TradeSkills4U Feedback - The Most Recent Feedback Isn't Good!

[Dan]

Please leave feedback if you've been on this course!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS THREAD IS FOR FEEDBACK RELATING TO THE COMPANY CALLED TRADE SKILLS 4U and NOT THE COMPANY CALLED TRAIN 4 TRADE SKILLS.

It has been a while since this thread was created to please do take a look at the latest threads. As they aren't good!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PAGE 5

 

[andy32]

hi I am a airconditioning and refrigeration engineer . I am looking to branch out into solar pv etc i am looking into trde for skills courses . i have been putting in ac and working on 3 phase vrvs for years and servicing industrial coldrooms etc so pratical skills are not a issue at all are the courses worth doing as i really just need the qualies and the methodology of installing solar

 

[robinrajan]

i had been to course at this crawleycentre and found the instruction and guidance was the best and the facilities provided was also excellent,i successfully succeeded in passing my exams, thanks once again for the faculty @ trade skils 4 u.

 

[Sparked Up]

Firstly, thanks to those who've already posted here.

I've never done any electrical work or anything similar/related. From some online research, I've found Tradeskills4u interesting, even though their location is not ideal (North/North West London would be better for me). I also liked how my enquiry was handled when I phoned with some Q's. If need be, I did find a nearby B+B that looks OK.



I think I will be able to tag along with some experienced sparks I know to gain some real experience, but want to be able to contribute during that process rather than just be dead weight and feel that I need to have some type of foundation knowledge to do that. I was thinking of doing the 5 day intro course along with some of the others on offer to get started (either the Green, Bronze or Gold package). Is this a good route to take, or would I be better off with another type of college course? From what I've read you need to be working and to have been doing so for a while before you can jump on the NVQ course. I have the rare opportunity to take a short sabbatical to try and get myself on a new career path at 37 years old and I want to learn electrics from scratch. Does anyone have any strong advice to help with direction/path in terms of education for a beginner please? Thanks in advance.

 

[Dan]

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS THREAD IS FOR FEEDBACK RELATING TO THE COMPANY CALLED TRADE SKILLS 4U and NOT THE COMPANY CALLED TRAIN 4 TRADE SKILLS.

 

[Aaron177]

Considering doing the Bronze course. I am ex-army and may use my funding to pay for it.
This review is helpful, I know the course won't turn me into an electrician but nobody will give me an apprenticeship (must be my age)

 

[Connorwalsh96]

Please leave feedback if you've been on this course!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS THREAD IS FOR FEEDBACK RELATING TO THE COMPANY CALLED TRADE SKILLS 4U and NOT THE COMPANY CALLED TRAIN 4 TRADE SKILLS.

I am looking on doing the level 2 + 3 diploma 2365 course it is 16 weeks. I have spoken to trade skills 4 u and they have said that I’d need to do the NVQ part which obviously comes after the level 2 + 3 but they said the NVQ part has to be done working in the industry. Would it be a struggle getting a job with only having the level 2 + 3 diploma but then completing the NVQ when I have a job? Do I need to be fully qualified first? I am 23 years old.

 

[Dan]

There's loads of different threads regarding Tradeskills4U, but I thought I'd throw my two pennies worth on here.

Having worked as an installation engineer for about 20 years I wanted to formalise my experience into real qualifications and concentrate on sparky work. I did a lot of research on which qualifications i needed to satisfy the likes of NICEIC etc and shopped about for a course.

Now, there are plenty of people out there who believe that they can do one of these quick courses and start wiring and fault finding. Obviously this isn't the case, but there's nothing preventing anybody, by law, from doing non-notifiable work. I'm pretty certain, from the things i've seen over the years, that there are people operating exactly like that, often doing notifiable work, and just not knowing the law let alone how do safe work. I don't know how on earth anyone expects to be able to control that goings-on, Jo Public has been kept well and truly in the dark about Part P, Notifiable etc, so they don't know what to look for. Maybe the new ESR will have some publicity like the Corgi/GasSafe scheme? But regardless of all that, anyone who attends a course and passes a recognised exam is safer than Mr Avago.

