Electrician - Where to start?

[Joe Saddigh]

Hi All,

I am 27 years old and currently working as a Software Engineer. It's a pretty good job as it pays quite well (£33k) for my location - South West England - Bournemouth but I really don't have the passion for it and would like to get out of an office. I have always wanted to start my own business and would love to be able to do this as an electrician. It would be amazing to be able to fix my own household problems and family, friends etc. I know that if I could start my own business I would work so hard at it and am not bothered about working weekends etc, although I do have a child so within reason...

For years I have been saying that I wanted to change my career but as I have invested so much time learning IT I have not wanted to start from the beginning again, taking a pay cut, being the new boy etc. I would really like to know a few things and would just appreciate any feedback you guys have because experience is everything!!!

• What is the best way to get started - Apprenticeship, evening course (16 weeks course costs around £6000 and I mean surely you can't be anywhere near ready to start your own business after this), etc etc?
• How long on average until you can start your own business?
• What kind of money can you charge when on your own as an hourly rate?
• What are the main advantages?
• What are the main disadvantages?
• Is the job really back breaking?
• Is it better to get into different areas of electrician instead of domestic etc?

Of course there are too many things to ask but please anything is a start. As I said I have a child but no mortgage as of yet which makes me quite flexibile but this is something I am hoping to get in the next 6 months plus, depending on this decision really. It is more important for me to have a job I enjoy and something that I can branch out on my own doing.

Thanks in advance for any advise, comments, criticism

 

[telectrix]

hate to pi$$ on your fire, but it's the worst time to consider going into the trade. it's on it's arse. the domestic side is cit-throat, and industry will not take anyone on without a full proper apprenticeship. short courses don't cut it in industry. you would be looking at at least 3 years and a load of expensive courses as well as the basics. stick with the IT.

 

[Octopus]

So that's £33k including holiday and sick pay, and no doubt a pension and other things too.

Stay where you are matey

 

[Mark1985]

To give you an idea.. i'm 27 spent 3 years at college doing my city and guilds(funded myself cost about £2000+) only recently got a job as an electricians mate/labourer(through a friend of a friend) i earn £90 a day on a self emplyed basis..i get up at 5am spend an hour an a half getting the train into London, don't get home till half 6 in the evening..theres no real fasttrack to becoming an electrician..If i were you in a steady, fairly well paid job i'd stay there...

 

[jamesBoater]

The 2357 is the course to do, once completed then the 2394 and 2395 would be essential to have under your belt also. Finding an apprenticeship could be tricky and as for the funding side i expect it would be at your own cost due to your age. Best off ringing around and see whats out there. All i know is it was the best decision i ever made.

 

[Johnuk]

well you are on 33k a year so you must have saved up a bit of money to get start doing the 2357 course ?

 

[derek]

Perhaps with your background in IT you should consider something along the lines of BMS or Lutron/Crestron systems for high end (i.e. multi million pound) residential properties, this would allow you to get out of the office and out and about visiting sites for the design and programming stages. It will allow you to jump straight in at a higher wage than an electrician's mate/labourer.

 

[MDJ]

Hi All,

I am 27 years old and currently working as a Software Engineer. It's a pretty good job as it pays quite well (£33k) for my location - South West England - Bournemouth but I really don't have the passion for it and would like to get out of an office. I have always wanted to start my own business and would love to be able to do this as an electrician. It would be amazing to be able to fix my own household problems and family, friends etc. I know that if I could start my own business I would work so hard at it and am not bothered about working weekends etc, although I do have a child so within reason...

For years I have been saying that I wanted to change my career but as I have invested so much time learning IT I have not wanted to start from the beginning again, taking a pay cut, being the new boy etc. I would really like to know a few things and would just appreciate any feedback you guys have because experience is everything!!!

• What is the best way to get started - Apprenticeship, evening course (16 weeks course costs around £6000 and I mean surely you can't be anywhere near ready to start your own business after this), etc etc?
• How long on average until you can start your own business?
• What kind of money can you charge when on your own as an hourly rate?
• What are the main advantages?
• What are the main disadvantages?
• Is the job really back breaking?
• Is it better to get into different areas of electrician instead of domestic etc?

Of course there are too many things to ask but please anything is a start. As I said I have a child but no mortgage as of yet which makes me quite flexibile but this is something I am hoping to get in the next 6 months plus, depending on this decision really. It is more important for me to have a job I enjoy and something that I can branch out on my own doing.

Thanks in advance for any advise, comments, criticism

Wake up FFS, you won't get 33k as a spark and will get dirty installing 1st fix wiring, metal splinters in your hands threading pipe and wooden splinters drilling joists climbing around in lofts, stick with your Job and get a grip man.

