Retraining to be an Electrician

[Chrissifer]

Hi Guys

In October I got made redundant from my job of 16 years as a Marketing Assistant due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the needs for my company to make cost cuts so having had some thoughts, I've always considered myself to be an 'electrical' type person, tinkering here and there since I was a teen with electrical stuff.

I'm pretty confident on how to wire in a lighting circuit and other bits and pieces, but looking at getting some proper qualifications (City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 & 3 Diploma) so that I can go into a job as an Electrician, get a few years experience and maybe become my own boss!

However, funds for training are a bit tight so I would probably look at getting an advanced learner loan from the government to help fund the costs. I did look at courses at my local College, but I don't have the Maths or or English entry requirements which is a bummer and I'm a bit sceptical being a bit of an older person in a classroom with people half my age, hence looking at more adult based training courses. I've also tried applying for a bursary from C&G but unfortunately that fell through.

The job centre has basically told me they cannot help with any funding as I am choosing to embark on a career change rather than staying in my current Marketing role (fed up of being cooped up in offices all day!!). I'm a pretty hands on person and I feel this would make me happier than sat in front of a computer all day!

Just looking around and whenever anyone had any suggestions for training providers who are pretty good - I have looked at the likes of TradeSkills4U and Thompson Training to name a few

I'd also be interested to know if anyone here has done their training with limited funds too, and how they funded this, whenever on an Advanced Learner Loan or any other way!

Cheers guys

Chris

 

[Dustydazzler]

I was lucky and got 4 days labouring as a sparky mate (commercial setting) while doing my city and guilds at my local college. I ended up doing this for 3 years. Can’t remember exactly but I was getting about £26 a day/£100 a week which while living at home was enough to run a car and pay for my own college course and exams etc.

the good thing was once I qualified the company actually took me on as a paid up sparks which was nice, £14 grand a year .

I eventually went self deployed as a domesticated installer As that is where the money was in my home area.

 

[Chrissifer]

I was lucky and got 4 days labouring as a sparky mate (commercial setting) while doing my city and guilds at my local college. I ended up doing this for 3 years. Can’t remember exactly but I was getting about £26 a day/£100 a week which while living at home was enough to run a car and pay for my own college course and exams etc.

the good thing was once I qualified the company actually took me on as a paid up sparks which was nice, £14 grand a year .

I eventually went self deployed as a domesticated installer As that is where the money was in my home area.

Thanks for the insight @Dustydazzler really appreciate you sharing your journey!

I've also heard that there are some funding coming for older people under the National Skills Fund, there seems to be a few qualifications that I could potentially get in Level 3 but not sure if it is the same as 3265 as it's not listed on the gov'mts spreadsheet