any use in looking for an employer to put me through the NVQ?

[swaRRR]

How do the find the teaching aspect of it?

Poor, both at work and college. At work as soon as they can see you're OK at taking instruction they leave you to do work alone.

At college they didn't know anything about the practical side of the job.

Did you need a full set of tools?

You'll need all the basic handtools and some powertools.

I'd say the must haves are:

1. Voltage test leads, up to 400v. Essential.
2. Hand drivers, PZ, PH, slotted of various sizes.
3. Tape, knife.
4. Side cutters.
5. Needle nose pliers.
6. File.
7. Hacksaw.

Also are you looking to go an an adult evening course? As I was hoping to do the apprenticeship so I wouldn't have to pay

Nah, they're too expensive and lead to little real-world knowledge or experience.

I'm gearing up for my 2391 and then i'm gonna do my Experienced Worker NVQ.

 

[C_1993]

Poor, both at work and college. At work as soon as they can see you're OK at taking instruction they leave you to do work alone.

At college they didn't know anything about the practical side of the job.

You'll need all the basic handtools and some powertools.

I'd say the must haves are:

1. Voltage test leads, up to 400v. Essential.
2. Hand drivers, PZ, PH, slotted of various sizes.
3. Tape, knife.
4. Side cutters.
5. Needle nose pliers.
6. File.
7. Hacksaw.

Nah, they're too expensive and lead to little real-world knowledge or experience.

I'm gearing up for my 2391 and then i'm gonna do my Experienced Worker NVQ.

So the learning aspect as a mate in not that good so I'm assuming I would have to learn quick from who ever I'm working. So are you telling me it is not worth doing a level 2 and 3 course? As I thought you would have to do this then the nvq and then the am2 to be fully qualified then I can get a gold card?

 

[swaRRR]

So the learning aspect as a mate in not that good so I'm assuming I would have to learn quick from who ever I'm working. So are you telling me it is not worth doing a level 2 and 3 course? As I thought you would have to do this then the nvq and then the am2 to be fully qualified then I can get a gold card?

If you've not got 5 years experience you need a Level 3 to be able to go onto NVQ. If you have you can get it without the Level 3.

In my opinion the Level 3 is a waste of money UNLESS it's going to get your your NVQ quicker.

 

[Lister1987]

You still have to go to college whether you are switching over or not though.

I don't see the point of going and doing an apprenticeship for poor money when you already hold the qualification that apprentices get after 2 years at college and you have good experience in the industrial sector.

It would be an apprenticeship in name only because it would be obvious you never did a real one - how long would this 'apprenticeship' even last in such a circumstance? You come in with Level 3, do 6 months on site to get your NVQ completed and now suddenly you 'did an apprenticeship'? I don't see how that would stack up for employers. It would mean you could do a 6 week course then spend 6 months getting a portfolio done whilst working under a company saying you did an apprenticeship and get the same as someone who did day release for 4 years.

Or do you still have to do the 4 years but on site? I know my apprenticeship dictated a minimum of 42 months.

Either way, it's less money, no prestige, time sink...seems pointless.

A much, much better way is to go on and get work as an improver. FWIW, i'm an 'improver' because i don't have my NVQ and i'm on more than a lot of sparks i know. Taking a pay cut for an 'apprenticeship' makes no sense - we go to work for money and i'm already on what a lot of electricians are on and more, so why take that backwards step when i can be out right now grafting for decent money? Ditching my apprenticeship that i was being paid slave wages for was the best thing i ever did, especially since you get taught by muppets most of the time, if they even bother to teach you anything at all.

The only real selling point is that with the level 2 (behind you/in your pocket) you effectively bypass the apprenticeship wage and start on NLW for your age bracket, the biggest drawback is the uptake for those wanting to 'flip' is poor as employers want the levies and the year of cheaper labour, not that I'm a cynic.

 

[davesparks]

Poor, both at work and college. At work as soon as they can see you're OK at taking instruction they leave you to do work alone.

It's a shame you've had a bad experience but please don't tar us all with the same brush, some of us do our best to help and support people who are learning.

At college they didn't know anything about the practical side of the job.

The college side isn't there to teach practical skills, it is there to teach theory, science and regulations.

 

[swaRRR]

It's a shame you've had a bad experience but please don't tar us all with the same brush, some of us do our best to help and support people who are learning.

He asked how i found it so i gave my personal experience.

The college side isn't there to teach practical skills, it is there to teach theory, science and regulations.

I didn't say they were there to teach it, i said they didn't know anything about it. They would make statements about what you were and weren't allowed to do on site which were often wrong. One guy was convinced you weren't allowed to screw into steel beams because it would 'weaken' them and therefore you were never allowed to run cabling of any sort down anything but unistrut. The lads who were working knew he was full of it, but the college kids fresh out of school were being taught nonsense.

Also the science and theory isn't taught on a practical basis. They don't teach you how to apply the knowledge to make sensible choices at work, they teach it you from a purely book perspective. I passed science and principles but i'm fairly certain i'm never going to need to calculate the effect gravity is having on a load being moved to top scaffolding lifts via a stacker truck motor.

 

[Aaron b]

In my opinion the Level 3 is a waste of money UNLESS it's going to get your your NVQ quicker.

2391 and then i'm gonna do my Experienced Worker NVQ.

I'm pretty sure you need technical qualifications such as the City & Guilds 2360, 2351, 2330 or 2365 before you can enroll on the 2346 course.

 

[davesparks]

They would make statements about what you were and weren't allowed to do on site which were often wrong. One guy was convinced you weren't allowed to screw into steel beams because it would 'weaken' them and therefore you were never allowed to run cabling of any sort down anything but unistrut.

Obviously he is partially correct as you cannot just drill or screw into a steel beam anywhere you like, and holes in the wrong place in a steel beam can weaken it or start cracks.

 

[swaRRR]

I'm pretty sure you need technical qualifications such as the City & Guilds 2360, 2351, 2330 or 2365 before you can enroll on the 2346 course.

You need 5 years experience and you have to pass a skills scan and have your 18th edition and 2391-50 before the end of the NVQ for it to be signed off.

 

[Aaron b]

You need 5 years experience and you have to pass a skills scan and have your 18th edition and 2391-50 before the end of the NVQ for it to be signed off.

Perhaps you will blag that too but NET requires a level 2 or 3 qualification. You can't complete the 2346 without an AM2E.