 

[Joe Saddigh]

So I'm getting a lot of mixed feedback here. Yes 33K may be hard to gain working for somebody but if you can start your own business and build up a few clients then surely sky is the limit (employ staff to work for you etc)? I mean I know if you get a sparky to come round and look at something they're not going to leave without running you say minimum of £40 call out charge? Not to mention the expense of big jobs like rewiring a house etc? Obviously i'm not in the know so please do shoot me down where I am wrong!

So say I was to do the following courses:

2357 - £6990 - 80 days
2394 - £655 - 4 days
2395 - £655 - 4 days

That's a total of 88 days (not very long!) and £8300. Is this credible? Could you say then spend 2 years working for somebody and then branch out on your own?
How much would somebody pay you after doing these courses?

Thanks again!

 

[Joe Saddigh]

@Mark1985

Hey thanks for the reply. Is this typical arrangement though, I mean your working long hours for somebody else. What's stopping you working for yourself? Do you enjoy the work? Thanks

 

[Andy78]

I would like to become an IT expert as 33k sounds very nice thank you. I reckon a couple of internet based courses should suffice to qualify me in this and I will have learnt everything I could possibly want to know in a few weeks. Does this sound about right to you ?

 

[Joe Saddigh]

Andy78 - No it doesn't and what I am trying to ask is what do you need to get to the point where you can start up your own business and be confident (although new to it) enough? I am not trying to undersell the complexities or the hard work, but get an idea about the length of time it may take and the best path, given my circumstances?

 

[plugsandsparks]

Spent a good chunk of my career in telecoms and IT and i too wanted to run my own business, so understand where you are coming from. Difference though was i left school and went straight into industry who spent their money training me up and letting me work on all sorts of electrical stuff. This is just very hard to do now.

As you are a s/w eng, how much of a leap is it to get competent at networking and then starting your own Data cabling / networking / IT infrastructure business. I have used my IT experience to provide data networking to and including the switch.
Just a thought

 

[Mark1985]

@Mark1985

Hey thanks for the reply. Is this typical arrangement though, I mean your working long hours for somebody else. What's stopping you working for yourself? Do you enjoy the work? Thanks

yeah i enjoy the work, its hard graft at times, you have to go where the work is..i found the hardest part was getting a start with a company.eventually i want to work for myself maybe in a few years when ive gained enough experience in all sectors, theres honestly no quick way, i wouldn't pay £7000 for 80 days training..you'll do it an feel ripped off..best way is get a job as mate/labourer an go to college in the evenings this way you'll eventually become a qualified,experienced electrician .i spent 3 years at college and about a year on an off working on site so far an still don't feel confident enough to work for myself..

 

[Andy78]

Andy78 - No it doesn't and what I am trying to ask is what do you need to get to the point where you can start up your own business and be confident (although new to it) enough? I am not trying to undersell the complexities or the hard work, but get an idea about the length of time it may take and the best path, given my circumstances?

Ok then.
You want to be spending 4 years doing a proper college course while at the same time working on site to get experience. A short course/compressed course will leave you ill prepared and lacking in knowledge and experience to be in any advantageous position in the electrical job market.

Here is a link to the current industry accepted rates of pay so you know what to expect during and after your training. Joint Industry Board

 

[Joe Saddigh]

Thanks guys you have all given me a lot to think about! I need to consider all my options. Cheers, Joe

 

[Phoenix]

Joe, you have to THINK about the training. In IT you will sit in an AC classroom, looking at clean, easy to identify circuits and find faults / test them. In the 'leccy world of short courses you will sit in an AC classroom, looking at clean, easy to identify circuits and find faults / test them. When you are let loose, in the IT world you will be working in a clean environment and things will look very much the same as the classroom. In the world of an electrician you will be looking at a birds nest of wires, not necessarily correctly connected, in the dark whilst bent double. You will then have to convince your customer you are worth more than the guy down the pub and that your rates are reasonable. You will lose many of those jobs. In an ideal world we would be sitting down, leisurely designing compliant installations for clients who are willing to pay what it costs, then installing them in nice, warm environments with regular cups of tea, and be paid, in full, at the end of the job. 33K with a young child to care for? Stay where you are or find a niche market in the IT world and exploit it. You will not survive without experience. I have seen so many people that have paid out for courses and a meter, then seen them flounder with a fairly straightforward fault, or when faced with some 20 year old bit of equipment their college never showed them. I wouldn't trust 'em to plug in a kettle, but they are 'qualified' to the level you are aiming. You WILL lose your shirt...

 

[Adam W]

Call Poole college on 01202 205643. You're looking at 3-4 years training earning around £8 p/h when you can find the work, then another few years on around £14 p/h until you have the experience to go it alone.

You could set up your own business, but you'll be competing with everyone else who got the same idea as you but has a couple of years head start.