Is it worth getting into the Electricians game in 2020?

[OliverTwist]

Hi guys
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum for this sort of topic, please point me in the right direction if that's the case.

I'm looking for advice and opinions from people working as electricians or sparkies mates on whether or not in the current job market, it would be a good idea to get into the electrical side of construction work (London). I'm 24 working as a Slinger Signaller.

1. Are there a lot of jobs going in the London area, and have there been generally more or less jobs in the past few years?
2. As a newly qualified Sparkie or Sparkies mate, would one have trouble finding work without necessary experience, or are employers and clients quite keen to take on new workers?
3. As someone in their mid 20's with sky high london bills to pay, what would be the best way to get qualified as quickly as possible in the london area?
4. What would the average weekly or hourly wage be for a new sparkies mate/electrician? What could one reasonably expect to make after 3 years?
5. How many hours a day would most Electricians consider to be normal, what would overtime hours be?

I currently make about 640 a week after tax which isn't that bad but that's with a 10 hour work day, which with a London commute, tends to suck the life out of the week. Also worse of all, jobs seem to be few and fewer with so many people competing for jobs there's not always enough to go around so sometimes I have to spend 2 weeks out of work. Agencies and companies know this and treat you accordingly :/

Any advice and help would be very appreciated, I've been thinking about doing this for a while but am starting to think this is the time to do it. Thanks for your help.

 

[Taylortwocities]

If I had my time again I would learn plastering. It’s a bit mucky and hard work- but at 24 you’ll be fine.
Everybidy wants you, you can charge a fortune, no stupid regulations to worry about, no expensive tools -
You only need a couple of buckets and a beer crate to stand on.
and best of all, you can waltz on to site, do whatever you want and pi$$ off all the other trades. Sorted!

 

[MJPD29]

I have no idea about wages or working hours in London but I work 7.30-16.30 most days and overtime as required. It's never a bad idea to go into the trade as it's something you can always go back to if you change your mind. However it can be costly as a mature apprentice so you'd have to consider how much you really want to do it and carefully select a training centre as I've seen a few complaints about a few on here.

 

[OliverTwist]

If I had my time again I would learn plastering. It’s a bit mucky and hard work- but at 24 you’ll be fine.
Everybidy wants you, you can charge a fortune, no stupid regulations to worry about, no expensive tools -
You only need a couple of buckets and a beer crate to stand on.
and best of all, you can waltz on to site, do whatever you want and pi$$ off all the other trades. Sorted!

Don't plasterers earn nowhere near what Sparkies earn though? Also seems like it would get boring very quickly

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Don't plasterers earn nowhere near what Sparkies earn though? Also seems like it would get boring very quickly

I agree, I would be bored stiff with plastering after a couple of years. I have a friend who is a plasterer, he cant stand his job. He charges between £150-£200 p/day which is less than a self employed electrician (on average).
I love being an electrician (7 years now), although I think 50% of the enjoyment comes from being self employed and not answerable to anyone. I also find the job 'fairly' varied which keeps it interesting.
I earn enough to pay all the bills and save quite a bit each month, I work a standard 40 hour week. I do think you have to have a positive outlook though otherwise your business will not thrive.
I would fully recommend it

 

[OliverTwist]

I agree, I would be bored stiff with plastering after a couple of years. I have a friend who is a plasterer, he cant stand his job. He charges between £150-£200 p/day which is less than a self employed electrician (on average).
I love being an electrician (7 years now), although I think 50% of the enjoyment comes from being self employed and not answerable to anyone. I also find the job 'fairly' varied which keeps it interesting.
I earn enough to pay all the bills and save quite a bit each month, I work a standard 40 hour week. I do think you have to have a positive outlook though otherwise your business will not thrive.
I would fully recommend it

Thanks for your response @hippyhippydad. I'm currently 'self employed' CIS (Slinger) although half the time it feels like these companies want to treat us slingers as employees (ordering us to work through breaks, not allowed to be in the canteen when winded off).

Would you reckon its easy enough to get a job after gaining qualifications working for a company?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thanks for your response @hippyhippydad. I'm currently 'self employed' CIS (Slinger) although half the time it feels like these companies want to treat us slingers as employees (ordering us to work through breaks, not allowed to be in the canteen when winded off).

Would you reckon its easy enough to get a job after gaining qualifications working for a company?

That's out if my remit Oliver. I have no idea how easy it will be for you to find a job, or how easy in general the electric market is to get a job in. Others who are employeed will have more of an idea, but whatever their answers, if you want to do It then do it, expecially now when you are young enough (and you are young even if you don't think you are ).

 

[Lister1987]

O can't speak for everywhere but i do get that impression our trade is saturated, that being said I'm only on my level 2 so have a while to go yet, by the time get me gold, I reckon EV pickup will have passed and the next idea won't be far off.

I'm come into the trade not for myself or the was of earnings bit because I want my kids to get trades themselves; people are always going to be renovating, changing things on Thier home etc so it makes sense to have the skills for when they do

 

[telectrix]

@OP. it's along road to get properly qualified. 3 years + practical experience. then go for industrial jobs, maybe specialising in HVAC. PLC, Fire Alarms. whatever. end of the day. basic sparking in industry, tray, trinking, conduit, SWA, got to be a big step up from rewiring Mrs. Bloggs washing machine.

