Advice on finding work as Electrician...

bowlingo

Hi all..
I have been working for a large housing association for the last 7 years as a sub contractor doing testing and remedial works on there void (empty properties) anything up to 10 a week and have a couple of people who help me out as and when needed.

As of September they are doing all the work in house

This is my fault and my fault only as I have got myself in a situation where I have had all my eggs in one basket...When I went self employed 6 years ago I was doing other bits and pieces but as the phone stopped ringing (noticed a huge slow down from about 2010) I accepted all the work they could give me.....

Because I have had my head buried in the sand it now seems that little people like myself have serious problems getting the good stuff. Building sites and renovations no longer seem to have lots of little people and seem to be big companies carrying out the work.

I have tried a few housing associations so far but none have been very positive as I am just another electrician looking to sub contract..they must get loads contacting them now the building industry has slowed down. Three of the five ive contacted have said they do everything in house and the other two said its not worth registering with them....

There are 104 housing associations in Dorset and Hampshire so I am going to try and go through the list.

What do you think is the best approach is when contacting them? I am asuming its best to talk to the contracts manager or similar on the phone, write letters or try and get a meeting etc?

I am NIC approved, all standard qualifications including test and inspection, insured, have asbestos awareness certificate, health and safety policy, method statements, risk assesments, VAT registered, CIS gross status...apart from a lot of luck can you think of anything else that might improve my chances?...I suppose the fact ive tested and brought up to date several thousand social housing properties, understand the schedule or rates etc should go in my favour?

I suppose targeting letting agents and property management companies would also be a good option

I could get an employed PAYE job tomorrow as an electrican but I need to explore all the possible avenues before I bail out and take the easy route...doing this would also be like taking a 50% reduction in pay and it wouldnt be enough to get by on a month to month basis so at some point something will have to give...when I started training as an electrician 20 years ago £10+ an hour seemed like a very nice wage however its still around the same rates now and probably with more tax involved (this is another story however)

Thanks

ohreally

If you have demonstrable experience of periodic insp and hold 2391, you should have little problem getting work. I noticed there were a few ads recently for 2391 inspectors (no installation, just insp) round my way paying around £18ph employed with work for the foreseable future.

Good luck.