Trade Skills 4 U waste of time?

[rebeccathornley]

I'm 24 and looking for a career change into the electrical industry. Could anyone advise me on the practicality of undertaking a fast track level 2 course with trade skills 4 u? I'm by no means expecting to be a fully qualified electrician by the end of this, I'm hoping to get the level 2 qualification to increase my chances of getting an electrican apprenticeship as it seems competition is rife right now and i'm a bit disadvantaged being older than the typical apprentice.

I've heard so much about these courses being a waste of time and money - is that still true even if I am just using this course to boost my chances of getting an apprenticeship after completion? Am I still better off doing the level 2 as an evening course at my local college?


Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[nicebutdim]

Personally i'd rather go somewhere like that then spend 2 years fannying around at college, upon leaving which everyone will say sorry, you've got no experience.

What difference would it make whether a person went to a training provider or night classes at a local college?

Both options provide for people working in the industry, people with experience and people for whom neither applies.

 

[rewireIT]

When I updated to the 18th TS4U insisted that I did the full 3 day course instead of the update course because the 17th qualification I had didn't include the latest amendment. Cost was about £400, robbing bar stewards. Did it with NAPIT instead with one of those patronising on line courses, about £200 I think.

Lol wot you don't even have to do a course. I literally just got the book and booked on for the exam.

 

[rewireIT]

Can you not wing it anymore getting into the electrical industry? I never did the official college course back in the mid 90's when I started. I kind of knew what I was doing due to my dad kind of knowing what he was doing and I kind of re-wired my first house so it at least all worked. When I went for a job interview at a local sparks desperate for electricians I just told them I had done several re-wires and I knew what I was doing. As long as you are intelligent you can pick it up as you go along and after 5 years and my boss paying for an expensive 16th edition and 2391 course for me I was their qualifying manager.

Not long after that I became self employed and then you really do have the licence to wing it. Even recently we needed the CSCS card to do a job on site but they accepted the screen shot of the booked and paid for H&S course they let us on site as they needed us quickly. Do you think we actually bothered turning up and doing the course? Of course not, who's got time for that, We did the job, got paid and the CSCS thing would have ran out by now anyway, everyone was happy - we winged it.

I know part P has probably kyboshed a lot of that now but is it so difficult to do something similar in the industrial side of things, I cant believe someone would blow their life savings on getting a job, its got scam written all over it, they should be paying you.

Can't say i disagree with you - i fudged my CV big time when i got started cause i knew i could do the job. I stay firmly in my lane by telling people i'm a mate/improver and never try to claim i'm a spark.

On my very first job as a 'trainee' i saw the agency improvers on 18 quid an hour working and they were terrible. I thought i can do this. So i went and did it.

 

[7029 dave]

Nearly all sites have foreign labour including electricians, do you think they are all qualified to UK standards, no chance. One English QS and jobs a gooden, cheap labour been going on for quite a few years.

 

[nicebutdim]

On my very first job as a 'trainee' i saw the agency improvers on 18 quid an hour working and they were terrible. I thought i can do this. So i went and did it.

You've told us this many times before in similar threads, and it's great that it got you a better wage, but I fail to see how it helps the OP who simply asked if completing level 2 with this training provider is a worthwhile endeavour to help them find an apprenticeship.

You and I started apprenticeships at the same time. You quit in favor of better earnings, while it's taken me two years to get onto the same sort of money (Although I'm in NI, so £18/hr is probably worth £22/23 in GB terms).

Unless I'm missing something your choices in getting your cards are: a. A college course. b. An expensive training provider or c. Mature worker assessment which requires proof of 5 years experience, before you even begin.

If all goes well my apprenticeship should deliver an NVQ this coming year, with AM2 shortly after. Obviously this depends on me getting the book work done, but the opportunity awaits.

