Electrician courses

jdamatt_2

Hi, I'm 22 and I'm thinking of starting a new career and doing some electrical intensiv courses over time, keeping in mind I have no contacts to get within the industry.

I'm hearing all these positive sides to doing them but I want to know the negative sides of it because I Havn't really got the cash to throw on courses.

The questions I have to ask for my own well being and others are:

1, Are they worth doing?

2, I know alot of places prefer field experience, but are there many companys that take you on know you have little field experience?

3, If I did find it hard into work place, what are the other solutions I can do to help me get into work place (within electrical) ?

4, Is there anyway that I can get a loan or any goverment funding to help me?

I would much much appreciated if you could give me some advise because I've hit a brick wall at the moment and I'm trying to keep my head above water as many people are.

Also any other additional help would be much helpfull, Many thanks

gibson123

My experience is that most employers want you to be time-served, i.e to have completed as 4 year apprenticeship, why don't you call up some electrical firms and ask what their entry level qualifications and experience is.

Notmyrealname

If you're not time served you'll really struggle to get employment.

jdamatt_2

Notmyrealname wrote: »

If you're not time served you'll really struggle to get employment.

what do you mean by time served?

ditzyat50

jdamatt wrote: »

what do you mean by time served?

My hubby, now aged 53 (no qualifications) left school a long time ago worked from leaving school as a painter and decorator. Worked for same company for 16 years. Learnt the trade and can do the job. That means time served. Some employers want a qualification on paper but some prefer experience which usually comes with an ace reference from previous employer. Hubby now doing something different now can still fall back on his reputation of being a time served painter and decorator.

mo786uk

Check out a specialist electrciians forum for advice.

At your age you will prob be best off doing an appreticiship - part work part studying. do not be fooled into signing up for a course that lasts a couple of weeks and promises big earnings.

I hung around on a plumbing forum for DIY reasons and from what I understood the market was flooded with trainee plumbers with not enough work to go aorund and it is difficult to get someone to take you on to train you from scratch.

jdamatt_2

mo786uk wrote: »

Check out a specialist electrciians forum for advice.

At your age you will prob be best off doing an appreticiship - part work part studying. do not be fooled into signing up for a course that lasts a couple of weeks and promises big earnings.

I hung around on a plumbing forum for DIY reasons and from what I understood the market was flooded with trainee plumbers with not enough work to go aorund and it is difficult to get someone to take you on to train you from scratch.

It's so hard for an apprenticeship at my age, usually 16-19 cause they can get afull funding where as any age higher, they can only get a certian amount of funding

Notmyrealname

jdamatt wrote: »

what do you mean by time served?

You've done an apprenticeship. That is what is known as time served.

There is a world of difference between someone who has done an electricians course and someone who has done the same course as part of an apprenticeship - mainly 2-3 years on the job experience. And thats why people want time-served as the guy who has just done the course only knows the basics and will fall to bits the first time they have to repair or alter existing wiring because they simply don't have the skills or hands on experience to know what they're looking at.

Its the same with any trade. Take a former one of mine - vehicle mechanic. Someone who has done a City & Guilds will know the basics of how to change a cambelt etc. However the one who did it as part of an apprenticeship will know that on a specific model you need to do X, Y and Z as well to do that cambelt.

saintjammyswine

jdamatt wrote: »

It's so hard for an apprenticeship at my age, usually 16-19 cause they can get afull funding where as any age higher, they can only get a certian amount of funding

Not entirely true. You will pay no fees for your training regardless of age. At 22 the employer may be asked for a contribution to the training costs (maybe £500) but in the current climate most training providers are waiving or reducing this contribution. The provider (likely to be a college) will simply get less money for providing your training, doesn't affect the training you get at all. Contact National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/About-Us/National-Apprenticeship-Service.aspx or your local FE (Further Education) College for advice on what is available in your area.