There's no substitute for experience, but the courses at Tradeskills4U are run by experienced and knowledgeable tutors with a wealth of experience in the trade, and nobody ever suggested, whilst i was there, that you could walk out of there and go it alone from day one. Sparky's with NVQ's and apprenticeships under their belt have every reason to feel that these courses offer the inexperienced the opportunity to give sparky's a bad name and undercut them. I was looking around the room myself and thinking "god help us!" about a few of the candidates after some of the questions they asked. But here's the thing, that candidate now knows the answer. They didn't have to come on this course, and until the law is changed or tightened up at least, these courses are probably saving lives. These courses also taught some of the candidates a very important lesson: They have a lot to learn!

Tradeskills4U is a professional outfit, and I was very impressed with the quality and knowledge of the tutors there. The short courses don't offer the practical skills needed to get on with it, and they can't really give much in the way of historic standards and practices that you need in the real world but, they taught me a thing or two and after 20years as an engineer, that came as a surprise.

What they said.

Trade Skills 4U are NOT the dodgy trade firm that kept popping up under various names and going bump again before they paid out their dues.

Trade Skills 4U have been a sponsor of the forum long before those dodgy firms came about, and have been here long after those dodgy firms have gone bump.

They're legit. They have members on the forum who have found them via the forum, trained with them via the forum, and become an electrician during being a member of the forum (their own doing - not claiming their win here).

Don't mix them up.

TS4U are legit and awesome and ace.

The other ones, peh. Let 'em come and go. But don't send your money their way.

 

[ElGall]

Hello all, first post, joined the forum today.

My name is Lee, I am 34 years old and hopefully about to embark on a career change.

Having spent the last 10 years of my life in white collar office type roles I have taken the plunge to invest in my future by starting to train for a career in Domestic Installation. In January I will be starting their Advanced Domestic Electrician Course (23 days): C&G 4141-01 Electrical Installation Domestic Dwelling > C&G 2393 Part P & Regs > C&G 2392-10 Inspection & Testing > C&G 2382 Wiring Regs > Advanced Top Up.

Whilst I am under no illusion I will be able to walk out of that classroom in February and rewire a house, my long term goal is to work for myself.

In the meantime I am wondering if at my age it is wise to look for an apprenticeship type position with a local sparky for a couple of years rather than trying to undertake non notifiable domestic work whilst I build my confidence.

Is there a stigma attached to older apprentices? or is there an abundance of school leavers leaving no room?

 

[Dan]

Hello all, first post, joined the forum today.

My name is Lee, I am 34 years old and hopefully about to embark on a career change.

Having spent the last 10 years of my life in white collar office type roles I have taken the plunge to invest in my future by starting to train for a career in Domestic Installation. In January I will be starting their Advanced Domestic Electrician Course (23 days): C&G 4141-01 Electrical Installation Domestic Dwelling > C&G 2393 Part P & Regs > C&G 2392-10 Inspection & Testing > C&G 2382 Wiring Regs > Advanced Top Up.

Whilst I am under no illusion I will be able to walk out of that classroom in February and rewire a house, my long term goal is to work for myself.

In the meantime I am wondering if at my age it is wise to look for an apprenticeship type position with a local sparky for a couple of years rather than trying to undertake non notifiable domestic work whilst I build my confidence.

Is there a stigma attached to older apprentices? or is there an abundance of school leavers leaving no room?

I think a lot of firms who take on apprentices would prefer a 34 year old to a 21 year old who might be skiving off a bit with hangover and whatnot. 34 is young.

Might be hard right now to find apprenticeships but see what you can find out in your area matey.

Can always put a request in the looking for work forum. And also monitor the work up for grabs forum (you can click to subscribe to new threads posted in there to get notified of work going).

