becoming a sparky...

[chrisgnewton]

Hi guys, i am 25yrs old and have been concidering becoming a sparky for some time now and have now decided its time to do something about it, i currently work in a factory doing shift work and have a flat and car to pay for so finding it hard to be able to get to college, work and pay my bills.

I was just wondering if anyone knows of any good home learning/colleges,courses to look at doing etc?
or if anyone fancies a hard working, extriemly enthusiastic person who is desprate to learn the trade in the Leeds/Harrogate area

any help would be greatly appreciated

Many Thanks

Chris

 

[trev]

It's difficult to advise someone in your position mate, when there's bills to pay you need an income (as you know)
Things are tough out there in electric land and are probably going to get tougher in the short term. Being an old stick in the mud I'd advise you to steer clear of the "WE wil make you a sparky in a few weeks" courses, they will releive you of boatloads of cash and not give you anything really worthwhile in return (although some would argue with me on that point) as employers will probably not take much notice of you with those quals.
Best advice is to take a trip down to your local college and ask them how to enrol on City and Guilds 2330 and how much it will cost you. This route will take a hell of a lot longer but will be better for you in the long run.
Good luck mate

 

[Top Cat]

It's difficult to advise someone in your position mate, when there's bills to pay you need an income (as you know)
Things are tough out there in electric land and are probably going to get tougher in the short term. Being an old stick in the mud I'd advise you to steer clear of the "WE wil make you a sparky in a few weeks" courses, they will releive you of boatloads of cash and not give you anything really worthwhile in return (although some would argue with me on that point) as employers will probably not take much notice of you with those quals.
Best advice is to take a trip down to your local college and ask them how to enrol on City and Guilds 2330 and how much it will cost you. This route will take a hell of a lot longer but will be better for you in the long run.
Good luck mate

Good advice!

 

[Guitarist]

Being an electrician is a profession.... It's not quick or cheap to become one, regardless of what you may have been told. Most of us did a 4 year apprenticeship, along with day-release at College and lots of hands-on experience. Please don't go down the route of learning at home, taking a few exams and then go self-employed.... you will flounder.
My advice is to find a firm who will take you on, or think again.

 

[manda]

Hi Chris. I agree with the guys in that the best route is the college route if you can do it, that's coming from someone who's gone the other route. The home learning is well and good, but having that tutor stood next to you is invaluable. And yes, the home learning route costs a small fortune in comparison to the college route. Also, as stated above, most employers want someone who's gone through the college system. Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

[trev]

College will only be 1/2 nights a week. Mind you there will be a hell of a lot of home study to go with that

 

[oldtimer]

Also traing up in domestic electrics is only the tip of the type of work an electrician does plus dont take this the wrong way but in this current climate a lot of people like yourself are lookng into this and could be fresh meat to these so called training companies who make you feel that they care about you but in reality you are their cash cow so take care

 

[Guitarist]

Totally agree with oldtimer. I know that electrics looks easy.... pull a few wires in and connect up a CU, but I promise you, there is an awful lot to learn. These training schemes make out that in a few weeks you will have a qualification which is your key to big money and success. There is a good reason we have apprenticeships.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep I served my time as an industrial commercial spark never touched a house except for family I then moved on to alarms then HVAC BMS controls then Facilities maintenance and now small electrical repairs self employed and no I am not boasting as after 36 year every day is a school day and I am still sitting exams ie 14,15,16,17th editions I&T , 2377 II&TEE H&S

 

[Guitarist]

I just really can't see how a person can even learn how to use a set of tools properly in a few weeks, let alone electrical theory and application. When I think about how many mistakes I made on the tools during my apprenticeship (and still do from time to time if I'm honest), it chills me to the bone to think that guys are let loose in someone's home in a few weeks. I am not getting at anyone who has been told this is ok, but the Government has an awful lot to answer for....

 

[kingeri]

I went the nightschool route at college. It took me three years, but the real key to success is finding a way to get experience. I was lucky cos my dad was a spark up to retirement, so I was able to work with him. Please, please disregard the 5 week courses as even being an option.

 

[Adam W]

It always baffles me as to how to a lot of people doing a proper college course is absolutely out of the question because of other commitments - bills, mortgage, family etc yet their ultimate goal is to give up a steady job to become self-employed with little or no prior experience of what they're trying to do, which seems like a massive gamble.
As much as I enjoyed driving around doing small works I had to give it up to work in a factory doing a semi-electrical job 'to pay the bills'. If I could go back and do it all again, if I was looking at it as an investment in my future, if I were in the position where I couldn't retrain properly because I needed a steady job that badly to pay the bills I would just go straight to doing the factory job without wasting time and money on a half-bottomed attempt at retraining.

Remember to go self-employed you will need to buy tools, van, insurance, scheme membership etc which is a massive outlay, then there is no guarantee that you will get any work at all, which isn't going to pay the bills.
Likewise giving someone else 'a hand' is a nice idea but with no experience they won't want to pay you much more than minimum wage, and they'll want you to work on a casual basis with no sick pay, holiday pay, pension etc so they don't have to pay you when they haven't got much work on, which could be most of the time.
Again, this isn't going to pay the bills.

Welcome to the forum BTW!

 

[Guitarist]

Retraining as an electrician DOES sound like a good idea, you can't deny that

 

[Adam W]

Retraining as an electrician DOES sound like a good idea, you can't deny that

" Oh yeah, that's useful. Good money in that. Yep. ... And plumbers..."

 

[Guitarist]

" Oh yeah, that's useful. Good money in that. Yep. ... And plumbers..."

LOL, you know, whenever I tell someone I'm an electrician, they always say.... "there's good money in that"