Thinking about my future

Post new thread

Discuss Thinking about my future in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

R

Ross1

-
Reaction score
16
Hi All,

Anyone in or been in this situation. Im 44 and been doing mostly domestic (running my own company which is now a one man band). My body is starting to struggle with arthritis, I know that 5 years from now I wont be able to be doing this working up your own arse domestic stuff.
I dont know weather to have a complete career change where there is no heavy labour involved, which would mean starting over doing god knows what. Or do i continue for know do my 18th edition update course and do some kind of C&G level 4 course ( not sure what avenues i could study towards?) part time so that I can hopefully land myself a less laborious role in a few years time. Not sure what the hell to do
 
ross so let me by start saying I'm now coming to retirement and is not fast any more ,bones creak like hell in the mornings ,but over time i keep plodding on, wait in five years time before you make a rash decision.
 
@Ross1

buzzlightyear said:
ross so let me by start saying I'm now coming to retirement and is not fast any more ,bones creak like hell in the mornings ,but over time i keep plodding on, wait in five years time before you make a rash decision.
Click to expand...

I agree . Unless you have been medically told that you will not be able to work in five years I would see how you go.
Most people over 40 in manual work are cursed with joint and back problems , it does seem to meet a max out level off .

There is no harm in planning for the future and doing what you are planning , but most of us have felt the way that you do when we feel that time is catching up with us. You are still a young man compared to some of us . Do not be to disheartened.
 
Ross1 said:
Hi All,

Anyone in or been in this situation. Im 44 and been doing mostly domestic (running my own company which is now a one man band). My body is starting to struggle with arthritis, I know that 5 years from now I wont be able to be doing this working up your own arse domestic stuff.
I dont know weather to have a complete career change where there is no heavy labour involved, which would mean starting over doing god knows what. Or do i continue for know do my 18th edition update course and do some kind of C&G level 4 course ( not sure what avenues i could study towards?) part time so that I can hopefully land myself a less laborious role in a few years time. Not sure what the hell to do
Click to expand...
Have you give any thought of getting into teaching, not sure if UK makes you guys go to continuing education every year ?
 
Two avenues spring to mind:
Get training for electric vehicle charge points and get yourself on the installer register. If we believe what we are told, every home will need one.
Or, there’s a squillion Smart meters to install. That must be physically easier work. Don’t know how much it pays though…
 
Near all older sparks that I know or have known employ or use a labourer for most things now.
Im 40 and my back and knees kill me most days , I can barely walk now after an 8 hour day of hard graft.
When I was 21 I would smash out an 8 hour shift on site like it was nothing then go out on the beers all evening. Now i just want to go home and sit down.
Get a young labourer to do all your cable pulling and box chopping etc.
Pay them a decent wedge and they generally are ok
 
Dustydazzler said:
Near all older sparks that I know or have known employ or use a labourer for most things now.
Im 40 and my back and knees kill me most days , I can barely walk now after an 8 hour day of hard graft.
When I was 21 I would smash out an 8 hour shift on site like it was nothing then go out on the beers all evening. Now i just want to go home and sit down.
Get a young labourer to do all your cable pulling and box chopping etc.
Pay them a decent wedge and they generally are ok
Click to expand...
I’m 61 years old and that’s what I do
 
Only you can know what your body can cope with. If you are struggling at 44 then perhaps you should look elseware. I'm 57 and my body aches but I still love crawling all over a gen transformer in the pouring rain.It's all down to what you do or don't enjoy and what you think you can cope with.
 
I'm feeling it now. some mornings the brain says work... the legs and back say stay in bed. Think I'm really getting past 10 hour days. 6 hours ( with maybe 1 hour's driving ) is getting almost too much.
 
Ross1 said:
Hi All,

Anyone in or been in this situation. Im 44 and been doing mostly domestic (running my own company which is now a one man band). My body is starting to struggle with arthritis, I know that 5 years from now I wont be able to be doing this working up your own arse domestic stuff.
I dont know weather to have a complete career change where there is no heavy labour involved, which would mean starting over doing god knows what. Or do i continue for know do my 18th edition update course and do some kind of C&G level 4 course ( not sure what avenues i could study towards?) part time so that I can hopefully land myself a less laborious role in a few years time. Not sure what the hell to do
Click to expand...
1. Keep fit, pilates, yoga, back exercises so that you can work longer.
2. Maybe go part time as an electrician, choose easier jobs and also get another job stacking shelfs, bar work, etc anything easy which will keep you occupied and give you a little cash.
3. Teaching training course so you could teach in a college.
4. Just go to a college and see in what capacity they could use you without qualifications if you don't fancy studying.
5. Re-train in a completely different career.
6. If your kids are old enough and you don't have a wife head off travelling around the world for a year or 2 and see what comes along. If you have a wife, take her!

See it as something exciting, which it probably will be!
 
