Becoming an Electrician at 21 - Apprenticeship or College?

[Alex92]

Hi, first post here.

I'm wanting to get into the trade and was wondering what the best and fastest route would be at my age?

I would prefer getting an Apprenticeship as this allows me to earn whilst I get the qualifications but I have been told the majority of employers have preference to school leavers as they can pay them less.

It would be much appreciated if I could get some advice and direction from people in the know.

Thanks.

 

[nickblake]

Sorry to say there is no fast route , well not to become a good spark , what you need to do is enroll at college and contact local electrical contractors to see if they need an apprentice or even a laborer it can take years to build up experience and should not be rushed the best way to learn is by gaining experience ,good luck .

 

[shanky887614]

Wait till you can find someone local and then they will enroll you on the 2357 diploma course (make sure to get city and guild course)

The other isnt as reconised by the industry

 

[pcam1984]

The company i'm with prefer to take on older apprentices rather than school leavers. A few of the colleges up here do a pre apprentice course, it's like a taster course and shows basic electrics and various different tools that are used, it basically means that when you start you have some idea of whats going on. They prefer older apprentices because they have made a decision to do yhe job rather than just jumping in to get out of school and are not really interested. It also shows that you are looking to the long term by taking reduced wages knowing that they will get better. Don't let anyone put you off just because you are a bit older! Full apprenticeship is the only way to go, its the only route to gain the proper knowledge and any respect thats left in the trade. Hope you get something, good luck!

 

[Alex92]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

 

[VintageGt]

10 years ago I was in the pub game and hated it, decided to get out. At 30 years old I (luckily!) got a start as a labourer for a local company, erolled in college 2 nights a week for 3 years and got my head down and got on with it. It was very difficult at times, loads to learn and take in and hard to drop down to minumum wage with guys 10 years my junior telling me what to do, giving me all the jobs nobody wants - chasing out 8 hours a day, crawling through loft insulation etc etc but I got on with it as I wanted to learn, the hard way if need be.To cut a long story short, I never failed an exam in my C+G 2330, went onto get my 17th ed, NVQ 3 and 2391 inspection and test, CSCS gold card, NICEIC registered supervisor and, most importantly, I've now got 10 years 'hands on' experience.Point being, that expericnce is what makes a spark, college gives you around 10% of what you need, pieces of paper. The rest is learnt by simply doing, not studying.I'm now a mechanical and electrical facilities manager for an international company and have never looked back.Go for your goals my friend and don't be disheartened by anyone elses tales of failure and dispondency, one thing I've learnt is if you really WANT to succeed you will shine through the chaff and get to where you want to be.Best of luck.

 

[jimmymac]

Are you in England/Wales or Scotland?

 

[Alex92]

Are you in England/Wales or Scotland?

England mate, North West.

 

[jimmymac]

Sorry, in that case I can't offer you any advice except have a look at the JIB website, you may find something of interest there The JIB further education (FE) fund

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Hi, first post here.

I'm wanting to get into the trade and was wondering what the best and fastest route would be at my age?

I would prefer getting an Apprenticeship as this allows me to earn whilst I get the qualifications but I have been told the majority of employers have preference to school leavers as they can pay them less.

It would be much appreciated if I could get some advice and direction from people in the know.

Thanks.

You are getting some bum advice on this one.

Go to the local colleges, and also look for other local training providers who recruit apprentices for their member companies. There is more than one way to become an apprentice trained electrician or electrical engineer, and city and guilds is not the be all and and all. It doesnt matter who you do your apprenticeship with, be it City and Guilds, EAL or any of the other awarding bodies, it is SASE who will issue your Apprenticeship certificate on completion.

Usually for your age the cost of this is what is known as co-funded, the government pays half, and your employer pays half, once you get over 24 then the company has to pay for the lot.

Most good companies these days see an Apprentice as an asset and are prepared to invest in the right person, so avoid those who only want cheap labour. A decent training provider shuold be able to help you find work. search for Group Training associations in your area, i think training 2000 are one of them.

Cheers..................Howard

 

[urbanmonkey]

I started at 22, got offered a job labouring, doing tray work, carting unistrut up stairs, pulling cables, that sort of thing. Worked with some good guys and got gradually given more and more responsibility, got taken on as a mate, went to college evenings, kept my head down and always asked what and why I was doing something to try and gain as much understanding, I was doing the work on site of a 'proper' spark long before I finished college and now run my own company and have an apprentice, I tell him to always try and keep improving your skills and learn as much as you can. The best route to becoming a good and trusted electrician is experience and knowledge, focus on that and the qualifications come easy, I've worked with guys who had it all on paper but I wouldn't trust them to wire a plug, if you are keen to learn you will go far.

 

[jimmymac]

You are getting some bum advice on this one.

Go to the local colleges, and also look for other local training providers who recruit apprentices for their member companies. There is more than one way to become an apprentice trained electrician or electrical engineer, and city and guilds is not the be all and and all. It doesnt matter who you do your apprenticeship with, be it City and Guilds, EAL or any of the other awarding bodies, it is SASE who will issue your Apprenticeship certificate on completion.

Usually for your age the cost of this is what is known as co-funded, the government pays half, and your employer pays half, once you get over 24 then the company has to pay for the lot.

Most good companies these days see an Apprentice as an asset and are prepared to invest in the right person, so avoid those who only want cheap labour. A decent training provider shuold be able to help you find work. search for Group Training associations in your area, i think training 2000 are one of them.

Cheers..................Howard

Hi Howard, that is the exact reason why I was asking where the OP was located. In Scotland we have SECCT who deal with this type of thing. They supply funding to employees and employers and have been known to provide placements for apprentices. I was unaware of how it worked in England, I thought the JIB might have something to do with it. Well done for your accurate info yet again!