new career skills

[optimus_devine]

Im thinking of doing the electricians course with ncs. I was hoping someone could tell me whether this is a good idea or a waste of money. I am currently working in a dead end warehouse job and want a career but dont want to throw 6 grand away if i cant get a job at the end of it. All feedback is welcomed and appreciated...

 

[robsparky1975]

Not impossible,but difficult in these times yeah,just keep pestering whoever you feel might be able to give you a job in the future

 

[Trott]

Im thinking of doing the electricians course with ncs. I was hoping someone could tell me whether this is a good idea or a waste of money. I am currently working in a dead end warehouse job and want a career but dont want to throw 6 grand away if i cant get a job at the end of it. All feedback is welcomed and appreciated...

Hi There,

I signed up for the NCS coarse last year, I was extremely satisfied with the whole process.
I live in North Yorkshire & I attened the Doncaster training centre.
When I signed up for the coarse I recieved the training folder,all the relevent manuals & electricians books.
The coarse is well structured, A 100 hours of study is put in to complete 1 out of 4 tutor marked assignments which must be sent off to be marked & passed before a practical week can be booked at the centre.

If you have a definate chance of a job then this could be a good coarse to go on.
However if you go on the coarse to get a qualification to move into the electrical industry be prepared for a bumpy ride.
I went to the NCS centres & have a look round, the tutors are seasoned sparks & really helpful.
If you have 6 grand burning a hole in your pocket, do some research on the electrical industry & make the choice that suits you.


Regards Steve

 

[optimus_devine]

ha i wish i had 6 grand burning a hole in my pocket steve. I was hoping to do the course for a better job at the end, ncs kind of made out that they would find me a job at the end of it. So you would suggest looking for someone who would employ me if i did the course before actually doing it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Virtualcom13at]

I am on The Advanced course at this very moment and just attended the first weeks practical. I am also very happy with this choice. granted its not the cheapest course but they do include all the trimmings and it also allows you to work at the same time as paying monthly so no need to lose the house.

As for going cheaper quick courses I do not recommend this if your have no experience in the trade like myself. not only will you have more chance sowing a button to a fart than passing but you will not understand what you have learnt at all.

about halfway through the course I have already set up work experience plus the NCS find some for you as well. I believe this is paramount to understanding this course to a good standard. The more experience the better obviously.

And people will try to put it down by saying what a waste of money and you wont even be qualified but that is pants. I have found mainly its people who have been it the trade for many years and worked real hard and long to get what we can get very quickly minus the experience and total understanding obviously. and I very much do see there point but that's the way the cookie crumbles, I would be cheesed off too. obviously there is so much more to learn and always will be.


At the end of the 18 to 36 months course you will have enough recognised Qualifications to get employment in the industry. so I would and will call myself a qualified electrician but in need of experience. I am aware there is so much more to achieve

jerry's Final thought :
good way to get into trade with a qualification head start whilst working. The extra cost seems worth the extra help and commitment by the course provider (NCS) that others don't give.

 

[OllieNotts]

Wow you really lapped their spin up

 

[VoltzElectrical]

And people will try to put it down by saying what a waste of money and you wont even be qualified but that is pants. I have found mainly its people who have been it the trade for many years and worked real hard and long to get what we can get very quickly minus the experience and total understanding obviously. and I very much do see there point but that's the way the cookie crumbles, I would be cheesed off too. obviously there is so much more to learn and always will be.


what a load of tosh. The industry recognised qualifications are the city and guilds 2330 level 3 with AM2 exam. You are not a spark unless you have that. And you can chuck in the NVQ 3 too if you want to work on site as a spark cos you won't get the rate without your JIB card.

 

[Engineer54]

I am on The Advanced course at this very moment and just attended the first weeks practical. I am also very happy with this choice. granted its not the cheapest course but they do include all the trimmings and it also allows you to work at the same time as paying monthly so no need to lose the house.

As for going cheaper quick courses I do not recommend this if your have no experience in the trade like myself. not only will you have more chance sowing a button to a fart than passing but you will not understand what you have learnt at all.

about halfway through the course I have already set up work experience plus the NCS find some for you as well. I believe this is paramount to understanding this course to a good standard. The more experience the better obviously.

And people will try to put it down by saying what a waste of money and you wont even be qualified but that is pants. I have found mainly its people who have been it the trade for many years and worked real hard and long to get what we can get very quickly minus the experience and total understanding obviously. and I very much do see there point but that's the way the cookie crumbles, I would be cheesed off too. obviously there is so much more to learn and always will be.


At the end of the 18 to 36 months course you will have enough recognised Qualifications to get employment in the industry. so I would and will call myself a qualified electrician but in need of experience. I am aware there is so much more to achieve

jerry's Final thought :
good way to get into trade with a qualification head start whilst working. The extra cost seems worth the extra help and commitment by the course provider (NCS) that others don't give.

I'm afraid that you'll find by the time you have finished this expensive course, you won't be very ''Advanced'' at all, and you can take that to the bank!! One things for sure, you won't be a fully Qualified electrician, you'll just have enough to be accepted by one of the scam providers, as a DI, and that's about IT!!