Ross1 said:
Hi All,

Anyone in or been in this situation. Im 44 and been doing mostly domestic (running my own company which is now a one man band). My body is starting to struggle with arthritis, I know that 5 years from now I wont be able to be doing this working up your own arse domestic stuff.
I dont know weather to have a complete career change where there is no heavy labour involved, which would mean starting over doing god knows what. Or do i continue for know do my 18th edition update course and do some kind of C&G level 4 course ( not sure what avenues i could study towards?) part time so that I can hopefully land myself a less laborious role in a few years time. Not sure what the hell to do
Click to expand...
Get into maintenance, easy life
 
Whilst I was working for myself, I also mixed in testing for councils and housing associations
As you know its hardly back breaking work and always seems to be available. Ruston stated,you can't be sure of whats to come, you may be being pessimistic,there are sectors that don't require house bashing fitness and the work can also be more satisfying on occasion
 
Cbuk2k2 said:
I think most colleges these days would require a degree/PGCE in order to be a lecturer.

Have you considered taking one some guys to share your knowledge with who can also pick up some of the heavy work?
Click to expand...
Yeah, you can't just let any grizzly arsed spark start lecturing.

I believe the minimum is a HND.
 
Megawatt said:
I worked maintenance for 11 years and it wasn’t that bad some days you didn’t do hardly nothing but some days you wouldn’t even get a break
Click to expand...

My son works electrical maintenance at the airport on the night shift and there main job is working on runway lights
 
Part of my apprenticeship was with a maintenance company doing massive office blocks.
Pretty nice work Imo , lots of moving lights about and re routing cables , changing lamps etc.
Generally clean work
 
When in he RAF the airfield identification beacon with its 3 ft square box of tricks was a joy to repair,the air traffic control people would send a chauffeur driven vehicle to come and collect me with my specialist tool set,oh alright it was just a hammer.
One heavy thump on the top right hand side would see it well serviced and operational for the next few weeks,it surely was energy sapping work that's for sure
 
Paignton pete said:
47 years old and yes I’m planning now.

I’ve got my house paid for a rental house nearly paid for and about to buy another.

The plan all 3 houses paid for within 8 years. Semi retire at 55 working 2 evenings a week at lidl maybe if there rates of pay are as good ais s claimed.
Click to expand...
I think the pay is good because the staff are thin on the ground and do everything . They work hard for their money.
 
I did some work air side at Heatrow a few years ago, we all had to get out of the van and go through a airport style security with a metal detector. I had an adjustable in the pocket of my coveralls.
rapparee said:
Yeah, you can't just let any grizzly arsed spark start lecturing.

I believe the minimum is a HND.
Click to expand...

Teaching people is a trade/craft in it’s own right. Being a first rate crafts person doesn’t necessarily mean you are good at imparting those years of wisdom to others. Not a bad screw lecturing though.
 
@Ross1 I was in a similar boat but slightly older. I did domestic work for about 5 years; and it did me in. Crawling around in loft spaces, going up & down stairs, etc etc.

The decision to jack it in was made for me by circumstances. Had an enforced summer holiday, but found myself a maintenance job (funnily enough). The money there is not brill, but then I have a pension.

You still quite young, but I feel a change in career is on the cards. Think hard & long; I do miss the freedom self employment brings.
 
Yes agreed, the years in this industry takes its toll on your knees and back. I am 55yrs old had yet another spell with my back 5 weeks ago, crawling to the bath room in mornings the pain was agony, holding onto furniture to get around.Having sessions with an osteopath, which has got me mobile again.I cannot see myself doing this job in 5years time.

The governments attitude is retrain and do something else, easy said than done.!! :(
 
KennyKen said:
Was in the Mining industry, Iron Ore, Gold
Aluminium. Now working in the Oil & Gas game. Was Onshore now Offshore on Rigs working on Gas/Liquid fuel Turbines
Click to expand...

What sort of turbines are you working on?

I did a load of commissioning/FAT/SAT work for a controls upgrade on some Siemens machines last year, It was quite interesting, had all the compressor controls built into the TCM.
 
New posts

Reply to Thinking about my future in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

Similar Threads

P
UK Looking for testing experience (unpaid) East London and surrounding areas
Hello fellow sparks, I’m looking to do my testing and inspection course which starts on the 30th of April, but I have not got much testing...
Replies
0
Views
281
ppelec100
P
C
Advice needed for Starting up
Hello all, First of all I apologise if this is in the wrong forum, I figured the general forum may be the best bet :) Thank you for taking...
Replies
3
Views
592
caffienatedsparks
C
R
Advice to go self employed now ive complete my AM2S
Completed my AM2s start of this year. My whole career plan is to run my own company/sole trader. Be my own boss basically. I always get asked...
Replies
14
Views
809
Dustydazzler
D
AngelLaHash
UK Qualifications: CV
Does anyone else get emails and phone calls from companies and agencies say we seen your CV and we want you to apply for our job. And when you...
Replies
4
Views
666
Dave5678
D
Lost Girlfriend
UK Gift ideas for my boyfriend
Hi All, My boyfriend is about to start training soon and I'd really like to get him a gift to show how proud I am of him. I'd like the gift to be...
    • Like
Replies
43
Views
3K
pc1966
P

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

YOUR Unread Posts

Tags

advice aus cable circuit course earth electric electrical electrician hello led light lighting lights looking new please question rcd socket supply switch testing training wiring
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by untold.media Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock