UK T levels or Apprenticeship?

[yung_kio]

Hello electricians forums net users,

I am an aspiring electrician and I have enrolled into college 2024 to study T levels in Building Services Engineering Construction, specialising in electrotechnical engineering. It is a 2 year course, comprising of 4 days in college and 1 day on-site. Completely the opposite of apprenticeships, and much shorter.

Since T levels are 2 years long, I have considered after completing the electrical course, I can do another 2 years doing the aforementioned 'T level' course but instead specialising in plumbing and heating engineering, working as an electrical labourer during that time. Therefore, I will be using the 4 years up studying two different equally valuable trade courses with on-site experience, instead of a single 4 year course.

I weighed it up and the potential downside for this method is that I have to pay for my NVQ and AM2 which I am willing to do. Other people have also said "The T in T levels stands for Tea", which is a fair point, 63 days minimum on-site for 2 years is short.

I am asking here to see if you have any experience with T levels, or have a perspective I haven't considered.

 

[MDJ]

Definitely apprenticeship, T Levels are very new and for 16-18 year olds to get experience, mainly classroom bound, if you can get a full apprenticeship then I would recommend that first

 

[R-fur]

As MDJ said, getting a trade was the best bit of advice my Dad ever gave me, Once time served I kept studying and got a HNC which enabled me to go up through the ranks, But I am still proud to be a 'proper' spark.