New to the UK from Australia, just have a few Qs

[PatJ]

Hi guys,

I've recently moved to London from Australia and just touching base to see what the go is with being a sparky in the UK.

So far I've got a NI number, booked in to the T64 3 day 17th edition course to convert my Aussie ticket to a UK one, booked a ECS health and safety course to get the Construction site card and I'm also looking at getting myself one of those LUCAS tickets to work in the underground. Is that basically all I'll need? Also I have Rio Tinto confined spaces and working at heights, will they transfer straight over as they're an international mob?

My aim while I'm over here is mainly to travel Europe but also just to pick up some short term 1 - 3 month contract/temp roles doing upgrades or fitouts or whatever to supplement the income, seems to be a little bit of that type of work in the job ads here in London.

Cheers, Pat.

P.S great forum by the way.

 

[shagbite]

1) get an umbrella

2) learn polish

3) make sure you save enough money to get back home (when you realise what a s***hole the uk is).

 

[telectrix]

coming here from Oz, think OP needs a brain transplant. overcrowded, no work, more immigrants than the USA, more rules and regs. than the third reich.

 

[Silly Sausage]

G'Day Pat...
Live-in and live-out Pub, Hotel and Restaurant Jobs UK

 

[shagbite]

ha! that's funny.......i was just about to predict that the op'll be working in a bar within a month. either that or a supermarket. they seem to be the only ones employing these days.




brand new tesco express near us got 150 applicants for each job advertised.

 

[PatJ]

Haha, that bad is it?

I think I've already invested about 500 pounds on courses and everything so I'm more or less committed at this stage

 

[shagbite]

seriously though pat, i hope it works out for you. just seems strange that you'd leave the land of milk & honey and come to a country that's on its knees.

 

[PatJ]

Yeah I've had a few funny looks from people when I describe my situation

Moved over here for a while so me and the missus can go travelling, tell you what, teaching's not a bad career choice over here, she's working every day at the moment as a supply teacher in london.

Cheers!

 

[shagbite]

put your feet up then. take it easy while she's out grafting.

 

[telectrix]

well,if her indoors is otdoors grafting, supplement your income with mcdonalds. .

 

[PatJ]

haha, yeah I have been putting my feet up for the past 2 weeks, lifes good.

Just changing the subject slightly, in regards to my original post is the 17th ed., ecs course all I'll need to work here? I hear "Jib licensed" get thrown around a bit, what's all that about?

 

[Guest55]

i hope no-one mentions the lions tour..........
or the ashes...........

oops , look what i gone and did.

;-D

 

[telectrix]

not into sport much, but if this lame duck of a country can beat the aussies at anything, it shows that they must be starting into a decline same as we did when phony blair was first elected.

 

[Guitarist]

haha, yeah I have been putting my feet up for the past 2 weeks, lifes good.

Just changing the subject slightly, in regards to my original post is the 17th ed., ecs course all I'll need to work here? I hear "Jib licensed" get thrown around a bit, what's all that about?

Depends exactly what you want to do, and who you want to work for.
I can understand coming to the UK for a while, just as long as you can go back anytime you choose.

 

[PatJ]

I just want to work domestic/commercial/construction short term contracts but I don't really understand the whole licensing thing over here yet.

Like is there such thing as a 'qualified electrician' or is the trade broken up over here into various roles, cable pullers, cable tray mounters, termination guys etc ?

All I've been told is do the 17th edition and get the ECS health and safety course too.

Cheers!

 

[Jay Sparks]

Generally, you need the NVQ 3 to be classed as a "Qualified Electrician" but Im not sure what Aussie quals you already have and indeed whether they are transferable. Try giving City & Guilds a ring and see whats what!! Or contact JIB and tell them what quals you have, although the lass on the other end of the phone probably wont know what day it is, let alone if your quals are any good here.

Good luck mate......I hope to do the oposite to you and move to Oz!! Fingers crossed!!

Jay

 

[telectrix]

Generally, you need the NVQ 3 to be classed as a "Qualified Electrician" but Im not sure what Aussie quals you already have and indeed whether they are transferable. Try giving City & Guilds a ring and see whats what!! Or contact JIB and tell them what quals you have, although the lass on the other end of the phone probably wont know what day it is, let alone if your quals are any good here.

Good luck mate......I hope to do the oposite to you and move to Oz!! Fingers crossed!!

Jay

buy the return half of his ticket.

 

[shagbite]

111111111111

I just want to work domestic/commercial/construction short term contracts but I don't really understand the whole licensing thing over here yet.

not sure what you mean by 'licensing', but if you're looking for short term work, i'd recommend signing on with an agency.