 

[ElGall]

I think a lot of firms who take on apprentices would prefer a 34 year old to a 21 year old who might be skiving off a bit with hangover and whatnot. 34 is young.

Might be hard right now to find apprenticeships but see what you can find out in your area matey.

Can always put a request in the looking for work forum. And also monitor the work up for grabs forum (you can click to subscribe to new threads posted in there to get notified of work going).

Thanks Dan, I really appreciate the reply.

As an added incentive to potential employers Im very much an "all the gear with no idea" kinda guy so they will no doubt have access to a lot of the expensive kit I have started to buy but don't know how to use

Joking aside, I am willing to put the graft in on an apprentice rate for a couple of years if needs be and will do it with a smile on my face.

I'll do exactly what you suggested and see how things go. I have 12 weeks to get the ball rolling...

 

[ElGall]

I think a lot of firms who take on apprentices would prefer a 34 year old to a 21 year old who might be skiving off a bit with hangover and whatnot. 34 is young.

Might be hard right now to find apprenticeships but see what you can find out in your area matey.

Can always put a request in the looking for work forum. And also monitor the work up for grabs forum (you can click to subscribe to new threads posted in there to get notified of work going).

I had a conversation with a spark yesterday and may have secured a role as a mate installing EV Chargers

 

[gavlaaa84]

Hello all, first post, joined the forum today.

My name is Lee, I am 34 years old and hopefully about to embark on a career change.

Having spent the last 10 years of my life in white collar office type roles I have taken the plunge to invest in my future by starting to train for a career in Domestic Installation. In January I will be starting their Advanced Domestic Electrician Course (23 days): C&G 4141-01 Electrical Installation Domestic Dwelling > C&G 2393 Part P & Regs > C&G 2392-10 Inspection & Testing > C&G 2382 Wiring Regs > Advanced Top Up.

Whilst I am under no illusion I will be able to walk out of that classroom in February and rewire a house, my long term goal is to work for myself.

In the meantime I am wondering if at my age it is wise to look for an apprenticeship type position with a local sparky for a couple of years rather than trying to undertake non notifiable domestic work whilst I build my confidence.

Is there a stigma attached to older apprentices? or is there an abundance of school leavers leaving no room?

Hi Lee,

I am in a very similar position to yourself (36 yo) and i am looking to start a course at some point this year hopefully, depending on if i get a C&G bursary. Will even look to work for free on weekends if anyone will have me haha basically i dont think its too old at all to begin an apprenticeship and being a little older and wiser might even be seen as a better bet. let us know how you get on with your course and progress from that point on.

 

[ElGall]

Hi Lee,

I am in a very similar position to yourself (36 yo) and i am looking to start a course at some point this year hopefully, depending on if i get a C&G bursary. Will even look to work for free on weekends if anyone will have me haha basically i dont think its too old at all to begin an apprenticeship and being a little older and wiser might even be seen as a better bet. let us know how you get on with your course and progress from that point on.

Just PM’d you mate...

really happy with the course so far...

feel pretty confident RE basic installs (IN PERFECT CONDITIONS)

if you really want to get the most out of these courses you need to have a passion for further learning.

You are taught everything as advertised but it’s like learning to drive...you/I will learn far more once you/I are on the tools after you have completed the course.

I have become pretty engrossed with the theory side... I’d recommend you spend an hour with your head in the Regs books and OSG for every hour you spend in a classroom/e learning.

 

[tjones101]

What is a reasonable expectation for finding work after completing the C&G 2365 lvl 2 and 3 course?

From what I understand there are a few door that open. Obviously finding an apprenticeship is the best route to a career, with volunteering time to gain experience on the tools and knowing or finding someone willing to take you on as a trainee other good options.

Would I be able to apply for work as an Electricians Mate with no prior experience if I find the right opening? Or is there a general expectation that to apply for a job role I would have onsite experience beforehand?

 

[LukeD]

Who just wants to do a 'Domestic installer " course and stick with the work available that falls under this scheme ? Thinking of doing this to just cover kitchen install work , Consumer boards and lighting .No real further dreams to expand more etc !

