Career change to electrician in late 40's ?

[Jon48]

Hi all, I know this has been touched upon many times before but I need some advice tailored to my situation.

So I’ve enrolled on a City and Guilds NVQ level 2 Electrical Installation Course at my local college near Cardiff with the intention of possibly retraining to become an electrician; I’ve done some minor electrical work at home before and have, over the past year, become more interested in electrics, I'd like to maybe do something on the solar side of things. At the moment I’m a freelance community arts worker and have, in the past been a school teacher.

So the big issue is that I’m in my late 40s, yes I know, I’m getting on. The college seem fine with this but have pointed out that I may have problems finding someone to take me on to complete the qualifications further down the line; I don’t really have any contacts in the industry either.

So my dilemma, with the course starting in September, is- would I be wasting my time doing this course; am I being totally unrealistic about my becoming an electrician at my ripe old age?, obviously I can't afford to be wasting 2 years with no opportunity to progress after that.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[rolyberkin]

Just be aware that the streets aren't paved with gold and that you are likely to work long hours and then do certs, accounts etc etc at the end of the day way into the evening if you are looking to be self employed. I am now doing more and more general building and maintenance as it is more lucrative and in most ways a path of least resistance with less paperwork. There is electrical work out there but people will not be knocking at your door!

 

[Jon48]

Cheers for all the replies everyone, good advice and food for thought.

 

[sham]

Just be aware that the streets aren't paved with gold and that you are likely to work long hours and then do certs, accounts etc etc at the end of the day way into the evening if you are looking to be self employed. I am now doing more and more general building and maintenance as it is more lucrative and in most ways a path of least resistance with less paperwork. There is electrical work out there but people will not be knocking at your door!

Forgot to mention, the stress and headache of how these business men know the tricks about delaying payments and in some cases how to get away without paying.

 

[Noaksie]

Go for it if your keen which you seem to be you will get there Being a sparks isn't glamorous however it's kept me working for the last 36 years. Good on you for giving it a good

 

[Edtwozeronine]

I'm pretty much in the same boat, almost 40 just finished my 3rd year of a city and guilds. I know nobody currently in the trade, talk about it's not what you know it's who you know.

I noted that Big Clive (YouTuber) said that if you want to become an electrician these days you just pay napit or nicec and do their courses. He also mentioned they act as government bodies providing quality assurance in the industry but are in fact private companies and nothing more.

 

[Edtwozeronine]

Again thanks for the replies, appreciated. Supply teaching around here pays £85 a day before deducting the up to two 2 hours of travel to any 'challenging' school they ask you to go to; expect to be personally insulted on a regular basis and now and again physically injured; the Welsh Government's preferred supply provider will also hide a 'Swedish Derrogation' clause in your contract which means they can legally flout the agency worker regulations and not give pay parity with other workers doing the same job. This is why teachers in Wales are leaving supply in droves.

What about private tutoring after school hours, my brother's perapatetic music teacher charged £45 an hour lesson and he usually got paid in cash and I doubt our household was the only one he visited of an evening.