I keep reading articles saying that there are a shortage of tradesmen in the UK.Especially electricians.One look on this and other forums tells a very different story.'Five day wonders' flooding the market.Experienced sparks struggling to get any kind of work.Is the Electrical trade worth getting into these days?
UK shortage of sparks????
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lkayelectrical
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More like a shortage of decent electricians the good thing is 5ww if there work is poor they won't last long, It's a band thing if it's on the news it's going to bring more 5ww to the market which isn't needed but then again no sure what every own else's work is like but I've gone mental over the last month and works still coming in! Main problem is you are unable to be as fussy on which jobs you want
its not the amount of new electricians i see its the amount they spend to set up
everyday at the wholesalers there is a brand new van, new name on the side, one, sometimes two electricians inside in brand new crisp unsoiled named tshirts, named jackets, new boots, new work trousers, folders etc
yesterday me and another old timer pulled up together and our faces both did a double take, we counted five new vans with names we had never heard of it was like an electricians prom night inside the wholesaler, they were all wearing more new stuff than was for sale on the racks!
worse part is, when talking to the lads, they dont seem to have much work if any on the books
as my mate said
"all dressed up but nowhere to go"
when i set up i kept my costs minimum, looked tidy but it was three old vans in before i even had it sign written
seems the government throw money at these guys to get them running where as when i started i paid my own way,
everyday at the wholesalers there is a brand new van, new name on the side, one, sometimes two electricians inside in brand new crisp unsoiled named tshirts, named jackets, new boots, new work trousers, folders etc
yesterday me and another old timer pulled up together and our faces both did a double take, we counted five new vans with names we had never heard of it was like an electricians prom night inside the wholesaler, they were all wearing more new stuff than was for sale on the racks!
worse part is, when talking to the lads, they dont seem to have much work if any on the books
as my mate said
"all dressed up but nowhere to go"
when i set up i kept my costs minimum, looked tidy but it was three old vans in before i even had it sign written
seems the government throw money at these guys to get them running where as when i started i paid my own way,
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I despair at news reporting sometimes.
Like many on here I'm ticking over on small jobs, though do have a new build to start next week (first big job this year)
But this morning I heard on the news house prices are rising again. I'd love to know what planet the reporter was on, certainly up here nothing is selling and most of what's on the market has been on for over a year.
Still I'm making the most of my slack time, I've been out working on the boat this morning, starting to get it ready to go back in the water in April.
Like many on here I'm ticking over on small jobs, though do have a new build to start next week (first big job this year)
But this morning I heard on the news house prices are rising again. I'd love to know what planet the reporter was on, certainly up here nothing is selling and most of what's on the market has been on for over a year.
Still I'm making the most of my slack time, I've been out working on the boat this morning, starting to get it ready to go back in the water in April.
lkayelectrical
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I agree I've noticed alot of that in the wholesales as but to be honest when I set up last July (no I'm not a 5ww)
It didn't cost massive amounts I pad for it all my self I had all the tools I needed inc test equipment, fair enough I dd replace a few power tools so I had a few years of not worrying about them, re used my truck before (which need to upgrade due to being too small now! ) got sign writing (
It didn't cost massive amounts I pad for it all my self I had all the tools I needed inc test equipment, fair enough I dd replace a few power tools so I had a few years of not worrying about them, re used my truck before (which need to upgrade due to being too small now! ) got sign writing (
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Yes you soon find as soon as you become self employed you lose your credit rating. Tip to anyone about to go self employed, get your mortgage and any other loans you need sorted out BEFORE you quit your "proper job"
When we moved 9 years ago, we were just moving into the house (having just built it) and I had been self employed for about a year. We went to buy a new sofa, and the guy in the furniture shop offered us 3 years interest free credit. so we filled in the forms, he went away, and came back 10 minutes later "I'm sorry you have been refused credit"
So I wasn't even credit worthy for a small loan for a sofa. What with being a new house and a new business, I simply had no credit history so it refused me.
Now with the way the banks are, I don't need credit, and firmly don't WANT credit of any sort. Should that ever change, then I will remember the banks that refused me when I first started up, and they won't even get a look in.
When we moved 9 years ago, we were just moving into the house (having just built it) and I had been self employed for about a year. We went to buy a new sofa, and the guy in the furniture shop offered us 3 years interest free credit. so we filled in the forms, he went away, and came back 10 minutes later "I'm sorry you have been refused credit"
So I wasn't even credit worthy for a small loan for a sofa. What with being a new house and a new business, I simply had no credit history so it refused me.
