Over 25 yr gap in the trade. Am I wasting my time

Stix · Apr 27, 2018

passed c &g 236 parts 1 & 2 in the 90's. Practically as soon as I passed recession hit and was laid off. When going for electrical jobs companies obviously went for sparks with experience over a green who had just passed. Been a grafter I got a dead end job a factory just to keep me earning. Would it be worth me trying to get back into the game and what hoops would I have to jump through to get back in to it?As in courses? Or am I kidding myself and wasting my time? Used to do house bashing, some 3 phase armoured and pyro work back in the day

buzzlightyear · Apr 27, 2018

welcome, stix. their no time like the present .with house being built
over the places .

Midwest · Apr 27, 2018

buzzlightyear said:
welcome, stix. their no time like the present .with house being built
over the places .

According to the latest news, always 6 mths back in time, constriuction industry is in recession;
UK economy in weakest growth since 2012 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43919094

Deleted member 26818 · Apr 28, 2018

You could sign on with an Agency to get more experience.
You would need to take an update course for the Regulations (might want to wait for the 18th to kick in), you would then need to apply for a JIB/ECS card.
The card the JIB would issue might be either a gold Electrician’s card or a white Ancillary Operative’s card.
It all depends on whether you have an NVQ3 and whether the NVQ3 existed when you obtained your 2361/2.
You might have to start off with the Ancillary Operative’s card and then take the NVQ3?

Stix · Apr 28, 2018

Thanks for the response guys, anyone know what kinda hourly rate I would be looking at? If I was to start at the lowest rung so to speak. I regret not taking it back up once recession dropped but hindsight is a wonderful thing I guess; however as I'm a family man money talks......

Phil Thompson · Apr 28, 2018

I have a self employed bloke in with me lately, he’s 54, gave up sparking in 1991 after 11 years, similar experience as the OP, I found him a better worker than most of the sparks I’ve ever worked with.
I guess it would depend on how much you remember and how quickly you pick it back up again.

You could try doing part time on your days off with someone, to see how you get on and get used to being back on the tools and to get to grips with the changes in circuits etc.

Then if you still want to stay at it you could go on to do your 18th Edition and then the Testing Quals.