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Trying to read up on the path into fully qualified electricianhood but it's bloody confusing.
I thought I needed a 2330 but I just found this [url= http://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/courses/2365-course#funding ]LINK[/url]
It appears to have been superceded by the 2356 which doesn't have a requirement for logging hours in an actual work placement. When I looked into this a few years ago the big hurdle was finding a job with zero experience in order to enroll on the course. All but impossible unless you know someone. If that's been changed and you can simply complete the course then go job hunting surely that's better?
I'm not sure what I need to do. I'm going to a college open night tonight for some proper advice but as always you never know what gems STW will deliver.
Any sparkys on here with any advice or tales from the trade? I really need a change.
Hi SharkAttack.
Sparky here. More than happy to discuss if you want. email in profile. Drop me a mail and I'll send you my phone number.
Rich.
See what I mean about checking STW? Career advice from a real sparky in less than 10 minutes!
Many thanks, I'll shoot you an email when I get a chance, I'm mobile for the rest of today. After tonights meeting I should have a better idea what I'm asking about as well.
No problem. Speak sometime this week.
Rich.
Bump for all the sparkies who were out grafting today.
Hi Sharkattack,
Sparky here, and the manager of the electrical dept in an FE college & tutor for 15 years.
The current situation is as follows.
2357 - only course that qualifies you as an electrician, but you do need an apprentice/trainee job in order to register with C&G
2365 (not 2356 as in your OP - that finished 3 years ago) is available for non-trade employed students. You do L2 and L3, but then you do need a job in order to complete the NVQ element and prepare for the AM2 (3 day trade test). The AM2 is a mandatory part of the NVQ. It is true that the 2365 will make you more employable as you'll be able to be useful right from day one, but only with proper training. Lots of private training providers, as in your link, teach you to pass the exam rather then understand the content. You'll only be truly useful on site with [i]practical[/i] experience, and a course limited to 16 weeks will severely constrain the amount of workshop time you will have access to. IME they also expect you to spend much of the time teaching yourself from the books, and anyone can do that. I'd be very cautious about parting with >7K, but I'm a traditionalist who thinks training needs to be thorough and you can't short-cut experience.
Your local FE college (assuming it's decent) is a better bet, although longer in timescale.
HTH - ask any more questions and I'll happily answer what I can.
Andy
I'm an electrician and have been for 21 years and I'm now a site supervisor. My apprenticeship took four years. I'm not convinced these short intense courses are the way forward especially when they cost nearly £7.5k! Personally I would be looking at trying to get an adult trainee job with an electrical contractor and do a proper apprenticeship.
This is probably easier said than done so good luck, hope things work out.
Mr Mojo - the voice of reason. Completely agree sir.
sharkattack - MemberBump for all the sparkies who were out grafting today.
That would be every day 😉
If I read your profile correct your in the North East. I have contacts in Tyne & Wear
I'm not going to enrol on that 7 grand course it's just where I was getting the info about the new course.
Thanks for the detailed description though. Still need to find a job somehow that's the hard part.
MrOvershoot maybe I could speak to some of your contacts;) I've been asking around but I just don't know anyone in the trade. And yes I'm in Newcastle.
Many thanks.
Phew, this takes ages on a phone.
I tried getting a job after doing a L2 2230in 2009. No luck. Industry seemed closed to adults chaning job. Decided not to do the L3 as I had also done the 17th edition and the L3 had little technicaly I did not already know, so doing it with out a job to learn the hands on side and to fill in a work book was a waste of money at the local college.
I wish you luck but it did seem like a closed shop unless you had a done a aprentaship @ 16 / 18 that was it, you would need a father / uncle / friend who could give you a job.
Well I went to a college open night yesterday. Got there at 5 o clock just as all the kids were leaving and it felt a bit weird being back in that environment. As it got a bit later the place seemed to be taken over by adults so there's obviously stuff going on after hours and lots of people trying to improve themselves.
Anyway, the head of the electrical courses wasn't there so I have to make an appointment to go back. The man I did speak to (head of the welding and fabrication department) was helpful though but he seemed to think the electrical students have a hard time finding work unless they know someone or have something lined up.
He did get on about welding though. Apparently a massive skills shortage and increased manufacturing means they can't get people trained up fast enough. My girlfriend has a 23 year old cousin who did the welding courses at the same college a few years ago is now earning mega money on shipyards and offshore. Maybe that's something to think about.
Industry seemed closed to adults chaning job
Well I refused to believe it a while ago but it's looking more and more true. I need to speak to some local employers and get an idea what the job market is like.