Trade Skills 4 U waste of time?

[rebeccathornley]

I'm 24 and looking for a career change into the electrical industry. Could anyone advise me on the practicality of undertaking a fast track level 2 course with trade skills 4 u? I'm by no means expecting to be a fully qualified electrician by the end of this, I'm hoping to get the level 2 qualification to increase my chances of getting an electrican apprenticeship as it seems competition is rife right now and i'm a bit disadvantaged being older than the typical apprentice.

I've heard so much about these courses being a waste of time and money - is that still true even if I am just using this course to boost my chances of getting an apprenticeship after completion? Am I still better off doing the level 2 as an evening course at my local college?


Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[MJPD29]

I can’t really see the point in doing a level 2 course as the level 2 is done as part of the full apprenticeship on the way to level 3.

 

[rewireIT]

I can’t really see the point in doing a level 2 course as the level 2 is done as part of the full apprenticeship on the way to level 3.

A lot of apprentices do the level 2 and carry it over into an apprenticeship.

OP - the material is the material. It doesn't matter where you do it or how long it takes, if you know it you know it and if you don't you don't.

The real kicker is you need experience and to get that the only way is to be out in the field working.

If i were you i'd get my 18th edition, a CSCS card and try getting out as a mate whilst applying for every apprenticeship going in your area. I'd also personally contact each company in your local area individually.

Along side this, start learning the basics any way you can - breaker sizes/cable pairings, how to fix stuff to things (drilling and plugging), cutting and forming things, using levels, wrapping up and labelling cable, measuring, etc.

Apprenticeships are not the be all and end all. You can pick up the same experience and training as a mate out on site, whilst getting considerably better money.

You don't say what your background is - do you have a background in related fields or with transferable skills eg labouring, general maintenance, anything like that?

 

[rebeccathornley]

A lot of apprentices do the level 2 and carry it over into an apprenticeship.

OP - the material is the material. It doesn't matter where you do it or how long it takes, if you know it you know it and if you don't you don't.

The real kicker is you need experience and to get that the only way is to be out in the field working.

If i were you i'd get my 18th edition, a CSCS card and try getting out as a mate whilst applying for every apprenticeship going in your area. I'd also personally contact each company in your local area individually.

Along side this, start learning the basics any way you can - breaker sizes/cable pairings, how to fix stuff to things (drilling and plugging), cutting and forming things, using levels, wrapping up and labelling cable, measuring, etc.

Apprenticeships are not the be all and end all. You can pick up the same experience and training as a mate out on site, whilst getting considerably better money.

You don't say what your background is - do you have a background in related fields or with transferable skills eg labouring, general maintenance, anything like that?

I have experience in traffic management on construction sites but the majority of my working life has been spent in agriculture, so im pretty handy with tools/fixing things/heavy machinery but a complete newbie with anything electrical but yeah ive definitely picked up a lot of transferable skills in these environments!

My original plan was to do my level 2 as a 6 week course and once ive completed that search for work as a mate then go on to do my level 3 and build a portfolio but i see a lot of people saying these fast track courses are a waste of time! Though surely if you still plan on getting all the site experience along side the theory it's all pretty similar?

Just worried about finding work as a mate with no direct experience and if the fast track course isn't as respected as a college evening course, which is why i'd rather the apprentice route!

 

[rewireIT]

I have experience in traffic management on construction sites but the majority of my working life has been spent in agriculture, so im pretty handy with tools/fixing things/heavy machinery but a complete newbie with anything electrical but yeah ive definitely picked up a lot of transferable skills in these environments!

So you're good with tools, it's a great start. Build on that by getting some cheap VDE rated tools and learn to use them to do electrical stuff with. I recommend the Stanley FatMax drivers, they're ace for the price. Just make sure to chuck the piddly little tester driver since they're dangerous.

My original plan was to do my level 2 as a 6 week course and once ive completed that search for work as a mate then go on to do my level 3 and build a portfolio but i see a lot of people saying these fast track courses are a waste of time! Though surely if you still plan on getting all the site experience along side the theory it's all pretty similar?

This is something that bitter older sparks say online. On site you'll somewhat tongue-in-cheek get called a 'dilutey' but who cares? You just don't tell anyone where you did it. It's part of the culture where if you didn't do an apprenticeship on rubbish money for 5 years like them then you didn't do it properly. I dropped out of my apprenticeship because i was being paid £4 an hour as a 30-odd year old with a family. I went straight on site as a mate earning nearly £20 an hour. My wage now varies between £17-22 depending on the job. My quals are 18th edition, CSCS, ipaf.

The course content is the content. Taking 12 months to do a course that can be done in 6 weeks is stupid imo. Get an Anki deck going and work through the level 2 book, you'll memorise the lot. If you pm me your email i'll send you the books for free.

Just worried about finding work as a mate with no direct experience and if the fast track course isn't as respected as a college evening course, which is why i'd rather the apprentice route!

Apprenticeships are like rocking horse turds, you're better off applying for them but also doing other stuff to empower yourself to get to where you want to go. With an apprenticeship you're beholden to someone to take you on; if you go the mate route you can take steps to achieve that and nobody can stop you.

 

[rewireIT]

^ i should say about my last comment above - the only thing about going the mate route is to get your NVQ you have to prove 5 years experience whereas on an apprenticeship you'll have it done by the end of year 4.

 

[oscar21]

Trade skills 4 U are a bunch of shysters that sprang up out of nowhere at exactly the same time as part P was introduced, now they are a multi million pound business. Think about that next time you have a mouth full of insulation in the deepest darkest corner of someone's loft.

 

[rewireIT]

Trade skills 4 U are a bunch of shysters that sprang up out of nowhere at exactly the same time as part P was introduced, now they are a multi million pound business. Think about that next time you have a mouth full of insulation in the deepest darkest corner of someone's loft.

They are owned by City and Guilds now. At least you know you're not gonna get ripped off by them.

Personally i'd rather go somewhere like that then spend 2 years fannying around at college, upon leaving which everyone will say sorry, you've got no experience.

 

[7029 dave]

On site you'll somewhat tongue-in-cheek get called a 'dilutey' but who cares?

LOL thats filed away in the nut

 

[nicebutdim]

Level 2 is only required in an apprenticeship if basic entry qualifications aren't met - generally C or above in maths & English, but every short course and distance learning training provider seems to insist on completion of level 2 for all trainees - can't imagine why...

Apprenticeships are 4 years (5 if starting at level 2), but this isn't always a hard and fast rule, with some apprentices being given the opportunity to shave a year off if it's clear they have required knowlege and ability.

I'm not sure why there's such push back against apprenticeships from a member who isn't yet qualified, but I guess everyone can only speak from their own experience and it's difficult to compare with something you haven't experienced.

Ultimately I'd encourage the OP to explore all available options and find the path they think fits best for whatever it is they want to achieve.