 

[JAWS]

Not only is it a very long process its also

O can't speak for everywhere but i do get that impression our trade is saturated, that being said I'm only on my level 2 so have a while to go yet, by the time get me gold, I reckon EV pickup will have passed and the next idea won't be far off.

I'm come into the trade not for myself or the was of earnings bit because I want my kids to get trades themselves; people are always going to be renovating, changing things on Thier home etc so it makes sense to have the skills for when they do

Agree regarding the EV. Was watching a car documentary in subtitles the other day where they were saying EV chargers in a few years may well be non existent where each car will be completely self chargeable.
How much of this will come about is any ones guess but it does sound plaurable if thats even a word.

 

[KennyKen]

If you do go into the trade try get yourself into a niche. Industrial electrical work in my experience is far more rewarding.

 

[OliverTwist]

@OP. it's along road to get properly qualified. 3 years + practical experience. then go for industrial jobs, maybe specialising in HVAC. PLC, Fire Alarms. whatever. end of the day. basic sparking in industry, tray, trinking, conduit, SWA, got to be a big step up from rewiring Mrs. Bloggs washing machine.

Yeah the long road to qualification is what initially put me off 4 years ago, but now I'm here and no better off! Surely after a year of starting the process of qualification a sparky could expect to make about 180 a day no?

I agree, I would be bored stiff with plastering after a couple of years. I have a friend who is a plasterer, he cant stand his job. He charges between £150-£200 p/day which is less than a self employed electrician (on average).
I love being an electrician (7 years now), although I think 50% of the enjoyment comes from being self employed and not answerable to anyone. I also find the job 'fairly' varied which keeps it interesting.
I earn enough to pay all the bills and save quite a bit each month, I work a standard 40 hour week. I do think you have to have a positive outlook though otherwise your business will not thrive.
I would fully recommend it

Out of interest how much would an electrician charge per day?
Great to hear you'd recommend it. I've been thinking about doing it for years but always stalled, wish I'd just started years ago. Its correct what another user on here said, 'that is feels too late even if it isn't' . You think its too late then becomes self fulfilling prophecy ! lol
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O can't speak for everywhere but i do get that impression our trade is saturated, that being said I'm only on my level 2 so have a while to go yet, by the time get me gold, I reckon EV pickup will have passed and the next idea won't be far off.

I'm come into the trade not for myself or the was of earnings bit because I want my kids to get trades themselves; people are always going to be renovating, changing things on Thier home etc so it makes sense to have the skills for when they do

Really? Do you find it hard to get jobs as and when you'd like?
That's a problem for me at the moment, I can't exactly choose when to take days off just don't get the work lol

 

[Lister1987]

Really? Do you find it hard to get jobs as and when you'd like?
That's a problem for me at the moment, I can't exactly choose when to take days off just don't get the work lol

I've not tried getting any, however on here alone I reckon there at least 6 sparks that aren't too far from me, add in established electrical companies ....well you get the picture

 

[Dustydazzler]

You can’t really go wrong learning a construction trade.
if you are a good plumber , electrician , plasterer , tiler etc , you will always earn above the average wage.
the key is being good not just bang average at your craft.
good tradesmen and women are and will always be in demand

 

[123]

Yeah the long road to qualification is what initially put me off 4 years ago, but now I'm here and no better off! Surely after a year of starting the process of qualification a sparky could expect to make about 180 a day no?

Not very likely I wouldn't have thought, certainly not for a 2nd year apprentice, and unlikely for a mate with a year of learning and onsite experience under their belt.

 

[Dustydazzler]

As a 1st year sparks the only way you will get 180£ a day is on homers where you are doing it cash in hand for somone.
Most companies who I ever did work for only pay 90-100£ a day for mates and about £110 for newly qualified sparks.
After about 3-4 years you will get the top rates of pay

 

[Pete999]

Hi guys
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum for this sort of topic, please point me in the right direction if that's the case.

I'm looking for advice and opinions from people working as electricians or sparkies mates on whether or not in the current job market, it would be a good idea to get into the electrical side of construction work (London). I'm 24 working as a Slinger Signaller.

1. Are there a lot of jobs going in the London area, and have there been generally more or less jobs in the past few years?
2. As a newly qualified Sparkie or Sparkies mate, would one have trouble finding work without necessary experience, or are employers and clients quite keen to take on new workers?
3. As someone in their mid 20's with sky high london bills to pay, what would be the best way to get qualified as quickly as possible in the london area?
4. What would the average weekly or hourly wage be for a new sparkies mate/electrician? What could one reasonably expect to make after 3 years?
5. How many hours a day would most Electricians consider to be normal, what would overtime hours be?

I currently make about 640 a week after tax which isn't that bad but that's with a 10 hour work day, which with a London commute, tends to suck the life out of the week. Also worse of all, jobs seem to be few and fewer with so many people competing for jobs there's not always enough to go around so sometimes I have to spend 2 weeks out of work. Agencies and companies know this and treat you accordingly :/

Any advice and help would be very appreciated, I've been thinking about doing this for a while but am starting to think this is the time to do it. Thanks for your help.

First thing Oliver it's not a game it's a Profession that lots of people have worked hard to gain the title of Electrician, if you think it's a game become a Footballer.