 

[Basshole]

Who just wants to do a 'Domestic installer " course and stick with the work available that falls under this scheme ? Thinking of doing this to just cover kitchen install work , Consumer boards and lighting .No real further dreams to expand more etc !

This is exactly my position.

I personally only want to do domestic work.

 

[LukeD]

DO Tradeskills$U ever reply to these threads ?

 

[DPG]

DO Tradeskills$U ever reply to these threads ?

They have done - see earlier in this thread, but they didn't really make a good example of themselves.

 

[nicebutdim]

They have done - see earlier in this thread, but they didn't really make a good example of themselves.

I think those posts are gone.

 

[DPG]

I think those posts are gone.

Ah right. Ta.

 

[nicebutdim]

Ah right. Ta.

Not certain if the posts had been in another thread, but I checked this one a few weeks back (can't remember why) and they weren't here.

 

[LukeD]

They have done - see earlier in this thread, but they didn't really make a good example of themselves.

OK..!

 

[bumblepuck]

Hi Guys, this is my first post and I apologise if I have done anything wrong.

I am severely in need of help and reassurance on the pathway I am aiming to go through to train to be an electrician.

The current chronological pathway I am looking to follow is:
-fast track C&G 2365 level 2 and 3 via Tradeskills4u link: C&G 2365 Level 2&3 Diploma Course Package | Tradeskills4u - https://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/courses/2365-course

• become a mate, then become an improver (become an improver as soon as possible, if possible avoid the mate step)
• become gold card member through completion of NVQ3 followed by AM2 exam through a work based portfolio while working as an improver.

I really need help from people in the industry as I have key questions:

• from your experience in the industry, is it likely I will be able to get mate and improver employment following my fast track 2365 level 2 and 3 qualifications.
• are there better providers for fast track 2365 courses in the south east? Tradeskills4u has mixed feedback
• through this pathway, am I restricting myself to domestic electronics? In the long run I would like to do industrial following some time in domestic
• importantly, does it make sense to do it this way!

Background: I have studied a degree in biological sciences and found that the type of employment I will get through graduate jobs just don't pay well, graduate jobs are near impossible to find, as well as the fact I feel the working environment for most of these jobs does not match me. I am looking to be an electrician due to an interest in electronics and wanting to work in an environment with problem solving on a daily basis, a well as a good outlook for long term growth in the sector.

The reason I would like to pay money to fast track the 2365 courses is that, being 25, I want to have a career as soon as possible. While I understand college is cheaper, as far as I understand, it will still take a couple of years just to get the 2365 level 2 and 3. Will this route speed things up for me?

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me. My family is not a trade family, I have no contacts around me who I can ask for help with this so I feel quite overwhelmed - especially in light of the investment that fast tracking the first two courses entails. End note: I understand that the fast track will be very full on but I am good at studying.

 

[davesparks]

The fast track will get you the technical qualifications quicker but will not get you the necessary experience any quicker.

To be an electrician, especially a good one, you need experience and there is no fast track route to that.

 

[bumblepuck]

The fast track will get you the technical qualifications quicker but will not get you the necessary experience any quicker.

To be an electrician, especially a good one, you need experience and there is no fast track route to that.

Hi Dave, is it realistic to gain experience by becoming a mate then an improver following the succesful completion of the 2365 2 and 3? Or will I have a hard time finding mate jobs followed by improver jobs from your experience?

 

[nicebutdim]

Another option is an apprenticeship, which gains experience at the same time as knowledge. Not necessarily easy finding someone to take on an adult apprentice, but then neither is it necessarily easy finding an opening as a mate or improver. A lot of people looking for work as a mate or improver might find themselves stuck in a loop on temporary contracts on which they'll be a glorified labourer. If a company takes someone on as an apprentice, they'll be trained to that company's standard and more likely to be offered continued work if halfway competent.

