Evening - And A Little Help Please

[Modfather]

Hi all 

Stumbled on this forum through some browsing and it seems like a great place - am currently re-training as an Electrical Installer and signed up on the ATL course - however, it seems to be painfully slow - I am still waiting to go on the practical weeks. Also I live in London and have found out the nearest practical centre is Southampton!!

I'm looking at jumping ship - and have heard some positive reviews about 'Able Skils' - any advice is welcome!

 

[Manator]

Local colleges do most electrical courses, get to know them and find out if they are suitable to you. There is no fast track to becoming an electrician but there is a commitment.

 

[Andy™]

no short course will make you an electrician

best to contact your local college and do a proper course through them

 

[Modfather]

Thanks for the replies and input. I should stress that I am not looking for a 'quick fix' but the issue is more that the course I am on are spinning it out and there are lots of long delays to get to the next stage, where I am stuck at home doing nothing!

 

[Modfather]

Hi all - just wondered of anyone has completed the Full scope course with these guys, who knows anyone who has? Or any horror stories..

DISLCIAMER: I am now fully aware that I should have looked at my local college and there is no short cut to becoming an electrician. I just want to know if anyone has any experience of ATL as I am in the middle of a loan agreement that will be a huge pain in the arse to get out of..

DISCLAIMER I meant - damn spelling

 

[batty]

Never heard of them who are they and were are they based?

 

[Modfather]

Based in Luton (not able to post links yet) but atlpt followed by the uk domain name will take you there.

As I mentioned in my 'introduce yourself' post - it is really strung out and there are long waits to do the practical weeks. As I am keen to do domestic work, there seem to be more suitable, cheaper options out there which I have discovered since registering (a huge lesson learnt..) Also the nearest training centre is in Southampton - not brilliant if you live in North London...

 

[batty]

Did they not tell you that when you enrolled IE. were training centre is. 

 

[Modfather]

They told me Luton had one. They do, but only for plumbing! My wife heard it so I have a witness.

 

[batty]

I take it you are trying to get out of the course how much did it cost?

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

That would be This course

I guess its about £1.5 K

 

[batty]

When I did my qualifications I did them evening classes at college 3 hours written 3 hours practical IE. two evenings a week that way I could work in the day at my other job. Seemed to work for me.  

 

[Andy™]

They told me Luton had one. They do, but only for plumbing! My wife heard it so I have a witness.

go for the plumbing. worst case if you get it wrong someone gets wet. better than being dead since you left the house live.

 

[Modfather]

go for the plumbing. worst case if you get it wrong someone gets wet. better than being dead since you left the house live.

Thanks for the advice... I'm assuming I will not be leaving any house 'live' if I get proper training though.

 

[Andy™]

but your not getting proper training though. an apprenticeship takes 4 years. do you really think a course lasting a few weeks will teach you everything you need to know, or just enough to get you to pass an exam?

 

[Modfather]

I think I've stumbled into something else here - just wanted to find out if anyone had been on the ATL course. Not really interested in arguing the pros and cons of these courses! Blame the course providers or the regulation bodies - don't blame the people that sign up to them!

 

[Andy™]

don't blame the people that sign up to them!

if people didnt sign up then they wouldnt exist. so yes, you are part of the problem and have part of the blame for it all

 

[Modfather]

That's the problem with forums - you ask a question and you get the answer depending on someone else's prejudices/grievances - whether it's relevant or not.

I'm guessing you have stats to back up your theories - how many accidents have been caused by people that have completed these courses?

Do you know what mate? I have a family to feed and need to retrain, so I'll do one of these courses and make sure I am legally entitled to work. Part of that legal requirement does not seem to be asking 'Andy' with 19,111 posts if he approves, so I'll skip that if that''s OK? You don't own the profession, you just work in it. 

 

[batty]

I think you need to look at other forums do a search ATL training feedback there is quite a bit on other forums. I am afraid I agree with Andy on this short courses are ruining our industry and many others.

 

[Andy™]

being 'qualified' does not make you competent.

dont think any official stats exist, but if you look in the black museum here you will see many pics of people trying to do work with no idea. along with the usual dodgy work ive been on 2 job that were really bad. one left the downstairs flat & neighbours houses live (downstairs at 230v, neighbours would have been at a lower voltage the futher away they were). the other one went to court using my evidence. fortunatly, in both of them, no-one was killed, but some people did receive a shock

in the first one, he was a 'short course' spark. not sure on the second, but i dont think he had any qualifications

and you wonder why people dont like those who dont have a clue and think they can learn it all in a few days before passing a simple exam? by the end of your 'practical' you may be excellent at wiring a ring main on a board stuck to a wall but go to a house and you wont have any idea