Like is there such thing as a 'qualified electrician' or is the trade broken up over here into various roles, cable pullers, cable tray mounters, termination guys etc ?

the term 'qualified electrician' is quite ambiguous in this country. all the regulations require is that anyone carrying out electrical work, should be 'competent'. they define competency as someone who possesses technical knowledge, relevant practical skills and experience. having electrical qualifications would go some way towards proving your competency in a court of law.

a lot of big jobs in the uk have dedicated cable gangs etc. but they're not what you'd refer to as 'qualified sparks'. they're mostly meatheads from hartlepool.

All I've been told is do the 17th edition and get the ECS health and safety course too.

the 17th edition is the latest version of the wiring regulations. most jobs require this qualification. it's an on-line, open book, multiple choice exam. if you know how to reference the book, you can't really fail the exam. you can either take the full course (about 5 days), or ring your local colleges and ask them if you can just sit the exam (probably set you back about £60). you being a cockney with a tan, i'm guessing you're not upto speed with our reg's and i'd suggest you take the full course.

the health and safety exam is a requirement of most sites these days. there's the ecs and there's the cscs card. the ecs is the card issued by the jib, and is relevant to electricians. again, this is on-line and multiple choice, costing about £40. not really possible to fail it - unless you're from hartlepool.




Cheers!

 

[PatJ]

Yeah okay cool, thanks for the information. In Australia you're either qualified, restricted (plumbers and fridgies are allowed to make connections to HW cylinders and AC units) or you're not qualified (apprentices, trades assistants)

The old girl on the phone said I needed to do the 3 day 17th edition course so I've already spent the 500 quid on that, should be able to claim it on tax though.

Are their any agencies over here that specialise in sparks, or even trades in general? I made an account on Hays recruiting but obviously I still haven't done the courses yet so I haven't been trying to get any electrical work quite yet.

 

[Jay Sparks]

Yeah okay cool, thanks for the information. In Australia you're either qualified, restricted (plumbers and fridgies are allowed to make connections to HW cylinders and AC units) or you're not qualified (apprentices, trades assistants)

The old girl on the phone said I needed to do the 3 day 17th edition course so I've already spent the 500 quid on that, should be able to claim it on tax though.

Are their any agencies over here that specialise in sparks, or even trades in general? I made an account on Hays recruiting but obviously I still haven't done the courses yet so I haven't been trying to get any electrical work quite yet.

Have a look on "Direct.gov" website. Alot of the electrician jobs on there are through agencies. They pay peanuts but if you only want a few weeks here and there, its win win!!


Jay

 

[shagbite]

i'm guessing you'll be one of the most qualified sparks on-site in this country. australia hasn't gone down the fast track route that's ruining this country.

as for agencies, i'll leave that for someone else to answer - i've usually been employed directly or i've been doing my own jobs.

 

[PatJ]

Cheers lads!

 

[timo1]

How disappointing that most do not have anything positive to say about the U.K! Australia is an amazing place for sure, but you cannot beat this country for the history, its towns and citys or the people. You will have a ball here mate, all the best with the search for work.

 

[shagbite]

what sort of hosts would we be if we didn't live up to the stereotypical 'whingeing pom' image, that the aussies have of us?

 

[shagbite]

Cheers lads!

no worries cobber.



p.s. how's plain jane superbrain doing these days?

 

[EastAnglian]

Drinking Fosters while working isn't generally well received over here, and cut those bloody corks off your hat, they will drip water all over your board shorts when its raining!

If its sheep you are missing then look for jobs in Wales.

 

[PatJ]

Disappointing news from the ECA - no joy with that 3 day course I was booked into due to low participation so I've got to wait another bloody 6 weeks now. Ah well!

 

[shagbite]

never mind mate.

on the plus side, you can kick back with a few beers and watch england teaching those antipodeans how to play test match cricket.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi guys,

I've recently moved to London from Australia and just touching base to see what the go is with being a sparky in the UK.

So far I've got a NI number, booked in to the T64 3 day 17th edition course to convert my Aussie ticket to a UK one, booked a ECS health and safety course to get the Construction site card and I'm also looking at getting myself one of those LUCAS tickets to work in the underground. Is that basically all I'll need? Also I have Rio Tinto confined spaces and working at heights, will they transfer straight over as they're an international mob?

My aim while I'm over here is mainly to travel Europe but also just to pick up some short term 1 - 3 month contract/temp roles doing upgrades or fitouts or whatever to supplement the income, seems to be a little bit of that type of work in the job ads here in London.

Cheers, Pat.

P.S great forum by the way.

what the hell for?
no offence mate but you would be better going back home....
christ are you in for a shock...