly being able to learn with no real ceiling. Job variety and the problem solving aspects. Plus add to that job security and good chance of having my own successful business

yeah they were my general thoughts keep learning as much as i can until i can get a foot in the door ( then carry on learning ) and gain the experience and higher qualifications

what is a solid base of things i should be looking to learn / get while iam on this path to become more employable other than level 2 an 3?
my list so far is 2 an 3 18th edition ecs/cscs card IPAF and getting my own set of tools