Is anyone else having trouble finding people to work?

[Rockingit]

Out of all us full-time S.E. sparks, I just wondered if I'm alone in not being able to find some decent short-term labour? Having done the usual asks with the wholesalers, an ad on here, an ad via the Job Centre and after two weeks not a single enquiry. So the economy is clearly that good again, yes?

Chatting to one wholesaler this morning and he was saying that several other sparks in my area have been asking the same question - we're all ramped and need help but no takers. Is this the same elsewhere??

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I'd suggest using Agencies.

 

[Des 56]

several other sparks in my area have been asking the same question - we're all ramped and need help but no takers. Is this the same elsewhere??

I never realised that English was understood on other planets

Only joking Rock

 

[Rockingit]

I'd suggest using Agencies.

I might have to at this rate!!

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I might have to at this rate!!

Are you looking for sparks, mates or labourers?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Forget an agency mate....all they will do is provide you with1 unsuitable bloke after another until by chance they hit on the right one....and charge you loads for it.
It all depends on if your prepared to commit for the longer term to a potential employee? Dont forget the colleges have just started the academic year and I can guarentee you will find someone willing to learn and reliable there...........

 

[Welchyboy]

Thats the trouble, not neccesesarily finding someone but finding someone half decent, (not even electrically skilled just someone with the right attitude!) dont even bother with the agencies they are normally full of clowns,

as said above the colleges do training schemes round my way where they actually pay you to take on a trainee from the college, you can pay the trainee if you like but its more for his experience, and if you dont like him just return him and pick someone else, if you have got an apprentice in mind that is?

 

[alarm man]

Thats the trouble, not neccesesarily finding someone but finding someone half decent, (not even electrically skilled just someone with the right attitude!) dont even bother with the agencies they are normally full of clowns,

as said above the colleges do training schemes round my way where they actually pay you to take on a trainee from the college, you can pay the trainee if you like but its more for his experience, and if you dont like him just return him and pick someone else, if you have got an apprentice in mind that is?

that sounds like a dog shelter for young sparks,why not take someone on and train him send him to college etc.. hopefully you will end up with a well trained loyal spark to work along side,a spark is for life,not just for christmas.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Out of all us full-time S.E. sparks, I just wondered if I'm alone in not being able to find some decent short-term labour? Having done the usual asks with the wholesalers, an ad on here, an ad via the Job Centre and after two weeks not a single enquiry. So the economy is clearly that good again, yes?

Chatting to one wholesaler this morning and he was saying that several other sparks in my area have been asking the same question - we're all ramped and need help but no takers. Is this the same elsewhere??

Where are you based? I'm in Bristol. Are you looking for just a labourer/mate or are you looking for a competent reliable person to work alongside you as and when required?

I'm self employed, have my own van and tools (including test equipment) recently passed my Elecsa assessment and two years experience whilst studying:thumbsup

 

[Octopus]

The training centres are "pumping" out people on a regular basis, why not approach one or two and see if they have any flexible, eager workers available!!!

 

[1shortcircuit]

The training centres are "pumping" out people on a regular basis, why not approach one or two and see if they have any flexible, eager workers available!!!

I know New Career Skills in Southampton have a "Access" programme which tries to encourage local sparks to assist with helping new candidates acquire in field experience:thumbsup

 

[Adam W]

I don't see how you're any more likely to get someone 'decent' from a jobcentre than an agency.
Consider what kind of personal circumstances a competent, reliable person would need to be in to want to and be able to do a few casual days here and there.
Yes there are a lot of clowns working for agencies, many do it because they can't get a company to employ them because they're rubbish.

If you want someone "good" you have the option of either taking someone on full time and moulding them into your ideal worker, or trying agency workers until you find one you like, but in either case they're unlikely to want to wait around for you if you haven't got any work for them - they'll go elsewhere, perhaps permanently.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

that sounds like a dog shelter for young sparks,why not take someone on and train him send him to college etc.. hopefully you will end up with a well trained loyal spark to work along side,a spark is for life,not just for christmas.

Woof Woof!!!