Look at job openings and there are twenty vacancies for sparks for every mate or improver position.

 

[davesparks]

Hi Dave, is it realistic to gain experience by becoming a mate then an improver following the succesful completion of the 2365 2 and 3? Or will I have a hard time finding mate jobs followed by improver jobs from your experience?

Mate isn't really a defined term so what experience you gain will depend on how the mates are treated in a particular company.

Within some companies electricians mate can be a labouring position with no training element at all whereas other companies use the term synonymously with apprentice.

 

[nicebutdim]

Mate isn't really a defined term so what experience you gain will depend on how the mates are treated in a particular company.

Within some companies electricians mate can be a labouring position with no training element at all whereas other companies use the term synonymously with apprentice.

In these parts it's generally used to describe a labourer who works with an electrician - someone who can help pull in cables or get stuff.

 

[bumblepuck]

Another option is an apprenticeship, which gains experience at the same time as knowledge. Not necessarily easy finding someone to take on an adult apprentice, but then neither is it necessarily easy finding an opening as a mate or improver. A lot of people looking for work as a mate or improver might find themselves stuck in a loop on temporary contracts on which they'll be a glorified labourer. If a company takes someone on as an apprentice, they'll be trained to that company's standard and more likely to be offered continued work if halfway competent.

Look at job openings and there are twenty vacancies for sparks for every mate or improver position.

Yes I have noticed that mate and improver jobs are pretty hard to come by. I'm really hoping that there is demand in the sector in light of renewable energy advancements and this changes, otherwise I'll just have to be a mate until I find a company to work for as an improver, I'm hoping by being open to moving to find the work I can overcome the shortage of listings.

Having looked for apprenticeships as well, I can confidentally say that this option is even more dire, especially for my age group. Another factor is that the pay rate is so bad that I may as well work as a labourer or a mate in the mean time instead. And yes I agree, I have noticed a far more fruitful offering for fully qualified electricians.

A key factor behind the decision to train to become an electrician instead of utilizing my degree is that even a mate or a general labouring job actually pays as well as or better than most graduate jobs available to me; hopefully through competency I can get my foot in the door and make it work.

 

[bumblepuck]

Mate isn't really a defined term so what experience you gain will depend on how the mates are treated in a particular company.

Within some companies electricians mate can be a labouring position with no training element at all whereas other companies use the term synonymously with apprentice.

Thank you for this, I think what I will do is clearly outline my intentions to build experience by ontacting companies directly as well as getting any mate jobs I can get if I have difficulty getting work with a company that is willing to provide more rigorous training. Out of interest, have you seen people succesfully progress to gold card status through this route?

Very much appreciate everyone's help so far in this thread. Kind regards, Max

 

[davesparks]

Out of interest, have you seen people succesfully progress to gold card status through this route?

I don't know much about gold cards as I have never had or needed one in 20 odd years of being an electrician. I have seen, and helped, people qualify as electricians through the non-apprenticeship route you are talking about though.

 

[nicebutdim]

Yes I have noticed that mate and improver jobs are pretty hard to come by. I'm really hoping that there is demand in the sector in light of renewable energy advancements and this changes, otherwise I'll just have to be a mate until I find a company to work for as an improver, I'm hoping by being open to moving to find the work I can overcome the shortage of listings.

Having looked for apprenticeships as well, I can confidentally say that this option is even more dire, especially for my age group. Another factor is that the pay rate is so bad that I may as well work as a labourer or a mate in the mean time instead. And yes I agree, I have noticed a far more fruitful offering for fully qualified electricians.

A key factor behind the decision to train to become an electrician instead of utilizing my degree is that even a mate or a general labouring job actually pays as well as or better than most graduate jobs available to me; hopefully through competency I can get my foot in the door and make it work.

In these parts it's rare to find a mate on site. Generally you'll have an apprentice who's learning the trade if an extra pair of hands are needed.

