Advice needed please

[CTID]

Hi all,

Sorry but I was unsure where to post this question. Please move if required.

I am new to here so let me take a moment to introduce myself. I am a 26yr old maintenance man with a 3 month old baby girl, she is my world.

When I left school at 16 I became a government sponsored apprentice through Training 2000 in Blackburn. I wanted to be an electrician but unfortunately at the time, not many companies were after an apprentice and I ended up being "pushed" in the way of CNC engineering. After a few years of being unhappy I threw in the towel with just an NVQ level 2 to my name and fell into the world of Security. Ever since that time tho I have longed to make the move back into the world of electrics. I now do maintenance and have done a number of jobs around electrical installations, only single phase, limited testing, but would like to pursue my career in this again.

Unfortunately it now seems I will receive little help and therefore will all be done by my own funding. I would like advice on the best course of how to get into this career (current economic climate allowing).

I have looked into a domestic installer course, inclusive of 17th ed, c&g 2392, c&g 2377 PAT, and obviously part P. I would at some point love to do my NVQ's as well but all down to money.

Is what I have looked at my best route to go down whilst also helping out any needing sparks to get more experience.

I am currently reading course books by Brian Scadden and Trevor Linsley to further my knowledge so when the time does come I will be better prepared for it.

Any advice would be much appreciated and I thank you for your time.

Andy

 

[betty swollocks]

Become a tiler!

Less hours, less red tape, less hassle, more money

Sad but true

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I have looked into a domestic installer course, inclusive of 17th ed, c&g 2392, c&g 2377 PAT, and obviously part P. I would at some point love to do my NVQ's as well but all down to money.Is what I have looked at my best route to go down whilst also helping out any needing sparks to get more experience.

Andy

Despite what the "Training Company" may try to sell & tell you...

{remember they are no more than a shop trying to sell you its product!}

Part P is a building regulation NOT an electrical qualifiaction....

If you are looking to become employed very few companies would recognise Part P as anything!

PAT testing sold as part of a Domestic course???headbangheadbangheadbang

A) You do NOT actually need a formal qualification to do PAT testing...

B) Domestic properties general do not need the appliances tested for their employees as domestic homes have NO employees!!!

C) The PAT testing C&G can be passed in a day by a non electrically qualified person, so it carries very little credence toward any "Formal Electrical" qualifications...

any business trying to sell you these things is trying to fleece you of unnecessary time & money...

But it is any easy sell to the gullible and naive!

Rather like the product insurance sold by many electrical outlets..

Or PPI insurance from the banks...

waste of bleeding time & money.. :red card

Have you been and spoken to the electrical dept at your local college?

p.s. although this may sound harsh...

the stuff about your child is irrelevant to the question in hand?

We all have complex family and/or personal lives, best just to keep to the point when asking about college course info.

:coffee

 

[Cirrus]

Or a builder - they have pots of cash lying around and get to play with electrics and claim they don't need to worry about part p.

 

[gavindrummond]

Like your self citd I did my NVQ level 2 and city&guilds 2351 in 2003 but because I did not have a drivers license and the age of an apprentice at that time was between 16 to 19 yr olds, I too was left feeling deflated and hard done by. So due to personal reasons I went back to what I know which is welding. Whilst my heart always wanted to be doing and learning electrics, I could not afford to pack everything in and go back to collage. But last year I passed my drivers license and thought right I'm off back to collate to carry on and see what becomes of it. I'm currently about to finish my city&guilds 2330 level 2 whilst looking for an apprenticeship which is much harder than normal purely to the economy, I have gad the odd day here and there doing house rewires and it's all experience too. My advise is go to your local collages have a sit down explain where you are in terms of qualifications and experience and where you would like to go. I know my course is running to its end now this year and being replaced with an either a city&guilds domestic installers course or an NVQ based its about a 3 year course. Be prepared to have knock back after knock back whilst trying to get an apprenticeship but stay the course as success is inevitable if your determined. Good luck

 

[CTID]

Thanks for the replies, from what I can gather from the replies I am better taking the 17th ed on its own and prob the 2392. Spend the savings on my ECS card. What do you think about doing the IPAF licence, seen a few sparks mates saying its preferable to have, is this true?

I know what u mean about tilers and builders and red tape but unfortunately I have always been drawn to electrics :/

 

[Evans Electric]

You could be a builder .......TOMORROW ...get up , have your breakfast then turn round three times and shout ..." I'm a Builder, I'm a Builder" ...and it will be so .

 

[Doc Hudson]

Hello CTID, welcome to the forum, all I can say is don't give up you will get more knock backs, but keep on trying.

Doc H.

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 20:55 ---------- Previous post was made at 20:55 ----------

You could be a builder .......TOMORROW ...get up , have your breakfast then turn round three times and shout ..." I'm a Builder, I'm a Builder" ...and it will be so .

I thought it was three times for a plumber, four times for a builder and five times for a landlord?

Doc H.

 

[batty]

My only advice would be don't waste your money on a short training course that will cost thousands with promises of you being an electrician when you finish its very unlikely to happen. College is the better option and hopefully you will find somebody that will give you a chance to get the practical experience. It a hard job to get into there have been hundreds in a similar position to you in the last few years asking on the forum. Good luck with it though.

 

[CTID]

Thanks for all the advice and time taken to reply. I have booked onto my 17th Edition course, time to get studying. Thinking of taking the 2392 to get me a better understanding of testing and inspection. Not going to bother with the part P or 2377 as part of a course. Looked at college courses this evening but due to funding may have to put that off for 12 months(ish). I do currently get some experience with electricals now as it is but would benefit greatly from working alongside a qualified spark. Though I think I will look into that once I have my 17th under my belt. I'm prepared to give up time working for free to gain that essential experience. Until then though I better get my head deep in my books and learn all the theory I can to help along the way.

 

[steptoe]

CTID, it may be a bit far for you, but if you need pics and/or testimonials you can always shadow me for a day now and again, I work most weekends if I have the work on.

 

[CTID]

That would be appreciated Steps, seen your Gtr Manc area which isn't too far from me. My work at the moment is fairly flexible and I often have 1 day off during the week which may suit you better.

 

[froria]

Let me give you my little insite.

I am American yes the it American. I held no previous experience or qualification in electrics.

I moved here 9 years ago with my wife and 3 kids. I had to go to college at night while being paid as a adult improver during the day for a electrical firm.

8 years later I know have 2330 Lvl 2 and 3, nvq Lvl 3, 2391, and the 17th update ( can never remember the number) self employed now with nic registration.

As with others I am not trying to be harsh here. You just need to go back to college and speak with them. That's prob. The fairest advice to get. If I could do it with a wife and 3 kids then you will fly thru it.

Not to mention the lads on her are a great help. Good luck no matter how you do it.

If you can get to Bristol there is space with me for your apprentice experience