Now with the way the banks are, I don't need credit, and firmly don't WANT credit of any sort. Should that ever change, then I will remember the banks that refused me when I first started up, and they won't even get a look in.
Yep, get your loans sorted first, when I came back to UK 4 years ago I had no credit history here so had to get a "proper" job and a written testimony from my employer as to my prospects and projected earnings before I could even apply for a mortgage.
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It is not the shortage of Sparks that is a problem, as said before it is the quality that is lacking.
Went into wholesalers the other day, bloke in there [been around the area for years], sign written posh van etcetcetc. Recanting his tale of woe regarding the connection of some LEDs [apparently he does hundreds of them]. I just earwigged on the conversation as I will NEVER get involved in giving advice in the wholesalers. Another spark told him 'you cannot connect them like that, you need to use an LED driver. Got his order and left. I went to foul the facilities and on returning 'numpty boy' was looking at the tools on display and asked me which was the best LED driver. I nearly blew my mocha chocca locca coffee all over him. Told him I did not know as I had only just started being a spark ... :coat
Went into wholesalers the other day, bloke in there [been around the area for years], sign written posh van etcetcetc. Recanting his tale of woe regarding the connection of some LEDs [apparently he does hundreds of them]. I just earwigged on the conversation as I will NEVER get involved in giving advice in the wholesalers. Another spark told him 'you cannot connect them like that, you need to use an LED driver. Got his order and left. I went to foul the facilities and on returning 'numpty boy' was looking at the tools on display and asked me which was the best LED driver. I nearly blew my mocha chocca locca coffee all over him. Told him I did not know as I had only just started being a spark ... :coat
Doc Hudson
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Are these articles promoting training course providers by any chance. As they always suggest an abundance of work waiting at
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I think I would have been inclined to say, I don't know which is the best LED driver, but if you see the man at the counter they have a good deal on a Long Weight at the moment and they are dead handy. (or Long Stand if you prefer)
Articles such as this seem to crop up periodically ........often followed by an announcement that more immigrants are needed to fill the hole in the skill pool.
All part of our leader's unfathomable 50 year programme of filling the country with immigrants who, apparently,we need so that we can pay them benefits for the rest of their lives.
Oh dear am I being non PC again . Tut Tut!
No ...there must be a reason for having an open door policy , can't quite see what it is, but they know best , both parties seem to think its a good idea so it must be right .
I can hear the debate in Parliament now :-
" All our industry is disappearing , we have 3,000,000 unemployed, no job hopes for school leavers or graduates , a crumbling Health Service, a housing shortage, massive benefit payments being made but less and less tax coming in, What can we do ?"
" I know .... lets have more and more immigrants come in, they can then ship their families in or we can pay child benefit to any children in their home country"
Rant over !!!
All part of our leader's unfathomable 50 year programme of filling the country with immigrants who, apparently,we need so that we can pay them benefits for the rest of their lives.
Oh dear am I being non PC again . Tut Tut!
No ...there must be a reason for having an open door policy , can't quite see what it is, but they know best , both parties seem to think its a good idea so it must be right .
I can hear the debate in Parliament now :-
" All our industry is disappearing , we have 3,000,000 unemployed, no job hopes for school leavers or graduates , a crumbling Health Service, a housing shortage, massive benefit payments being made but less and less tax coming in, What can we do ?"
" I know .... lets have more and more immigrants come in, they can then ship their families in or we can pay child benefit to any children in their home country"
Rant over !!!
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Nicky Tesla
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Yes there is a shortage......a shortage of fully qualified electricians that will work for
^ & that's self employed too!
plenty of people who call themselves sparks - a shortage of suitably qualified and experienced ones though...
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I heard that a the polish sparks are going home now as they can earn more in Poland 
Ive never come across any polish sparks bit then again I don't work on site so suppose that's where they all are
Ive never come across any polish sparks bit then again I don't work on site so suppose that's where they all areSharpend
"It Just Is"
That's probably because they don't have to do the job twice on poland.
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Electrical Supplies
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My brother has just got an apprenticeship and it took him nearly two year!!
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Lets hope works hard and keeps it. Good luck to him.
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Have apprenticeships changed now from 4 years to 2?
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