Level 2 nearly over... Looking for advice on work experience

[SteveT999]

Hi folks,

Have finished the theory exams for Level 2 and am braced for the practical exam next week. Hopefully I’ll pass, then it’s onto level 3. It’s been thoroughly enjoyable so far, with the tutors and other students having been really supportive.

One challenge is getting an ECS card. Since October last year it seems you need a job before you can get a card, but need a card before you can get a job. Even the labourer card requires a job description from an employer. One fellow student is applying for a card and based on his experience it is like swimming through treacle. If anybody has any advice that will help ease the process I’m all ears.

My understanding is that the ECS card is a requirement primarily for larger sites, so I'm hoping to get some experience with an independent sparky or small firm that doesn’t require an ECS card. Is this understanding right? At the moment I don’t have any particular preference about the type of work I do, be it domestic, commercial or industrial. Again, any advice would be appreciated.

On the off chance that a reader of this is looking for an enthusiastic, mature person who is keen get started in the industry and has accumulated a reasonable collection of hand tools, I live in Luton and would be prepared to commute reasonable distances.

 

[JAWS]

Get a CSCS card instead this will get you any site. CSCS and ECS cards are normally only required on big sites where they're slinging up houses after houses or commercial sites.

 

[Gareth Brookes]

Your college can write you a letter that you can give to jib they will accept it as I am on the level 2 course aswell and a few of the other students have done it like that

 

[KJF]

For some reason the description of the card requirements is worded incorrectly. You either need to be working in the trade OR have relevant qualifications. Your Level 2 will allow you to a labourers card (Auxiliary Operative) - you can phone the JIB to confirm before sending anything off.

Book your ECS health and safety exam as soon as you can as you can be waiting weeks or even months for a space, and also ask your college to send you your certification as soon as possible so you can apply for your card as soon as you can (that too can take weeks to arrive if you're unlucky).

 

[SteveT999]

Thanks for the feedback. I phoned a lovely lady at ECS who advised I would need to apply for a job and could send the job offer letter as evidence. I'll let you guess what I thought of that, especially as I'd started the conversation saying I was on my level 2 then moving straight on to level 3. Others I have spoken to have all had issues, so at least I don't need to take it personally

I have my Health and Safety exam booked for a couple of weeks time and will take the advice about getting a letter from my training centre. Fingers crossed it will go smoothly. If that doesn’t work then CSCS card it is.

Thanks again.

 

[JAWS]

Why not just get a CSCS card this way whatever job you go for at least the employer know you can get on site, then apply for the ECS card.

 

[SteveT999]

Roughly 90% of the jobs I have looked at online have specified an ECS card so I thought getting a CSCS card would be an unnecessary expense. What you say does make sense though, so I’ll look into the CSCS card this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Shane Mullan]

I had the same problem so I emailed a complaint and got a response from ECS:

"I have looked into your application and due to no information being submitted with the application we emailed requesting confirmation you are working in the electrical industry.

The ruling for the Labourers card changed on the 1st October 2017 so that auditable evidence is required when applying for this card.

On the email you have attached a copy of your training plan and college confirmation etc. When you applied for your card this is the information you needed to have uploaded in order for us to issue you with the relevant card.

I have now added all the relevant information onto your online application and will issue you with the labourers card."

So there you have it mate, if you have the letter that the college gave you when you signed up then that's all you need. Upload it in the section where it says "work reference".

Hope it helps, keep us posted.
PS I wouldn't bother with the CSCS route because some agencies can be a bit funny about it, I had a CSCS before I got my ECS

 

[uksrevivor]

The ECS card is the best safety card to acquire in your quest to become an electrician. The ECS safety exam covers safe isolation and other electrical aspects and will be more specific to the work we carry out. The CSCS card does not cover electrical aspects and that reflects on the employment agencies preference for a ECS card and quite a few employers as well.
For me to gain my ECS card i had to be sponsored by an employer but you can try asking local electrical companies if they would endorse your application at no cost to them and explain your situation to them or ask your college to confirm you are enrolled on the recognised electrical course in writing and this may get you a basic ECS ancillary operative/electrical labourer graded card.
You need to persevere and keep trying for the job that will enable you to get onsite experience and experience to become an electrician and your college may be the way forward as most electricians who have qualified through your college will ask the tutors for good students who they can take on to help build there company.