In theory a first year apprentice of any age could be limited to the first year apprentice wage, but that would be down to the individual company and my experience of working as an adult apprentice was very different and it's not uncommon to pull down a higher wage than many graduates part way through an apprenticeship. Conversely, the best paid sparks earn of the basis of experience and ability - do you think someone fresh from a fast track course is going to hit peak earnings faster than an apprentice who has learned on site from day one?

You need to look at this from a different perspective if money is the prime motivating factor. Qualifications are an entry ticket, but ability is what determines how much you earn or whether or not you remain employed. Free rides exist, but those guys tend to achieve poor rates of pay and most companies will have an underperforming spark out the door after a short trial period. You could gain qualifications and hang out your shingle as a domestic spark, but that requires a wealth of knowledge that isn't strictly related to electrical work and it won't be fun having a customer looking over your shoulder when things aren't going as expected. Basically I'm trying to point out that this isn't a means of earning easy money and if the economy slows down competition for jobs will become fierce. It's a dog eat dog world that loads of tradesmen quickly exit when jobs aren't plentiful.

The opportunites are out there, but it's not a straightforward process. Lot's of people take the route you're looking into and come out the other side with a successful career, but many pay significant sums to learn and never manage to get beyond the classroom. If you're serious about this it can be done, but nothing will fall into your lap.

 

[ChelseaGirlElectrician]

OMG, don't go anywhere near them. I just left to join another college close. Hit and miss with lecturers. I had 2 good and. 2 bad. Been a scientist for 30 years and they were teaching completely wrong. Don't waste your money. Most of their work is on the free bootcamp scheme and that's the only reason why they are where they are. If everyone paid they would vote with their feet!

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the information.

Who did you end up going with?

 

[ChelseaGirlElectrician]

I did my level 2 with them and it was a nightmare and even their ratings are going down rapidly and I did my level 3 with EC4U who have constant 5 stars. Electrical Course 4 U are just down the road.

 

[UNG]

Hi Guys, this is my first post and I apologise if I have done anything wrong.

I am severely in need of help and reassurance on the pathway I am aiming to go through to train to be an electrician.

From the rest of your post you seem to have done a lot of research on some parts but not others as for deciding your pathway into the industry only you can make that decision

The current chronological pathway I am looking to follow is:
-fast track C&G 2365 level 2 and 3 via Tradeskills4u link: C&G 2365 Level 2&3 Diploma Course Package | Tradeskills4u - https://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/courses/2365-course

• become a mate, then become an improver (become an improver as soon as possible, if possible avoid the mate step)
• become gold card member through completion of NVQ3 followed by AM2 exam through a work based portfolio while working as an improver.

The route you are looking at would suggest more of a commercial / industrial bias in gaining experience and on the job knowledge as you don't get many if any mates jobs in the domestic sector as for improver jobs it is whether you are allowed the time and help to pick up the experience, on site knowledge and speed to keep you in work

I really need help from people in the industry as I have key questions:

• from your experience in the industry, is it likely I will be able to get mate and improver employment following my fast track 2365 level 2 and 3 qualifications.
• are there better providers for fast track 2365 courses in the south east? Tradeskills4u has mixed feedback
• through this pathway, am I restricting myself to domestic electronics? In the long run I would like to do industrial following some time in domestic
• importantly, does it make sense to do it this way!

As someone who has been in the industry since leaving school I have seen many changes in the training over the last 40 odd years, the fast track system is not a new idea it was around in the 70's and 80's with the government skillcentres that trained unemployed people to become electricians in 6 months and it is fair to say that some were good and got to be pretty good electricians while others would never make the grade, at the time the more seasoned guy's did treat them with some contempt on site and would not give them the chance or time to improve on their limited skills

Background: I have studied a degree in biological sciences and found that the type of employment I will get through graduate jobs just don't pay well, graduate jobs are near impossible to find, as well as the fact I feel the working environment for most of these jobs does not match me. I am looking to be an electrician due to an interest in electronics and wanting to work in an environment with problem solving on a daily basis, a well as a good outlook for long term growth in the sector.

