Advice on training and entering industry at 43yrs old.

[jodyK76]

Hi All,

I'm a newbie here so please be gentle... Advice on entering the industry please!

I'm 43yrs old, transferring from being a self-employed photographer of 17yrs, (the photography business is drying up... have some really good clients but just commissioning less and writing is on the wall. Need to change career now). Have dabbled a lot in property for a while, looked after a few places and have become a little bit handy (various DIY). Originally studied science at uni and have also done courses on coding / website building. So I can knuckle down with technical information, be good with my hands and deal with clients well.

Really interested in becoming a sparky as it ticks lots of boxes for me but have a few questions, answers to any of them would be really helpful. I'm interested in both commercial and domestic work and to potentially get into the field of renewables and EV point installation. Imagine I would be doing a mixture of domestic installer / electrician's mate stuff to begin with, build portfolio for NVQ L3 and expand into other areas. Questions are:

1. What fast track courses are considered the best? I'm aware that it's working on the job where the real learning comes but I need to get up to speed to become an electrician's mate etc. Looking at "Options Skills"... any feedback on them?

2. How is my age viewed? What kind of person is wanted as an electrician's mate? Does my age help or hinder? Does my previous work play a role?

3. What kind of income can I expect as an electrician's mate in London? What kind of income as a fully qualified electrician in London?

4. How would I go about finding another electrician to work for as a mate?

5. How much mileage is there as a domestic installer if you can't self-cert work? i.e. I presume in reality you have to be an electrician's mate?

6. What are the growth areas in the industry? There is more house building but also presume EV point installation is around the corner and probably renewables will kick off again?

7. Is there a noticeable drop of skilled workers as a result of Brexit? If so what kind of percentage?

8. What are the downsides of being a sparky? All jobs have sides which are drag, just be good to know what the hidden cons are.

9. Any advice of other online sources to find info?

Many thanks and sorry for lengthy ramble!

 

[Granty]

Hi All,

I'm a newbie here so please be gentle... Advice on entering the industry please!

I'm 43yrs old, transferring from being a self-employed photographer of 17yrs, (the photography business is drying up... have some really good clients but just commissioning less and writing is on the wall. Need to change career now). Have dabbled a lot in property for a while, looked after a few places and have become a little bit handy (various DIY). Originally studied science at uni and have also done courses on coding / website building. So I can knuckle down with technical information, be good with my hands and deal with clients well.

Really interested in becoming a sparky as it ticks lots of boxes for me but have a few questions, answers to any of them would be really helpful. I'm interested in both commercial and domestic work and to potentially get into the field of renewables and EV point installation. Imagine I would be doing a mixture of domestic installer / electrician's mate stuff to begin with, build portfolio for NVQ L3 and expand into other areas. Questions are:

1. What fast track courses are considered the best? I'm aware that it's working on the job where the real learning comes but I need to get up to speed to become an electrician's mate etc. Looking at "Options Skills"... any feedback on them?

2. How is my age viewed? What kind of person is wanted as an electrician's mate? Does my age help or hinder? Does my previous work play a role?

3. What kind of income can I expect as an electrician's mate in London? What kind of income as a fully qualified electrician in London?

4. How would I go about finding another electrician to work for as a mate?

5. How much mileage is there as a domestic installer if you can't self-cert work? i.e. I presume in reality you have to be an electrician's mate?

6. What are the growth areas in the industry? There is more house building but also presume EV point installation is around the corner and probably renewables will kick off again?

7. Is there a noticeable drop of skilled workers as a result of Brexit? If so what kind of percentage?

8. What are the downsides of being a sparky? All jobs have sides which are drag, just be good to know what the hidden cons are.

9. Any advice of other online sources to find info?

Many thanks and sorry for lengthy ramble!

Hi All,

I'm a newbie here so please be gentle... Advice on entering the industry please!

I'm 43yrs old, transferring from being a self-employed photographer of 17yrs, (the photography business is drying up... have some really good clients but just commissioning less and writing is on the wall. Need to change career now). Have dabbled a lot in property for a while, looked after a few places and have become a little bit handy (various DIY). Originally studied science at uni and have also done courses on coding / website building. So I can knuckle down with technical information, be good with my hands and deal with clients well.

Really interested in becoming a sparky as it ticks lots of boxes for me but have a few questions, answers to any of them would be really helpful. I'm interested in both commercial and domestic work and to potentially get into the field of renewables and EV point installation. Imagine I would be doing a mixture of domestic installer / electrician's mate stuff to begin with, build portfolio for NVQ L3 and expand into other areas. Questions are:

1. What fast track courses are considered the best? I'm aware that it's working on the job where the real learning comes but I need to get up to speed to become an electrician's mate etc. Looking at "Options Skills"... any feedback on them?