I'm not having a pop at you either, as i don't blame anyone for trying to get on in this life, It's these money making get rich quick training companies, that i have a problem with, that and all the bulls**t they dish out to the unsuspecting clients....

 

[i=p/u]

my 2pence would be just attemd local college and speak to them. they will help you the best way they can is thats what they are payed to do.

2330 level 2 , 2 years , 8 hours a week , £255 a year,£50 concessionary fees

2330 level 3, 1 year,8 hours a week, £255 a year , £50concessionary fees

17th edition 2382, 10 weeks @3 hours a week £100 and £20 concessionary fees

pat testing 2377, £100 ,10 weeks @ 2 hours a week £20 concessionary fee

the 2391 is next on list and the enrolement fee is £30 if not working and very likely few exam fees.

the am2 is the dearesst at £500 which is a 3 day couse which you will need to apply for you nvq certificate

as you can see original poster this is the way to do it which isnt exspensive and gives you time too digest all the info that comes with it.

ps i wouldnt have known how to wire a plug when i decided to do this trade and on my 3rd year i can.

 

[alarm man]

i googled the well know phrase 'a fool is easily parted with his money' the result was amazing in its irony.

GoEnglish.com Idioms = "A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted" = Today's English Idioms & Phrases

 

[cbw]

Sorry,
I wouldnt employ you with those qualifications, and I get several requests each month from your area.

My guys all have or are working towards 2330 and 2391.....They hate me talking about NVQ3 and pension plans, but then I am one of those old men you mentioned earlier..... and I quote.....

"I have found mainly its people who have been it the trade for many years and worked real hard and long to get what we can get very quickly minus the experience and total understanding obviously."

AHA that would be me then......An employer

Good luck with your rose coloured glasses and strange attitude!

 

[geofff]

That price is ridiculous for the qualifications on offer, College should be option 1 but it takes a lot longer, option 2 is the "fast track provider" like able skills, technique training etc who will offer loads more for lots less than you have been quoted. and check to make sure Australia will recognise any qualifications gained over here first.

 

[down2earth]

My two penneth, I recently (March '09) completed the domestic installers course at NCS in Hampshire and left with the following qualifications

• VRQ Intermediate Certificate for Domestic Installers
• C&G 2382
• C&G 2377
• C&G 2392
• Assorted First aid type things

Whilst it may be comparitively expensive it does mean you can carry on working as you only need to attend 4 practical sessions of a week long each in the space of 18 months. I found them to be very helpful, there was good banter but it was very professional at the same time, all the lecturers are seasoned sparkys who are happy to talk about their experiences, good and bad.

When you finish that's when you realise how much you don't know! I have been lucky in finding a couple of sparks who have taken me on and showed me some tricks of the trade, OK the money isn't great but the experience is invaluable. This was a complete career change for me at the age of 43 so the learning curve is steep but I am (mostly) thoroughly enjoying it.

Don't forget you can claim the cost of the course against your earnings which all helps.

Regards

Down2earth

 

[Virtualcom13at]

Sorry,
I wouldnt employ you with those qualifications, and I get several requests each month from your area.

My guys all have or are working towards 2330 and 2391.....They hate me talking about NVQ3 and pension plans, but then I am one of those old men you mentioned earlier..... and I quote.....

"I have found mainly its people who have been it the trade for many years and worked real hard and long to get what we can get very quickly minus the experience and total understanding obviously."

AHA that would be me then......An employer

Good luck with your rose coloured glasses and strange attitude!

don't remember saying old.
I get that I will not be proper qualified and will only be a domestic installer but that was how I have chosen to get my foot in the trade. My plans are to first get some hands on experience then do more studying.
So i shall take my rose coloured glasses and strange attitude all the way to Woodstock thank you.

 

[margaret]

New Career Skills have a harsh sales approach. Since the moment i looked at their website and downloaded information I was undated with texts and phone calls form one of their sales guys. I agreed for him to come round to chat about the course. He was to arrive at 11.00am. He showed up at 09.50 anxious to get in as he was in a hurry! All he told me was how I could earn £4500 a month straight after competing their course in as little time as 6 months!

He asked me many questions about my childhood - how did I feel and what was it like!!! I fail to see how this was relevant to the course at my age of 49 years old! I understand that they would want some information on my ability to learn - academic and practical skills. But come on my childhood experiences!!!!!!!! I explained that I have a BSc degree and a Masters degree and my practical skills but he was still more interested in my childhood!.

Finally came the really hard sales push (very pushy!!) to get me to sign up for £7000 on some payment plan with little explanation of APR rates and how much this could change or any other costs! When I refused he said I was to travel from central London to Crawley the next day and meet him in a car park so i could sign the payment agreement. He was still phoning leaving messages asking which payment plan I wanted to sign up for after he left my house!!! The whole thing smacked of insincere pushy sales people who didn't care about anything but getting money off you! NOT NICE at all! I wouldn't give them a penny.

 

[Knobhead]

When I refused he said I was to travel from central London to Crawley the next day and meet him in a car park so i could sign the payment agreement.

That says it all, we want your money. Meet in a carpark? My god that gives a really good impression!