Retraining to be an Electrician

Slime101 · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:01

I'm considering this as ive been redundant for 6months, im not elegable for JSA (despite being in work for 12yrs paying tax and NI) and my only income is about to come to an end...

So, has anyone retrained as an electrician, what is the best way, any advice and most of all, is there really a skills shortage meaning work is available or is it a load of hype??

Glaucus · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:04

not with the recession. Very few skill shortages if any in any area.

Good time to retrain though. Get in there and qualify up to the eyeballs for when we come out the other side.

Beerbaron · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:10

why are you not eligible? i hear quite a lot people saying they have paid in for years yet not eligible but there are loads of people who have never worked getting it.

Breeze · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:21

Beerbaron said:
why are you not eligible? i hear quite a lot people saying they have paid in for years yet not eligible but there are loads of people who have never worked getting it.

Possibly due to the amount of savings the OP has.

waso_dude · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:26

Try to get a job as an electricians mate, and then get yourself into evening classes to train as one, this is what my uncle did. 2years on hes been fully trained for a year and really enjoying it.

Have a ring around the local electricians, some even help pay for evening classes.

Slime101 · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:41

I fear that no local companies will be taking on people who are untrained, however its well worth a few calls, i at least havethe benefit of not being a student/youth!!!

Jez · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:49

waso_dude said:
Try to get a job as an electricians mate, and then get yourself into evening classes to train as one, this is what my uncle did. 2years on hes been fully trained for a year and really enjoying it.

Have a ring around the local electricians, some even help pay for evening classes.

Indeed. I have a couple of friends who have now gone onto running an electrical contracting outfit. They started as electrician's "mates" (earning very little unfortunately) and did evening classes.

As soon as you are qualified or have built up enough of a relationship with someone registered to sign your work off, you can run your own jobs.

WRT there being enough work, its certainly slower than it used to be. But long term its a secure trade.

Morthoseth · 6 Jul 2009 at 17:02

Beerbaron said:
why are you not eligible? i hear quite a lot people saying they have paid in for years yet not eligible but there are loads of people who have never worked getting it.

Contributions Based JSA only lasts for 6 months and is then exhausted, Income based JSA can last forever, or until someone finds a job basically.

I work for the DWP and thats how i understand it, i dont deal with JSA though.

Slime101 · 6 Jul 2009 at 17:15

Im not eligable for either type of JSA - the system sucks completly as it rewards those who do sod all and i get stuffed despite paying into the system for donkeys years.

Slime101 · 6 Jul 2009 at 18:52

What courses should i go on, it seems to be very segmented, is there a preferred recognised route?

Adam_151 · 6 Jul 2009 at 20:39

The course you want to be looking for is city and guilds 2330 part 1 (level 2), and the following on from that 2330 part 2 (level 3)

Avoid the 'domestic installers qualification'/DISQ is a quick course for allied trades who also do electrical work. Also avoid the 17th edition regs course [at this moment in time]... its just an update course on the latest regulations (it doesn't teach you anything about electrical installation)

You'll also need to get in with a firm as a mate/ improver/ adult trainee/ etc to learn the practical side of the job... there is no other way than doing stuff for real!

aproctor · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:07

Slime101 said:
Im not eligable for either type of JSA - the system sucks completly as it rewards those who do sod all and i get stuffed despite paying into the system for donkeys years.

Yes you are, the contribution based JSA is for anyone who has worked long enough, if you are not eligible it is because you have not worked enough (2 years?) or you resigned.

Slime101 · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:39

aproctor said:
Yes you are, the contribution based JSA is for anyone who has worked long enough, if you are not eligible it is because you have not worked enough (2 years?) or you resigned.

Made redundant and worked for 12 or so years, paid class 1, class 2 and class 4 stamp and copious ammounts of tax for most of those years and no, im not eligable because its not that simple or clear cut!

aproctor · 7 Jul 2009 at 23:28

Slime101 said:
Made redundant and worked for 12 or so years, paid class 1, class 2 and class 4 stamp and copious ammounts of tax for most of those years and no, im not eligable because its not that simple or clear cut!

are you in a trade dispute?

