Advice Required - Newby

[Ricki]

Hi All,

My name is Ricki and I have been in the aerospace industry for the last 12 years.

I completed an apprenticeship with my company (gaining various mechanical engineering qualifications along the way)and have been working on aircraft ever since. 

However, I would like this all to change, so I have recently started a home learning course with AbleSkills, starting with a Level 2 in Electrical Installations (2365).

My plan is to complete the level 2/3 over the next couple of years, then gain experience working with a qualified spark whenever I can, then complete my NVQ 3 in Electrotechnical Systems (2357).

Once this is done I believe i then have to complete my 18th edition, test and inspect, AM2 and then apply for my ECS Gold Card. 

The end goal for me is to own my own commercial/industrial electrical company.

I need advice on the best route into a career in electrics. I am unable to take up another apprenticeship due to costs of living (2 children and a mortgage). 

So is what i have suggested above the best route into the trade???

Would appreciate any help at all!!!

Thanks to you all in advance,

Ricki 

 

[Ricki]

Hi All,  

Would just like to add that I am under no preconceived idea that this will happen overnight. I am prepared to spend years and years learning and gaining experience, I just want to make sure I’m attacking this the right way. 
 

Thanks again

Ricki

 

[boltonsparky]

I'm a bit out of touch with routes into the industry now but there are helpful groups, if you're on Facebook you can look up and join the sparkyninja groups. GSH on youtube cover training and have plenty of training videos so they might have some routes into the industry videos. There's a guy called Adrian Davey that covers this sort of thing, I've not watched any of his stuff but I've seen him pop up in various places. 

Best advice you could be given is don't bother  

 

[Sharpend]

So Ricki you have spent years gaining knowledge and skill set in an quite unique specialised? Industry and want to throw that all away to become an electrician? 
On what idea have you based that being an electrician is a better career? Is your current position not safe in that you fear closure, redundancies etc or is this just personal preference? 
 

As for your approach, I admire this, it shows character and tenacity to go about it correctly. Initial thoughts are; the industry is dog eat dog and electricians are two a penny or so job adverts suggest with the low wage they offer. So whilst your attention to the correct qualifications is admirable your earnings potential for a number of years will be fairly minimal as you lack the experience and confidence in what you’d be doing, particularly if you are hoping to roll onto commercial and industrial. 
It takes many years to establish yourself as a self employed person and even then there will always be the next generation coming along to undercut you. Competition is fierce. 
 

Now that aside if you can be ‘different’ to the competition then you may stand out, or if you specialise in one area then you may gain an advantage but it is not easy. 
 

We have a member on here that is in training with a company and he often questions the validity of what he experiences whilst working alongside so called electricians and to say that some of the examples he describes as given by the electricians, is questionable at best. So what you see and learn from others may not always be best standard/practice. 
 

Being an electrician in today’s world is not what it used to be, that’s not to say that you can’t be successful but it is far harder and requires a huge commitment of time and energy, it can put a huge strain on relationships so you both need to know what to expect so you can both be equally prepared. I’ve known many electricians that have their own business that have lost their marriage in the process - may not always be due to him being an electrician! 
 

All I can say is thy at least you have given some thought into the ‘how’ so hopefully you  can support yourself and your family  through the learning and gaining of experience until you can stretch your wings on your own enterprise. 
I wish you the best of luck and will offer you support all the time you are on the forum. 

 

[binky]

Is there no opportunities to retrain with your current employer? 

 

[Ricki]

Firstly, thank you all for taking the time to respond to me. 
I’ll answer your questions you have raised first before going on and explaining myself a little more.

@boltonsparky thank you for the YouTube suggestions I will spend some time watching their videos, I already watch a few sparks on the platform, favourites include Nick Bundy and Thomas Nagy.

@binky My company will only train employees when it suits them. So unfortunately not, the best I could hope for is a days unpaid leave every so often to go to courses. 
 

@Sharpend thank you for the lengthy response, I really appreciate it.
 

To start, the reason I want to be an electrician is personal preference. I do not want to continue earning money for someone else, and would like to work for myself. I realise there are many trades with which I could do this, but the reason I choose being a sparky is because I find it the most interesting and, so far, the most enjoyable (my grandfather is a chippy, my brother is a plumber and my dads a roofer).

Thank you for confirming that my planned route into the industry is the correct way to do it, I am 29 years old, so even if it takes 10 years to get to where I want to be, then I am willing to work hard for it. 39 is still young… right? 
With regards to training and learning, I  imagine it’s important to recognise who, and who not, to listen too. 
I have been here before in the aircraft industry, so hopefully I will be able to see through some of the “unfavourable” working methods that others may teach.  

A final note would be that, although I wish I made this decision 12 years ago, I am excited about the future and just

hope I am making the correct decision. I am willing to work very hard for this and will Be constantly asking for guidance and reassurance

thanks again!!!

 

[binky]

Thank you for confirming that my planned route into the industry is the correct way to do it, I am 29 years old, so even if it takes 10 years to get to where I want to be, then I am willing to work hard for it. 39 is still young… right? 

I came out of industry, retrained and started my own business at 42. 

All trades have their points of interest, and all get boring after a while - I would target the trade that makes most money for the least hassle. 

 

[Ricki]

I came out of industry, retrained and started my own business at 42. 

All trades have their points of interest, and all get boring after a while - I would target the trade that makes most money for the least hassle. 

I’m not too worried about hassle, as long as I am enjoying the work.

Out of curiosity, what was your business, and did you choose the most money/less hassle approach?

 

[binky]

Out of curiosity, what was your business, and did you choose the most money/less hassle approach?

 Prior to becoming an elecrician, I worked in various industries. Tech Eng apprenticeship with British Aerospace working on navigation and missle actuation systems. Stayed with BAe for 10 years before moving on to various employers doing anything from CAD design to project engineering. Got fed up with being made redundant as the factories moved out to China, so went into electrics as my apprenticeship was electro-mechanical, so a fairly easy transition for me. Did the 'part P', 16th edition regs and worked with a friend to learn house bashing. Followed that up with 2391 inspection and testing after a year or so. Never bothered with NVQ level 3 or the like - takes too long. Latterly went into solar panels, as it was interesting and is actually easier than wiring houses plus pays more money. Currently I'm semi-retired and just pottering around doing the odd kitchen/ bathroom, and maintenance work for a school and some other property management companies. 

Hardest part of starting any business is getting a customer base, you can only expect to 'break even' in the first year, which is going to be vey difficult if you have a mortgage to pay. Fortunately you have family that can help with that. Least hassle for you, possibly, would be to take on your father's roofing business (if he has his own company). Roofing seems to pay well from what I have seen. People also like a 'family firm'. Whatever to decide to do, make sure you have enough money in the bank to pay the bills for at least 6 months, ideally a year.