Re-training as a sparky

checjb

checjb

checjb

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Location
Royston, Herts
Hi folks,

I wonder if someone could help me out, please? One of my staff (a 44 yo, well educated chap) is facing redundancy and in tea-room chats he's mentioned that he might like to have a go at retraining as a sparky (inc Part P). Does anyone have any idea of timescale and cost for someone to do this? I'd like to go into future discussions with some real info as I'm worried he might be acting a bit hastily and not have thought things through.

TIA
 
I was in the same position as your colleague about 18 months ago, and was musing using my redunancy money to retrain as a spark too.

Certifications and actual training aside, the kicker for me was spending 6 months either working for peanuts or gratis as a sparky's mate whilst learning the ropes. In my mid 30s with a family and a mortgage that's just not doable sadly.
 
Really weird, I was just looking up exactly the same thing this morning. I'd want to try and do an adult learning course in evening so I can keep my current job, but there doesn't seem to be the right thing around. I guess as so much is practical it doesn't really work as an evening course.
 
bloodiedathame said:
Really weird, I was just looking up exactly the same thing this morning. I'd want to try and do an adult learning course in evening so I can keep my current job, but there doesn't seem to be the right thing around. I guess as so much is practical it doesn't really work as an evening course.
Click to expand...

and much like the Gas Fitter industry they want to keep it a closed shop as far as possible hence the long poorly paid 'apprenticeships' ever changing certifications and other nonsense.
 
I come across sparkies and gas fitters on a regular basis on site and despite the acreditations required, they dont seem particularly skilled, outside of a bit of simple plumbing or wiring!
 
As far as I'm aware from my own Googling the best way to become a qualified electrician:

- C&G 2330 Level 3
- NVQ Level 3
- AM2

That way, you can get professionally recognised as an electrician by the JIB.
 
He can train and get the certs, but if he isn't up to speed and a certain on site standard he won't last long on most sites. Likely only get a start on agency work, no one looking to take on a permanent electrician will likely touch him unless he works for mates rates (not great)
 
A friend of mine did the same thing at about the same age as the person the OP is discussing. The hardest bit is getting work. You're too old to get a job working for someone else, and you have no rep to pull in work for yourself. After scraping along for several years surviving on his wife's salary, said friend ended up getting an unrelated part-time job. Frankly, the OP's friend is not going to succeed.
 
Friend of mine retrained as a plumber and electrician in his mid 20s. Sadly he qualified around the time of the recession and found that jobs were very hard to come by with poor rates in his area. Basically he did an apprenticeship type job for a bit earning less than minimum wage for a while and then finally got a seemingly ok paying 'job' which was a bit of a stitch-up really as it was just to complete a single project. The end goal was to get his certs and some experience that would allow him to set up his own firm but never really managed it as everything seemed to be word of mouth. He actually used to make a lot more as a plasterer's mate than he did in what he was qualified in, but again they tended to be a lot of small jobs so would be very patchy in terms of days available.

He's subsequently retrained as a nurse which at least gives him a steady income.
 
Meridian said:
A friend of mine did the same thing at about the same age as the person the OP is discussing. The hardest bit is getting work. You're too old to get a job working for someone else, and you have no rep to pull in work for yourself. After scraping along for several years surviving on his wife's salary, said friend ended up getting an unrelated part-time job. Frankly, the OP's friend is not going to succeed.
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This is the main issue.
Anyone with enough money can get the current qualifications, they're not particularly hard to do, but getting a job is the real problem.
There are 1000's of people who have gone through the training centres and come out with all the CG's available but no employer wants them as they have no idea how to actually work as an electrician.
Your mate could try going self employed but he'll soon hit a brick wall when he realises how different it is working in someone's house intsead of in a classroom with all the work pinned to a wall.
 
Unless he has contacts in the trade and can first get a job as an apprentice, to accompany the college training, it's a non-starter I'm afraid.

I have friends and family that have tried and failed on the simple fact no one is taking on, especially if you're old and by old I mean over 17!

There are thousand of people trying to change career by getting a trade and the only people earning are the private firms setting up to train and basically lie to people. People spend several thousand pounds and can't actually complete their training as they can't get the practical experience. Even if they offer their services for free, employers aren't interested.

It's a shame, and I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but read all the trade forums and they tell the same story.
 
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