 

[alarm man]

The training centres are "pumping" out people on a regular basis, why not approach one or two and see if they have any flexible, eager workers available!!!

which adds to the problems we have,we dont need a conveyor belt of half baked sparks who have been relived of their money shall we say,we need real apprenticeships and real training in the classroom and on site.

 

[Octopus]

which adds to the problems we have,we dont need a conveyor belt of half baked sparks who have been relived of their money shall we say,we need real apprenticeships and real training in the classroom and on site.

With attitudes like this how on earth do you expect these chaps and chapesses to gain some good experience???

These schemes are here to stay, sure they need to be "improved" but don't you think that some of the people coming out of them will have the right attitude, and aptitude to become good sparks?

 

[alarm man]

With attitudes like this how on earth do you expect these chaps and chapesses to gain some good experience???

These schemes are here to stay, sure they need to be "improved" but don't you think that some of the people coming out of them will have the right attitude, and aptitude to become good sparks?

i dont see it as bad attitude,i can get angry at people spending thousands of pounds which they may or may not have on false promises of 50k wages and loads of work,it wont happen,blame the bad attitude on these training centres and agencys and companies who want sparks to pay to play instead of training sparks themselves,surely thats a fair system

 

[Engineer54]

I think if i was in that position, i would make the effort to go and talk to the tutors at the local collage. They would be the people to ask for a recommendation on which of their students, would make a good investment to your business in exchange for good on the job training and experience.... Plus a little remuneration for the help they will give you!!! lol!!!

 

[Rockingit]

This has turned into a really interesting thread, lots of people with clearly different experiences but also a main theme - if you want a job doing properly, do it yourself!!

I'm all up for doing a proper apprenticeship for the right young person, the issue there is starting with the right person - you need someone with common sense and a decent work attitude to begin with. So it's difficult to make the judgement call.

Then there are the guys already on college courses who need work experience - same thing applies, but you only see them a day or so a week by which time they've forgotten everything you taught them.

Then there are the 'aspiring grown ups' and whether it's fair or not there's always that thought that they might try to walk off with your clients.

And unless you can guarantee you've got a full diary for the un-forseeable future then it's just not fair to take on people properly as qualified sparks on the books.

So the bloke on his own (like me) is always likely to take the path of least grief - you work twice as hard on your own whilst whinging about the people with no experience under-cutting you because they've got £8k stacked on a credit card after paying for their quals.

Meanwhile.... I'm still trying to find someone for an honest week or so of hard graft in the rain.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Hold up, you never mentioned it would be in the rain.
Will you be providing wet weather gear?

 

[Rockingit]

Well it depends on how fast they are dragging the SWA through the mud first as to how quick they can get going with all the hidden security lighting in the forest undergrowth. Once that's done, then they can start first fixing in the freezing cold. But it's dry at that point.

What?? Am I not selling it properly??

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I think you may have to brush up on your salesman skills, or failing that just lie.

 

[brucelee]

Lol rain or not somerset is a little to far for I which is a shame as i would be willing mate maybe someone else closer will turn up

Good luck and Good on ya for giving someone a chance

there are loads on Lv3 course I am doing who are in need of work so Engineer is on the right track however as for real class experience errrrmmm This college course isnt as good as any of the courses I have done Private training providers or college for 2391

My Apprenticeship at 16 had a lot more science ,Maths and most of all practical training as well as 4 week block of work on site then 6 at college
whereas it seems all that happens on Lv3 is half dont turn up and Lv3 is taught by given print outs for the different units and outcomes with very little writing or maths and even less practical and was told lV2 is the same

There should be 1 set of quals for all and it shouldnt cost you the earth to do them like the Private ones and now it seems the colleges are playing catch upon course fees and they are on the rise But the qualifcation isnt

Anyway happy Hunting Rocking it and you would probably teach them more than the colleges or training providers ever could

 

[Rockingit]

I think you may have to rush up on your salesman skills, or failing that just lie.

Oh, oh yes, of course:
Wanted - Are you in the peak of physical prime? Want to prove your dedication? Have you previously practised being a duck? If so, then call now for immediate on-site week long free trial.

Any better?

