Leaving the RAF, 'Hope' to be a Sparky

[ExAirForce]

Hello all,

My life in a nutshell:

I am committed to leaving the RAF after 12 years as an electronics tech and I would like to become a qualified domestic electrician by doing one of those intensive courses (the 10 week Met-uk one for example which is 6 weeks training 4 weeks work placement)

I have a 3 week old baby and I am also the main earner so I cannot become an electricians mate as I need to find a job in my field of experience (comms/radar) and then in my spare time (lol like i have any) let friends & family allow me to work on their properties

Are there any ex british forces on here who made a successful career change to civvy sparky on here? I would really like your advice too especially if you also went self employed in a short space of time.

If anyone in the North Yorkshire region would like a hand in domestic electrical installations please let me know, I am available until my exit date somewhere around March 2010 when I will hopefully be relocated to the South/Southwest England

I eagerly await your responses...

 

[Guest123]

Hi there.

Best of luck with your plans feel free to browse the forums, lots of info available.

And Welcome along.

 

[Mac]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Hi and welcome. A good starting point is the 2 week resettlement course held at the RTC on Aldershot. See your careers advisor as you should be entitled to a couple of weeks given your 12 years of service. Basically will cost you the exam and registration fees. also you can do the Jib assessment on site too.

Done them both recently and going back for 17th edition regs and 2391 later this year. Leaving the Army next year and have been involved in electrical work for the past 22 years, and now need to get some more formal quals

 

[Andy Smith]

Hi and welcome along mate, good luck with your new path

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

welcome to the forum and good luck

 

[tomo]

hello mate am ex army. came out 2001 been a sparky since left school but did my exams in the army. electrical work is very scarce at the min not much out there. also domestic electrical you need 17th edition part p and test and inspection but there are ways around this if you know what your doing anyway its best if you can do alarms,cctv,gate automation and rewires it just helps with the income. what else is their? emmm ??? or you could be a gas engineer in stead .lol better money and more work. if you want to know anything let me know tomo.

 

[Spudnik]

...... but there are ways around this if you know what your doing....

Are there???

Spill the beans then..

 

[ExAirForce]

thanks for the info tomo, I am now committed to being a sparky I'll do c&g 2392 1st(or another basic electrics course equivalent) followed by Domestic Inst (part p) then 17th edition, once I have these under my belt I will look to volunteer my services for free to get confident enough to then take an intensive version of c&g 2391, If I have any time or money left I would love to add cctv or alarms to my skills

what do people think of my plan of action? All/most of the above being achieved by March 2010?

PS: this site is the most helpful site ever thanks to all so far DD

 

[Mac]

Are you based at Lyneham or Brize.This company has some good courese.They have 3 centres up and down the country.
Connaught Training, the leading NEBOSH training & IOSH Training provider in the UK. Specialist NEBOSH Certificate & NEBOSH Diploma courses

 

[tomo]

thanks for the info tomo, I am now committed to being a sparky I'll do c&g 2392 1st(or another basic electrics course equivalent) followed by Domestic Inst (part p) then 17th edition, once I have these under my belt I will look to volunteer my services for free to get confident enough to then take an intensive version of c&g 2391, If I have any time or money left I would love to add cctv or alarms to my skills

what do people think of my plan of action? All/most of the above being achieved by March 2010?

PS: this site is the most helpful site ever thanks to all so far DD

no worrys but i think you might be pushed for march nxt year .but might be wrong . australia is a good place tobe a sparky i keep getting job offers every day just need to convince are lass lol.
other things you need is cscs health and saftey card for building sites also a good one if you can get it through the raf is pass port health and safety for power stations and chemical sites 1st one cost bout £50 and second bout £300.

 

[mick590]

thanks for the info tomo, I am now committed to being a sparky I'll do c&g 2392 1st(or another basic electrics course equivalent) followed by Domestic Inst (part p) then 17th edition, once I have these under my belt I will look to volunteer my services for free to get confident enough to then take an intensive version of c&g 2391, If I have any time or money left I would love to add cctv or alarms to my skills

what do people think of my plan of action? All/most of the above being achieved by March 2010?

PS: this site is the most helpful site ever thanks to all so far DD

Hi mate,

I'm in the same boat as you. If you have done enough time to get full resettlement then use RTC Aldershot as it has an excellent track record.

Unless you have no idea about electrics I would not bother with the basic course, a few lads on my Domestic installation course did it & said it was almost a carbon copy of the domestic course you have to pay for.

I have loads of old exam papers for 17th edition & 2391 inspect & test; if you send me a private message on here I will swap details & send you some copies via RAF mail.

The domestic course is good; the 17th edition is quite intensive but not too bad. The 2391 has a high pass rate but is intensive, if you do them all fairly close together it helps as it is fresh in the mind. The instructors range from mad to extremely clever but of them are really helpful.

Getting into this game is literally the chicken & egg scenario, but if you prove you are good enough to pass 2391 without years of experience then you have proved you can learn & will be an asset to any employer.

If you go to Aldershot buy all your books when you get there as they are the cheapest place I found.

Best of luck.....!

 

[Dave]

Hello and welcome to the uk's num 1 sparky forum...

 

[acat]

As one ex RAF to another welcome to the forum plenty of advice here if you do a resettlement course it is likley to be with Plumbing course | Construction Training | Electrician Courses | DIY Skills as nearly all ex military end up there. Good luck with your new future.




Chris

 

[ExAirForce]

I'm actually at Leeming though i use to be at Brize, not looking to do health and safety unless its a requirement for a self employed sparky - and self employment looks like being months (years of experience away)

However, I booked my heavily discounted DEI + part P, c&g2382-10 and c&g2391 courses today! £534 (not including books and exan fees )

I'll be qualified by October! Electrocuted by November lol.