While I'm pleased that your choices were the correct ones for you, I don't think they're for everyone and I'm firmly of the belief that discouraging people from undertaking apprenticeships is dreadful advice. Perhaps I'm missing something here, but will maintain that the OP (at 24 years of age) should consider all available options, before throwing away good opportunities on the advice of someone who hasn't achieved what the OP is aiming for.

 

[7029 dave]

bitter older sparks

That is me, my journey into the industry was a hard slog the old fashioned apprenticeship, and it was blood sweat and tears literally at times. Not going to lie found the theory side of things quite hard, maybe my maths and English was not the best still cant spell that well.
But stuck with it head in the books nearly every spare minute of the day, no computers or sites like this back in the day. Nearly threw the towel in many times but kept going.
Got my C&G 236 A&B which was/is a good standard and was very proud to achieve this.
I can call myself an electrician

 

[Penguin]

I'm 24 and looking for a career change into the electrical industry. Could anyone advise me on the practicality of undertaking a fast track level 2 course with trade skills 4 u? I'm by no means expecting to be a fully qualified electrician by the end of this, I'm hoping to get the level 2 qualification to increase my chances of getting an electrican apprenticeship as it seems competition is rife right now and i'm a bit disadvantaged being older than the typical apprentice.

I've heard so much about these courses being a waste of time and money - is that still true even if I am just using this course to boost my chances of getting an apprenticeship after completion? Am I still better off doing the level 2 as an evening course at my local college?


Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated! Thanks

Hi Rebecca,
As a 24 yr old your on the ‘edge’ of Electrical company’s taking you on as an apprentice due to the “apprentice government scheme”, that rewards financial benefits to a Company taking on someone between 16-24 for an apprenticeship.

In my personal opinion the Level 2, is a mandatory before taking a level 3.

It was introduced to weed out the ‘Wheat from the Chaff’ ( old saying, meaning get rid of time wasters ).

Have you any experience in the electrical field??????

Get online and complete an online/classroom Level 2. ( much quicker than a one day release to college - minimum a year a day ).

ALSO be VERY VERY careful at what Course you sign and pay for that states..!!!

i.e- this Course is IDEAL to those wishing to become Professional Electricians, and will help you gain the knowledge required to achieve this qualification.!!!!!

WHAT are actually going to achieve.

What is PPE.???
What is Weil’s disease?????

£500 later you still can’t wire a BS 3pin plug to British Standards.

Send me the info on what course your looking at.

 

[rewireIT]

Hi Rebecca,
As a 24 yr old your on the ‘edge’ of Electrical company’s taking you on as an apprentice due to the “apprentice government scheme”, that rewards financial benefits to a Company taking on someone between 16-24 for an apprenticeship.

Grants are available now for apprentices of any age.

 

[Penguin]

That is me, my journey into the industry was a hard slog the old fashioned apprenticeship, and it was blood sweat and tears literally at times. Not going to lie found the theory side of things quite hard, maybe my maths and English was not the best still cant spell that well.
But stuck with it head in the books nearly every spare minute of the day, no computers or sites like this back in the day. Nearly threw the towel in many times but kept going.
Got my C&G 236 A&B which was/is a good standard and was very proud to achieve this.
I can call myself an electrician

One of my old apprentices, who now has his own business, said that he regarded me as ‘Leeds Football Club’ when they tackled they were FIRM but FAIR.
I treat my apprentices with respect and always buy them a Friday FryUp.

They never take the P…ss and know I’ll help them with issues (mainly finance).

They DO NOT operate or view their mobile phone during working hours, as it’s a £10 fine each and every time.

If they cockup they, don’t SHOUT it out they mention a special word.!!!!

Which gets my attention. Rather than shouting out IVE JUST GONE THROUGH A PIPE. (customers get nervous otherwise).

You sound like an Old School apprentice and that’s what we’re missing…!!!

 

[Penguin]

Grants are available now for apprentices of any age.

Are you meaning Company Apprentice financial benefits or individual grants.