Hi Alan,
You sound very determined mate so i am sure something will turn up soon and i hope whatever you are doing it doesnt stop you from finishing your quals
I am in a similar predicament I never completed my apprenticeship at 16 yr old to my regret
I have bee involved with electrical installation on and off for 24 yrs. I have tried many times over the years to either get back on a apprentice type course but have always been told that i was either to old or there was no training available
My partner was left disabled after a operation in 2005 so she had to give up work and i also had to, and then become her carer
I asked again many times at jobcentre was there anyway i could get training help finding work etc which there reply was as i am a carer i am no classed as unemployed and i am exempt from having to look for work, and as a result there is no help for me whatsoever
SO after looking around at what courses i could do the only route for me to get some electrical qualifications was to pay over £4000 to do a private trainig course
I did this course to enable me to set up self employed
and after completing it i again returned to jobcentre to try and get help with starting up and again the answer is no. I said surely its better to give a little help so i can work from home Instead of having to rely on benefits for the rest of our working lives ,I am 40 my partner is almost 39 and 2 kids. I want to go self employed so i can still be there if needed for my partner as my daughters are older and would be able to take over the carers role, I have contacted Business link for help who say see jobcentre i spent almost 6 months going from one to the other asked again about training,
It took them six months just to tell me what benefits i would lose if i set up but the work didnt come in because of economic situation
I contacted a firm called INBIZ who help with start up but again as i wasnt on JSA for six months i am not eligible for help but managed to get a half hour with the advisor who told me basicaly what was needed to go self employed
I then tried to seek employment but as i have limited qualifications not had any luck yet
so i paid again to go and do the 2391 even though i am not working so had to study a lot for this I got half paid by the college which was a relief
I then was told the 2330 was ending so i tried to get on the level 3 but all the colleges local to me are already full
so ive missed out or pay £6000 to do it private?
I was told of my tutor at bury colege all i needed was the NVQ 2356 but they are not taking new candidates because of the change also i have to be working to complete it tried various other colleges and private providers
I have contacted C&G but they are unhelpful and just say to contact a local centre which i already have
So now my only option is to register with elecsa do the jobs for the assessment notifying labc first and paying for pli, the registration fee and any other cost to set up with no help from any governing body
Hopefully pass the assessment and the set up self employed
Then try to register for the 2356 before the end date or I will have to do the full 2357 when it comes in
as i only have 2382-10, 2391-10, 2377, 2393 and a logic part p electrical full scope level A and defined scopes levels B,C
I have found not much help or much advice from anyone except off the forum The only organization i have found may help is a firm called Blue orchid who will help with start up and because we live in a former coalfield area i may get a grant. But this was before the Torys got in now I am not sure the help or Grants are still available so have to sort this out again to see
Keep your chin up mate i am sure it will work out for you
dont let the system beat you mate
I hope your luck changes for the better soon
