newbie looking for advice

[andy828]

hi im 32 and currently a decorator but fed up of it now so looking at being a sparkie. ive got a few mates who are sparkies themselves and been fortunate enough to have got a job with 2 of them self employed to a company just being there labourer.

eventually im hoping to train to become a sparkie and leave decorating behind. im going to be working away but only for 4 days every week they never work fridays. so what training route would people recommend? its been a long time since they trained so dont really know. any advice would be appreciated. cheers

 

[telectrix]

ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE A HOUSE BASHER OR A "PROPER" SPARKS.

FOR THE FORMER, THERE'S PLENTY OF SHORT COURSES AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

FOR THE LATTER, IT'S C&G 2365 FOLLOWED BY NVQ3 AND AM2. 2-4 YEARS, DAY RELEASE OR NIGHT SCHOOL.

bloody caps lock. why is it next to A, the 2nd most usd letter after E.?

 

[andy828]

im hoping to do the latter and get fully trained ive got a guaranteed 3-4 year working with them and i cant afford to take time off work. it will always be working away but like i say i will always be home on a friday. do i just contact my local college about training cos im presuming it will be a set day each week and if its not a friday im screwed.

 

[casperLennon]

I did college one day a week and I was a Friday

 

[andy828]

Recommended courses

• Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building & Structures)Find out more
• Level 1 Certificate in ElectricalFind out more
• Level 3 in Electrical InstallationFind out more
• Electrical CourseFind out more
• Electrical - Electrotechnical Technology Advanced ApprenticeshipFind out more
• Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation (Building & Structures)Find out more

just found this on leeds building college is it the level 2 diploma i need to start with?

 

[SparkyAndGeorge]

Level 2 then Level 3 then NVQ3 and AM2.

 

[remedial]

these guys are in Manchester. if you can take 8 weeks off work for initial training, this is by far the fastest route to the level 3 nvq that I've come across. With the support of your mates, and depending on your ability and/or work ethic, you could in theory have a Gold Card inside a year.
NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training Course | Options Skills - Electrical, Gas & Plumbing - https://www.options-skills.co.uk/nvq-electrical-training-course/

Failing that, its the local college over 3-4 years. even if you go that route, it might be useful to do the practical part of a domestic installers course at the weekends before starting college. you might decide that you hate it! or it might give you some skills that get you a pay rise.

good luck

 

[andy828]

i had seen that and spoke to a guy from there the other day but i just cant afford to take 8 weeks off. ive got 3-4 years work with them so the college route seems the best way i think.

there is a carpet fitter on the job im on at the minute and he is using new trades career to do his and he says you wotk it round your job. but just cant see how learning online will work

 

[remedial]

there are probably other accelerated routes to the nvq. it'd be worth looking into. its also possible to do a part time domestic installer course and then jump onto an nvq route later. the advantage of that is that you get some experience and qualifications and possibly enough to warrant a pay rise. presumably the nvq course wouldn't start til september anyway.

also no offense, but its easy to say u have 3-4 years guaranteed work but that could change very fast. a post-brexit recession is a real possibility and the construction industry is always the first to get hit. actually, we're due a recession anyway cos historically theres a recession every 5-10 years.

my point is that it might not be a great idea to be totally dependent on your mates/employers. lots of guys never got to finish their nvq years ago cos they lost their jobs during the last recession. there are lots of threads on this forum from guys who this happened to and are now looking to get back into it and finish the nvq or become domestic installers.

 

[andy828]

thanks for your advice mate. do they do domestic installer courses part time at that option skills place that i could do on a fri/sat/sun?