Perusing a career in Electrics

[LukeS3]

Hey guys,

I'm nearly 21, did a 3 day induction before I left school at my local construction college, loved it. Left school at 16, got pretty crappy grades, and so it all went to pot and I didn't return to college.

Only recently have I decided, yet again, that I really want to peruse this career.

3 weeks ago I started a 10-12 week course at a local training centre (Maths Level 1 & English Level 2) to try and get them up. I'm really not that great at either, but English is certainly the stronger out of the two.

If I get my certificates for both of these, would it be of any good use to me? or would I maybe need to get my Maths to Level 2 also?

The idea thus far is to eventually get an Apprenticeship, and do one day college, or as said many times on here, night college.

Just to mention: My dad is a chippy, owns his own business with his brother and they have a self employed sparky working for them, and has been for quite a few years. I'm hoping this could be a bit of an advantage too. My Dad and Unlce have already mentioned the opportunities there for me should I become qualified.

Any advice would be great!

 

[Essexboy7]

why dont you go to college and learn to be a chippy then you could work for your old man?

 

[LukeS3]

why dont you go to college and learn to be a chippy then you could work for your old man?

I can work for him, as sparky, I hope

 

[Martyc]

There's a lot of maths to learn with the science side. You'd need to be fairly proficient with a calculator, equasions and transposing formulas. And rumour has it the current qual (c&g 2365) has a lower exam success rate than the one it has just superseded. Unless my tutor is just scare-mongering us into studying harder of course....
I'm not trying to put you off, but it's not as easy as just connecting wires.

 

[rockman]

No way, you go for it kid, if this is realy what u want to do, you will oercome all hurdles that are placed in your way.
But I would recommend going for an upgrade on your maths qualifications to O level standard.

 

[rmc86uk]

Sounds like you really want to do this especially with brushing up on your Maths and English.

Is your plan to do an apprenticeship with this Electrician your Dad works with or hopefully get one with another company?

Have a look at www.jtltraining.com.

Your two options are to do an apprenticeship with someone like JTL or get a job with a company and go on day release/night college.

Good luck :thumbup:

 

[JoeDurky]

I did my apprenticeship with JTL great training providers and seemed to go the extra mile to help out and advise. I left school with decent grades, however there were lads on the course that didn't and they had to do key skills courses to apparently get similar grades to gcse's. I worked hard to get my grades to secure a place with JTL, for some reason the year we did exams I secured double C in IT. Got the certificate in the Jan, then they regraded the exam in July and dropped me to double D grades. To cut a long story short I had to do IT key skills to get the grade to a C. It was unreal multiple choice on a comp. 1st question was " what do you use with a computer A. a cat, B. a dog , C. a mouse or D. a rabbit. Unreal

Sorry off the subject abit but always stuck in my head

 

[LukeS3]

Sounds like you really want to do this especially with brushing up on your Maths and English.

Is your plan to do an apprenticeship with this Electrician your Dad works with or hopefully get one with another company?

Have a look at www.jtltraining.com.

Your two options are to do an apprenticeship with someone like JTL or get a job with a company and go on day release/night college.

Good luck :thumbup:

Thanks for all the replies guys.

My dad has said that an apprenticeship with Damien (the guy that he works with) is certainly an option, he's taken a few guys on before and I've been told he's very experienced.

I'm confident that I will pass my English exam which takes place in approximately 5-6 weeks if I work hard, and my English is pretty good anyway - that will give me a Level 2 certificate, which is an equivalent of A-C.

As for Maths, hopefully I will pass my Level 1 in 5 weeks time. Then if needed, I will do Maths Level 2 which is a 11 weeks course.

This would then give me an equivalent of A-C in both subjects which I already know is noticed in the electrical industry (correct me if I'm wrong), unlike Uni for example, which doesn't notice equivalents.

When I have a bit of spare time in a couple of hours, I'm going to do some research into JTL

 

[LukeS3]

JTL seems a pretty good choice.

