Starting out: best route?

[graemesemple]

Evening all,

I own and run a handyman business and would like to develop the electrical service I offer.

Is it generally accepted that City and Guilds 2230 (Levels 2 and 3) is the best basis to have?

One other question: with only the underpinning knowledge of 2230 - but little practical experience - would anyone give me work, even part time? (I ask hypothetically..)

All the best,
Graeme

 

[MarkieSparkie]

In the current economic climate, with so many experienced sparks looking for work, it is unlikely you would be taken on when the employer could easily recruit somebody who doesn't need training and is a 'self-starter'.
Your best bet is to work for a sparky friend as his mate, you may need to offer to do this without pay, to gain experience. It's not going to quick or easy as your contemporaries will already have 3 or 4 years experience working as apprentices or mates. If your committed, hang in there, it will be worth it in the end. Just don't expect an easy ride.:sweatdrop:

 

[cdavies33]

Develop the electrical service you offer?? Are you a registered domestic installer?

 

[graemesemple]

MarkieSparkie -- Thanks. How long do think it would realistically take for me to gain the necessary experience as a spark's mate? Also: do you agree that C & G 2230 (Level 2 & 3) is preferable to EAL?

cdavies33 -- I'm not even a domestic installer; I'll do simple like-for-like work, but when I'm asked to take on anything advanced I refer my customers to a qualified spark.

 

[geordie]

2330 at college will take about 3 years

 

[ExArmy]

you can't even do 2330 from the start anymore, you would need to enroll on the 2357 Diploma. but i don't think it's what your after, a tech cert on it's own is not worth alot. i reckon you just wanna do a Domestic Electiral Installers course and it'll give a bit of insight about electrics so you can do small jobs yourself. the amount of time and money it takes to become fully qualified is alot, and i wouldn't bother doing it unless you were going to be seeking work as an electrician. no point doing it if your just a handyman who does the odd electrical job

 

[graemesemple]

ExArmy -- Thanks v much. Yes, you're quite right about the Domestic Installer option, and the course tutor I met this week re 2230 said as much too, if I only wanted to add a bit of basic electrical stuff to the range of odd jobs I offer. And yes, it takes a fair few quid, and a lot of time, to become fully qual. But I'm up for the long haul .. the plan is to phase in the fully qual work, and phase out the odd jobs.

 

[ExArmy]

ah well if you wanna become fully qualified in the end then you might aswell get to college and start on the tech certs now. ideally the best path to take would be start an appprenticeship with a company that is going to sponsor you and pay for the lot, but you will have to be bloody lucky to find one of them so just keep going to college as it will make you more employable so when a job does come up where you can get trained up you have more chance of getting it.