If you have paid contributions for 2 years, have just been made redundant and are not in a dispute you are eligible.

and it is that clear cut, it is one of the most clear cut benefits going.

Lumeycom · 8 Jul 2009 at 00:00

Adam_151 said:
The course you want to be looking for is city and guilds 2330 part 1 (level 2), and the following on from that 2330 part 2 (level 3)

Avoid the 'domestic installers qualification'/DISQ is a quick course for allied trades who also do electrical work. Also avoid the 17th edition regs course [at this moment in time]... its just an update course on the latest regulations (it doesn't teach you anything about electrical installation)

You'll also need to get in with a firm as a mate/ improver/ adult trainee/ etc to learn the practical side of the job... there is no other way than doing stuff for real!

^^ This, almost

If you want to be qualfied (or approved in JIB terms) then you need to complete both parts of 2330 to get your technical certificate and also the NVQ vocational component (which, of course requires evidence etc so you need to be working in the trade). Once you've done this then you get to do your AM2 (advanced measures 2). Once thats completed then you are classed as qualified (or approved). Once you've got that sorted then look at 2391/2932 for inspection and testing... if you dont get bored easy then there is also money to be made in PAT testing still, but its wtf mindnumbing

2382 (regs update) is useful but should not be seen as a standalone qualification - something that these TV advertised "retrain and become rich" schemes offer. Looking for work with 2382 only will mean your CV meets the shredder.

At the moment its not a nice trade to be in, none of the trades are... But get all your qualifications and its pretty much the top points scorer for emigration (save being a surgeon or such)

Morthoseth · 8 Jul 2009 at 07:14

aproctor said:
are you in a trade dispute?

If you have paid contributions for 2 years, have just been made redundant and are not in a dispute you are eligible.

and it is that clear cut, it is one of the most clear cut benefits going.

He would indeed qualify based on what he said in the OP, for only six months though, and saying he was made redundant 6 months ago i assumed he'd already been on for that long.

Beerbaron · 8 Jul 2009 at 07:45

Breeze said:
Possibly due to the amount of savings the OP has.

Do you qualify once its all spent?

Slime101 · 8 Jul 2009 at 08:06

I'm not elibable for JSA - its not simple, its not clear cut and i have loads of letters to prove it. I have paid in more than enough, i have worked for long enough and im not in dispute with anyone and ive not recieved a penny so as kind as the "help" is its totally pointless as they have made their minds up and i have to suffer whilst lazy gits get it all.

Back to the point, im looking into the C&G courses, it seems even those are thin on the ground at the moment! (in devon)

JohnnyG · 11 Sep 2009 at 19:20

Electrician training - any sparkies in here?

Now that the short days are drawing near and I can't play golf all day I fancy spending my time doing something useful for a change so am going to start college courses aiming towards getting a C&G (2392-10 probably) and eventually Part P registered then possibly an NVQ.
I've got a foundation course starting in October (or November depending on numbers) and I'd like to hear if anyone has done this and could suggest the best route, the college have already recommended their route, which is of course the most expensive.
I'm only interested in domestic so (apart from experience) what's really needed to get competent?

Also can anyone recommend some good books, I'm currently enjoying a book on the 17th edition by the way

Lumeycom · 11 Sep 2009 at 20:29

Enjoying a book on the 17th? sicko

I did the full route, 2330, 2382 and 2391 - seems to be the most respected as its time served (Also means you get your 'card' and become JIB registered) and its pretty much the only way i'd reccomend as any other way can be seen as a bit half baked.

Its intensly competitive out there at the moment, loads of tradesmen out of work so the more complete the qualification the more chance you have of getting a decent job.

I've never housebashed btw so cant talk about that side of things.

Edit

This is something thats come up quite a bit of late too - please dont get caught in the trap that its a guarenteed job like it used to be, times are VERY hard out there right now.. I'm currently doing other work as there is not enough spark work out there

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18028863