 

[markc123]

Definitley go for the Maths level 2 - not sure where you would stand with this, you can just enquire and they'll let you know.

Electrical courses/apprenterships are very maths based - and they do get rather technical, id brush up on your maths more than your english to be honest.

Good luck.

 

[Des 56]

If you want to be an electrician,then go for it and all the best,it will be hard graft, if you are serious with your effort you will get the reward of a brilliant way to earn a living,working with the tools of a subject that can be enjoyed as well as being just the crust earner

Mind you, the spark working for your dad may not be too inclined to train his own successor

 

[LukeS3]

If you want to be an electrician,then go for it and all the best,it will be hard graft, if you are serious with your effort you will get the reward of a brilliant way to earn a living,working with the tools of a subject that can be enjoyed as well as being just the crust earner

Mind you, the spark working for your dad may not be too inclined to train his own successor

My Dad and his brother do work for GAP all over the country and they only use the electrician for those jobs. Otherwise, he has his own small business working locally.

I am certainly concentrating on my maths more anyway, as I should have my English Level 2 in a month or so.

A few lads that I know had to get theirs maths or English up too, and they were advised not to retake GCSE's as they're a waste of time, rather more, do the 10-12 week Level 2 courses as they're far quicker.

 

[Tesla1980]

Dont bother trying to become electrician market is flooded with polish and eastern european cowboys get a job in tesco you will be paid the same or try and leave the country

 

[Rockstar94]

Good luck to you mate for wanting to do a proper apprenticeship. You will be a better sparks for it. Hope it all works out, you seem really driven

 

[LukeS3]

Dont bother trying to become electrician market is flooded with polish and eastern european cowboys get a job in tesco you will be paid the same or try and leave the country

Hmmm... that doesn't sound too good :/

 

[markc123]

Basically, the trade is full of every tom, dick & harry. You get the proper qualifications and understanding of the trade backed up with experience you can make a bob or 2 putting other peoples work right.

 

[alboh]

With an apprentiship these days you do a thing called key skills!! Maths, English etc so grades are not everything. I had crap grades and still got an apprentiship but did key skills also. Just enquire with your local college

 

[Tesla1980]

it's the truth though mate to many foreign workers here working for peanuts until we leave europe it wont get better good luck though

 

[LukeS3]

it's the truth though mate to many foreign workers here working for peanuts until we leave europe it wont get better good luck though

Thanks.

At this current moment in time, I'm out of work due to being laid off from my job of just over 2 years in retail which I friggin' hate with passion.

Therefore, I am now on JSA and although I know it's okay as I have reason to be claiming due to being laid off, but I feel like a useless so and so and boredom is slowly becoming a problem.

I am definitely set on training to be an electrician as in time when I become qualified, I will be working in the family business.

Another question;

What are some good routes to take considering I'm now on JSA?

I have been looking around and come across NCS. I requested their Electrician Information Pack and received it today through the post and it sounds pretty good and most of the reviews seem somewhat decent.

 

[Tesla1980]

Go do a one day a week proper course at college and get a job as a electricians mate now your signed on the learning support fund will pay 75% or more towards your course cost get your wiring regs done too now your signed on 17th edition (BS7671) and CSCS or ECS card if you can as a electrical labourer.

The books are expensive be warned but you can get help from college with funds

Now your puuting the biro on the giro is a perfect time to enrol for september do not what so ever get on one of these courses that promise the earth for thousands of £££££££££ not worth it mate normal college will be far better let these words sink in slow and steady it will take years to get fully qualified not 6 months.

you can do 16hrs a week at college and still get JSA while your looking for work you can't do anymore you will lose benefit entitelement.

And regarding maths and english you do a exam to get into college to see where your at and they can help you with these subjects if they need improving. Your maths needs to be good as there is alot of it in the theory so maybe a eveing course at college or a tutor for a couple of hours a week not as expensive as you might think or re sit your maths gcse ?

I hope this helps you.

ps : get a college prospectus ASAP go talk to some tutors and get your foot in the door for september.