Why are sparkys waiting for the 2357?

[cobbydale]

Hi All

All the talk and speculation regarding the new 2357 is driving me crazy. There is a simple solution sign up on the old qual 2356 before December, thats it!

The qual is really aimed at new apprentices with employment so for a practicing operative (sparky) it will cost a packet to achieve. New units and the AM2 are mandortary and we all know how much these two cost.

Some company's are charging thousands, some high hundreds.

No site assessments
No travelling
Build an online e-portfolio using evidence from work, which your assessor will guide you on, SIMPLE.

 

[cobbydale]

I would love to know where 40+ students get the whole package for free. Government funding is for under 25's unless it was last year when their was some Train to Gain money for adults which has all gone. Anyone over 25 must be whole or part funding this course.

As for making an NVQ up this would be spotted by the assessor or internal verifier, then the EV.

My personal view still stands why await for the 2357 which excludes over 25's. The new qual will cost!! so beat the system. From £510 not even a college could provide this service, thats why colleges are contacting providers to pick the lads that have paid to sit the L3 2330.

Where do you think the assessors have come from straight from site? No
They are tired of working under government funding and red tape!

 

[sparksflying]

disagree, any witness statement, photo/video can easily be mocked up (having said that so can a site visit if you know the right people) but still not the point im making.

Training centres are charging crazy money for courses provided by local colleges for a fraction of the cost.
They are advertising "become a electrician within 2 weeks and earn 50k+ "
Nvq3 is open to all ages.

Ive just completed an online Nvq, which without the site visits i could of very easily satisfied all the requirements without working in the industry.

See your point regarding fraud; however, a decent assessor should be able to detect a fraud by using the full range of methods including question and answer or professional discussion. Admittedly, if someone was intent on obtaining an NVQ by committing fraud then there would be little that a person could do about their intentions. One would hope that they would get rumbled during the process.
I totally agree with your point regarding the “boil in a bag” courses that offer immediate competency in a couple of weeks. This is all wrong and came about with the introduction of the part P. This was supposed to make the industry safer, similar to the old “corgi” for gas fitters. What we have now is an industry where people can take a short course and pass themselves off as competent without having a clue. Worse still, set up a company and sign other peoples work off. Defeats the object it was intended to solve (bad workmanship and unsafe practices).
There is talk, and has been for some time, about electricians becoming licensed. Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I would advise anyone (especially if you have 2330 level 2) to grab the 2330 course while it is still available and progress down the NVQ route while that is still available. The new qualification is going to be a nightmare and many colleges are not going to offer it at all.
Regarding the costs charged by the training centres, the colleges can only afford to offer courses at a fraction of the costs due to Government funding. Unfortunately this is all due to change very soon and you will soon see colleges charging much more for the courses on offer due to Government cuts. Basically, if you are over 19 you will have to pay something, even worse for those over 25 as there will be no funding at all, or very little. The target audience is the 16-18 year old apprentices, and like training centres, colleges are chasing the money for survival in a competitive market.

 

[ezzzekiel]

I would love to know where 40+ students get the whole package for free. Government funding is for under 25's unless it was last year when their was some Train to Gain money for adults which has all gone.

not sure on that, you may well be right, when my asses contacted me he said it was free and i didnt want to argue why

sparks flyings last post is excellent and pretty much covers my views, although his is better worded

and dont get me started on PartP

 

[tonynulty]

I am glad i am nearly out of it, 66yrs young, 6yrs apprenticship, college 3 nights a week after work, you didnt become a sparky untill you had your A+B Certs City & Guilds, + served your time, today its a joke, part P, become a sparkie in 2yrs what a load of crap, you where classed on your ability, if you were no good you were sacked.

 

[dodger]

I would love to know where 40+ students get the whole package for free.

I've just finished my 2nd year of a fully funded apprenticeship at the age of 48. I think it was funded by the skills council but not sure.

Original I just signed up for the C&G 2330 and asked the college about help with funding as I had already spent over £2000 on C&G 2381, 2391 & 17th update.

They suggested I apply for the apprenticeship. Had to have an interview & provide evidence of existing qualifications and prove I was working in the trade.

I was lucky to be accepted and appreciate all the help and advise I received from my local college.

 

[sparksflying]

I would love to know where 40+ students get the whole package for free.

I've just finished my 2nd year of a fully funded apprenticeship at the age of 48. I think it was funded by the skills council but not sure.

Original I just signed up for the C&G 2330 and asked the college about help with funding as I had already spent over £2000 on C&G 2381, 2391 & 17th update.

They suggested I apply for the apprenticeship. Had to have an interview & provide evidence of existing qualifications and prove I was working in the trade.

I was lucky to be accepted and appreciate all the help and advise I received from my local college.

I think this is the exception rather than the rule.
Cobbydale is right though, most training providers would not touch you at all if you are over the age of 25 due to funding issues. Do I have to pay anything to become an apprentice? - Apprenticeships - Opening doors to a better future

I am not saying that this is right, but unfortunately it is just the way it is. You probably secured your funding by the commitment you had already shown by already investing so much of your own money on the courses you mentioned.

Good luck with your apprenticeship and well done for securing this training.

 

[sparksflying]

Hi All

All the talk and speculation regarding the new 2357 is driving me crazy. There is a simple solution sign up on the old qual 2356 before December, thats it!

The qual is really aimed at new apprentices with employment so for a practicing operative (sparky) it will cost a packet to achieve. New units and the AM2 are mandortary and we all know how much these two cost.

Some company's are charging thousands, some high hundreds.

No site assessments
No travelling
Build an online e-portfolio using evidence from work, which your assessor will guide you on, SIMPLE.

Quick question. What type of e-Portfolio are you using to deliver this? We have looked at a few recently at our college with a view of implement a new e-Portfolio system for all NVQ's.

 

[cobbydale]

Hi
We are using Onefile as it is City & Guilds endorsed. It is very user friendly, simple to use once shown by the assessor. Once its complete it can be burned onto a disc for candidates to keep along with the C & G certificate.

Regards