If your looking for problem solving on a daily basis then you might be disappointed something that may be considered a problem early on in your career soon becomes just another bread and butter job and you look forward to a challenging fault find there is a sense of achievement when you report a fault to the DNO and they dig up half the street to fix it

The reason I would like to pay money to fast track the 2365 courses is that, being 25, I want to have a career as soon as possible. While I understand college is cheaper, as far as I understand, it will still take a couple of years just to get the 2365 level 2 and 3. Will this route speed things up for me?

So how do you see the timeline progressing from the fast track training into a fully fledged electrician, a fast track course will not get you a top wage straight out of the course as the training centre will not equip you fully for what you will find on site and it could take a couple of years or more to get there.
The fast track training these days IMO sets you up to pass an exam or 2 which does not necessarily set you up to be an electrician immediately, reading the course sylabus it would good if it was blended with some site experience and some post course support during the first few months of employment to fill in any knowledge gaps

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me. My family is not a trade family, I have no contacts around me who I can ask for help with this so I feel quite overwhelmed - especially in light of the investment that fast tracking the first two courses entails. End note: I understand that the fast track will be very full on but I am good at studying.

While not being from a trade family what if any practical experience do you have with tools and powertools, the selection and use of fixings and all the other engineering skills that the fast track course will not teach you it could be the longer route into the industry may be more beneficial to gain these skills while attending college

Whichever route you choose I hope it works out for you

 

[bumblepuck]

In these parts it's rare to find a mate on site. Generally you'll have an apprentice who's learning the trade if an extra pair of hands are needed.

In theory a first year apprentice of any age could be limited to the first year apprentice wage, but that would be down to the individual company and my experience of working as an adult apprentice was very different and it's not uncommon to pull down a higher wage than many graduates part way through an apprenticeship. Conversely, the best paid sparks earn of the basis of experience and ability - do you think someone fresh from a fast track course is going to hit peak earnings faster than an apprentice who has learned on site from day one?

You need to look at this from a different perspective if money is the prime motivating factor. Qualifications are an entry ticket, but ability is what determines how much you earn or whether or not you remain employed. Free rides exist, but those guys tend to achieve poor rates of pay and most companies will have an underperforming spark out the door after a short trial period. You could gain qualifications and hang out your shingle as a domestic spark, but that requires a wealth of knowledge that isn't strictly related to electrical work and it won't be fun having a customer looking over your shoulder when things aren't going as expected. Basically I'm trying to point out that this isn't a means of earning easy money and if the economy slows down competition for jobs will become fierce. It's a dog eat dog world that loads of tradesmen quickly exit when jobs aren't plentiful.

The opportunites are out there, but it's not a straightforward process. Lot's of people take the route you're looking into and come out the other side with a successful career, but many pay significant sums to learn and never manage to get beyond the classroom. If you're serious about this it can be done, but nothing will fall into your lap.

Thanks for this mate. I just logged back into this forum for the first time in a while and I've had a bit of a change in heart but this reflects the conclusion I came to. After doing quite a bit of research I decided these style courses aren't for me, especially in light of the money involved. The problem that I was trying to circumvent is that apprenticeships here are few and far between, and the cost of rent + rising living costs means I wouldn't be able to sustain myself so I wanted the fastest way of getting on my feet. I want to leave the uk and thought of it as a long term decision after getting qualified here and making a bit of money, however I learnt it's really not that easy to move to europe with british qualifications - especially electrical. I'm a german citizen (dual citizenship) so I'm likely enrolling in a spark apprenticeship over there for september 2025 with plans to move long term, they can speed up an apprenticeship according to performance there and they seem to have more demand for electricians than here with a huge amount of apprenticeships. I'm quite worried about my future in the UK so it seems like the right move. Just wanted to thank everyone who posted in the thread for their help with this process as you were a huge help during a very stressful time

 

[Dan]

Thank you for your honest feedback.