Probably will be a daft question, but being an oldie I'll ask it anyway

[Pete999]

What constitutes an "Approved Electrician "these days? when I was working it meant you had at least the C&Gs B certificate, 27 years old+ with a certain amount of years experience.
Is it something to do with being an Approved contractor?

 

[Pete999]

I think a lot of people do Pete..
I often see full scope NICEIC contractors (mainly) in my area calling themselves NICEIC Approved electrican.
I think my website says I'm approved by NAPIT when really it should say endorsed, (need to get the wife to change it).

I'm a sole trader now and the Joe public have no idea what approved electrician means either, Im sure. I advertise myself as an Approved electrician in hope that a potential customer might know what it means but I think I'm going to change it to say JIB graded "Approved electrician"

I Just changed my profile page too.

Makes sense Mate avoids any misconceptions. good for you.

 

[Pete999]

I think a lot of people do Pete..
I often see full scope NICEIC contractors (mainly) in my area calling themselves NICEIC Approved electrican.
I think my website says I'm approved by NAPIT when really it should say endorsed, (need to get the wife to change it).

I'm a sole trader now and the Joe public have no idea what approved electrician means either, Im sure. I advertise myself as an Approved electrician in hope that a potential customer might know what it means but I think I'm going to change it to say JIB graded "Approved electrician"

I Just changed my profile page too.

Makes sense Mate avoids any misconceptions. good for you.

JIB grading has nothing to do with whether you work for a JIB company or not. It just means that you are not bound by the JIB National Working Rules if not a JIB company, so JIB rates etc. wouldn't apply. Doesn't stop you being graded though.

JIB grading has nothing to do with whether you work for a JIB company or not. It just means that you are not bound by the JIB National Working Rules if not a JIB company, so JIB rates etc. wouldn't apply. Doesn't stop you being graded though.

So if you don't have to adhere to the JIB rules and Regs, how can you be JIB graded? seems a bit odd, doesn't follow any logic, how can you hold a JIB grade card?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The grade reflects your qualifications and experience.
Although, you no longer have to be graded to hold a gold card.

 

[Pete999]

You could actually make any name up TBF and any letters and I would bet the customer wouldnt know any different.

Most of them will be more interested on the price then whether they are approved/JIB qualified.

When I had my shed done a couple of year back my questions were what is the price and can you sign the work off afterwards.

 

[Pete999]

The grade reflects your qualifications and experience.
Although, you no longer have to be graded to hold a gold card.

Just goes to show how far down the slippery road to ruin this trade of ours has slipped.

 

[Andy78]

So if you don't have to adhere to the JIB rules and Regs, how can you be JIB graded? seems a bit odd, doesn't follow any logic, how can you hols a JIB grade card?

Your JIB grade comes from applying and depends on your qualification and experience levels. This is a personal grading

IF you then work for a JIB registered company then all the rules of the JIB come into play..... pay reflected by grade, national working rules, overtime rules etc

If you work for a non JIB company they are free to recognise your grade or not as they choose. The grades are generally accepted industry wide though.

 

[AJshep]

Just goes to show how far down the slippery road to ruin this trade of ours has slipped.

I believe these other Gold cards are in effect just ECS cards (to allow the bearer on site) I dont think they have JIB written on them or a grading.
I've only ever seen one until recently and that's my own, nobody gives a monkeys if you have one or not in my area. Most sparks in my area just do the CSCS exam if they want to work on sites.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I believe these other Gold cards are in effect just ECS cards (to allow the bearer on site) I dont think they have JIB written on them or a grading.
I've only ever seen one until recently and that's my own, nobody gives a monkeys if you have one or not in my area. Most sparks in my area just do the CSCS exam if they want to work on sites.

They are the same, just some have ‘JIB Grade’ on them, some don’t.
Though there are some that don’t have JIB on them?

 

[AJshep]

Thanks @spinlondon.
Just found this, mentions all the different parts of the card.
The ECS Card Explained | Electrotechnical Certification Scheme - https://www.ecscard.org.uk/about-the-ecs/the-ecs-card-explained

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

@AJshep you are indeed correct, if you have been a QS for a niceic AC firm for 3 years then you can get a gold card. you get the recognition of installation electrician on the card it appears. details here
Supporting contractors in the building services sector | NICEIC - https://www.niceic.com/goldcard

 

[Deleted member 26818]

That link shows a card without JIB in big green letters across it.
It also shows a JIB grade of ‘Approved Electrician’ yet doesn’t list any qualifications?

 

[PEG]

I reckon whatever colour/grade/status of card is held,as long as two people can hold the identical card,with one a talented craftsman,and the other a dangerous fool,then the chances of it meaning something,are limited.

It may once of been a very likely indicator of a tradesman's merit,but it seems to have been diluted and obscured to more hope than logic.

I don't know why i did my doctorate...when i could have bought one,online...

 

[Pete999]

That link shows a card without JIB in big green letters across it.
It also shows a JIB grade of ‘Approved Electrician’ yet doesn’t list any qualifications?

'Might do on the back Spin, b--ger can't turn it over to look lol, just funning

 

[JAWS]

I know now there are many routes to become an approved contractor/Gold card JIB graded and one of them is doing the NVQ portfolio.

But... with NVQ's not fully recognized until the middle 90's how different was it for electricians getting qualified in the 80's or 90's to now.

How did it work in then? was it you done your apprenticeship got your 236 A+B then you were qualified?

 

[Pete999]

I know now there are many routes to become an approved contractor/Gold card JIB graded and one of them is doing the NVQ portfolio.

But... with NVQ's not fully recognized until the middle 90's how different was it for electricians getting qualified in the 80's or 90's to now.

How did it work in then? was it you done your apprenticeship got your 236 A+B then you were qualified?

Things have changed a great deal Mate, back in the day when the JIB started I think it was up to the Boss to fill in your Grading application.
I know I had an awful job to get Approved status even having the required quals and at least 3 years post Apprenticeship, moved into the Public sector soon after, just kept my card but got paid the same as all the other Electricians.
No NVQs in those days, even had an Electricians Mate to carry all the steps, tool etc, the one I had used to get very upset if I picked something up to carry back to the workshop.
Halcion days when being a tradesperson meant something.