 

[i=p/u]

you and madmac been kissing and whispering again im free if you pay me flights for wife to be and kids

which adds to the problems we have,we dont need a conveyor belt of half baked sparks who have been relived of their money shall we say,we need real apprenticeships and real training in the classroom and on site.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Oh, oh yes, of course:
Wanted - Are you in the peak of physical prime? Want to prove your dedication? Have you previously practised being a duck? If so, then call now for immediate on-site week long free trial.

Any better?

Now you're begining to sound like an advert for the Army.
I once worked for someone through an Agency. After three days he asked if I would be willing to work direct.
I made the mistake of saying 'yes', to which he replied that he would inform the Agency that I had only worked there for the one day.
The reason it was a mistake, is because he wanted to pay me 30 days after I submitted my invoice, and he was not paying any more than the Agency.
The Agency would have paid me each friday a week in arrears.
As that was the third time I had been messed about when going direct, I then decided not to bother again, and to stick to Agencies.
Not that the Agencies won't mess you about.

 

[Rockingit]

Having a serious moment; I think I actually may just get an agency bod or two to break the back of what I need to happen. There are 2 or 3 guys I know that I would normally use but they're all busy at the moment.

But cutting back to the original post, I'm just amazed and disappointed that at a time when we're told that things are so bad and people are out of work etc, that you offer around some work and for respectable money, and nobody seems interested.

 

[i=p/u]

well i cant get out with somone at moment but do have few jobs lined up i even put them off to friday just to talk about them. id accept £6ph off somone if were local..... there loss

 

[Adam W]

Having a serious moment; I think I actually may just get an agency bod or two to break the back of what I need to happen. There are 2 or 3 guys I know that I would normally use but they're all busy at the moment.

But cutting back to the original post, I'm just amazed and disappointed that at a time when we're told that things are so bad and people are out of work etc, that you offer around some work and for respectable money, and nobody seems interested.

What did you expect to happen if you advertised a weeks work in a jobcentre? The people who are going to see that are people who are signing on and would lose their benefits if they work over 14 hours a week, and would then be back to square one with no job having to fill in all the forms and wait 6-8 weeks before they get any money again, including rent.

Agencies on the other hand have electricians and usually other trades on hand who they will call around to fill the position, often at short notice. Some of them might be rubbish, some might leave the job halfway through because they have a longer job coming up, some might be on the phone all the time trying to get their next job, but to a certain degree you have to accept that because if you're not looking out for their next job then it's up to them to make sure their rent/mortgage gets paid and kids fed.

A lot of employers nowadays seem to expect the moon on a stick but aren't prepared to offer much in return, expecting workers to be eternally grateful for a couple of odd days work here and there at a moments notice.

Had you advertised a full time permanent position at JIB rates with van, tools, uniform etc supplied you would have been inundated.

Why don't you try translating your advert into Polish?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

What you can do of course is just drive the van slowly down the road early in the morning and there will be "labourers" waiting for a days graft for sure....whats the goin rate for em now? £30 a day each......:saddam:sama:

 

[tom_one]

Ive just found this website after trying to find work experience through google. Hi Everyone. I noticed this thread and couldnt believe what im reading. Im 22, i decided i wanted to a spark back in summer last year and started applying for apprenticeships. No one was taking anybody on at the time so i paid for the first year of college myself (i was only person on my course without an electricians job). Now ive finished ive started my second year doing 2330 level 3 but had to move colleges as i still cannot find any employment. Ive written to every electrician in my town and the surrounding villages and not one person can offer me anything. Now im being forced to apply to city's away from my home because there is zero oppotunity where i live. If anyone lives near Grantham Lincolnshire PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!

 

[Cj24]

What area are you requiring electricians?

 

[johnboy6083]

i disagree with the agency sparks are rubbish viewpoint. The reason being:- I am one. I dont think im rubbish, and the day i do, i will stop doing it, because thats when i will have lost all enthusiasm, and respect for my trade.

You will get crap sparks in any walk of life, and if your prepared to offer a good rate, and if using an agency, use one that specialises in electrical recruitment, then your more likely to get someone decent. I work through meridian business support, and to be honest, i havent met many crap sparks who have worked for them, and ive done over a year for them now.