Trained Electrician NVQ

bobbybright

I have recently been medically discharged from the army. I had hoped to make a career out of it but as is life, things never worked out that way. I have been out for about 2 months now and have been working dead end jobs on a casual basis, as and when there is work.

I have been researching the idea of being an electrican, but feel im hitting a brick wall. Everywhere i read, you have to be NVQ level 3 to be classed as an electrician. But to do this you have to be employed, and i can't get employed without qualifications. I have looked at apprenticeships but finding one is difficult, and quiet often only offer £95 a week, which is unsuvivable. Not only that they often only have funding for 16-18 year olds.

I have seen alot of courses offering C&G's claiming they will qualify you, but then other sites say the NVQ is needed as the foundation, with c&g's just being suppliments.


I am 20 years old and hard working, but with todays job climate and funding, its difficult and i feel like i'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. An electrician is just an idea, but i'm willing to do anything that isn't leading to a dead end job. I am willing to suck in for a year or two but i need something that in the long run is a worthy career.

Hammyman

You are going to have to get yourself on an apprenticeship and suck up the £95 a week. I am surprised you weren't offered resettlement training before your discharge as part of rehabilitation back to civvy street. You could try phoning the British Legion and SSAFA and see if they can help.

bobbybright

I do have resettlement, not that its worth much, and it doesn't really account for anything if an apprenticeship is the only route into the trade.

Oldernotwiser

You can join a course at your local college but you will need, at some point, to get the site experience for the NVQ. This experience could be paid or unpaid. If you have any friends or relatives in the industry, this could be the time to start working your contacts to see what might be available.

I agree that an apprenticeship would be the best route and there could well be employers who would welcome a 20 year old ex serviceman, rather than a school leaver. If you can't manage on £95 per week because you live independently, don't forget that you can claim LHA/HB/CTB if you're on a low income.

relic

I looked into doing this, the only way in these days is getting an apprenticeship with the council or if you're very lucky a local firm.

There are thousands of people out there with the qualifications, who can't even get the experience when they offer it for unpaid.