2. How is my age viewed? What kind of person is wanted as an electrician's mate? Does my age help or hinder? Does my previous work play a role?

3. What kind of income can I expect as an electrician's mate in London? What kind of income as a fully qualified electrician in London?

4. How would I go about finding another electrician to work for as a mate?

5. How much mileage is there as a domestic installer if you can't self-cert work? i.e. I presume in reality you have to be an electrician's mate?

6. What are the growth areas in the industry? There is more house building but also presume EV point installation is around the corner and probably renewables will kick off again?

7. Is there a noticeable drop of skilled workers as a result of Brexit? If so what kind of percentage?

8. What are the downsides of being a sparky? All jobs have sides which are drag, just be good to know what the hidden cons are.

9. Any advice of other online sources to find info?

Many thanks and sorry for lengthy ramble!

Sorry mate I can’t answer any of these questions, but I’m 44 and have just finished two and a half years doing the C&G 2365 lvl 2&3 course so we share a bit of common ground. This is my first post, hoping somebody can shine a light on some of your questions as I’m a bit lost where to turn myself now. Need to find work, but not too sure how or where at the moment!

 

[JAWS]

@Granty
As you have the level 2 and 3 you can apply for an ECS card ( Labourers card) but...Once employed you'll become a stage 3 trainee electrican.
You've certainly took the correct route in getting your level 2 and 3 now do your AM2 if you're confident enough, then that will then leave you your work portfolio NVQ.

Obviously to achieve your NVQ portfolio you will need to be on the tools so I suggest applying for your ECS card, once you've got that ring up companies, email, join agencies etc.

 

[Granty]

@Granty
As you have the level 2 and 3 you can apply for an ECS card ( Labourers card) but...Once employed you'll become a stage 3 trainee electrican.
You've certainly took the correct route in getting your level 2 and 3 now do your AM2 if you're confident enough, then that will then leave you your work portfolio NVQ.

Obviously to achieve your NVQ portfolio you will need to be on the tools so I suggest applying for your ECS card, once you've got that ring up companies, email, join agencies etc.

That’s a useful response, thanks Mate. I need to find out a bit more on the Am1/2 and might look to do them sooner. I’ll also apply for an ECS card this week. Thanks for your reply, and apologies to the original poster for hijacking your thread!

 

[brlfc1969]

Sorry mate I can’t answer any of these questions, but I’m 44 and have just finished two and a half years doing the C&G 2365 lvl 2&3 course so we share a bit of common ground. This is my first post, hoping somebody can shine a light on some of your questions as I’m a bit lost where to turn myself now. Need to find work, but not too sure how or where at the moment!

Hello Granty & Jody,

first time poster, so apologies if I go about it the wrong way.

I am 50 and am thinking of a career change and have been monitoring these forums for a while. I have found some great comments, one of which took me to the Level 2 & 3 C&G 2365 with Trade Skills 4U (and then onto NVQ/ AM2).

Can you tell me a bit about the Levels 2 & 3 that you've done - how challenging, who did you training with, what was the training and provider like, has it been worth it so far etc.

Best wishes and thanks in advance.

brlfc

 

[telectrix]

That’s a useful response, thanks Mate. I need to find out a bit more on the Am1/2 and might look to do them sooner. I’ll also apply for an ECS card this week. Thanks for your reply, and apologies to the original poster for hijacking your thread!

before you apply for the ECS card, you need to do the H&S exam. it's about £40 to take it, basically it's a multi choice test on H&S biased towards electrical work, as oposed to the CSCS test which is more general. .

404 - Page Not Found | Electrotechnical Certification Scheme

The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) accredits the qualifications and experience of workers in the electrotechnical industry

www.ecscard.org.uk

 

[sloughrookie]

Sorry mate I can’t answer any of these questions, but I’m 44 and have just finished two and a half years doing the C&G 2365 lvl 2&3 course so we share a bit of common ground.

Hi,

I am also training at the moment, during the 2 & half years of training, did you try or were you able to get any sort of work experience within the industry?

cheers, SR
[automerge]1589796269[/automerge]

before you apply for the ECS card, you need to do the H&S exam. it's about £40 to take it, basically it's a multi choice test on H&S biased towards electrical work, as oposed to the CSCS test which is more general. .

404 - Page Not Found | Electrotechnical Certification Scheme

The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) accredits the qualifications and experience of workers in the electrotechnical industry

www.ecscard.org.uk

Thank you for posting that telectrix, it's a very helpful link.

On the ECS website one of the first criteria they require to enable you to provide an "employers sponsorship", do you know what someone can do if they're trying to get work but still want a card?

Cheers, SR

 

[telectrix]

2 ways.
1. setyourself up as a sole trader with a business name, or form a limited company; make up some cards and letterheads. then use your trade name business as an employer.

2. find a friendlylocal spark who will "employ you" on paper. maybe even as a subbie.