UK shortage of sparks????

[monkey5]

Have apprenticeships changed now from 4 years to 2?

i think he ment it took 2 years for a company to take him on, not 2 yearss to complete. but might be wrong mate.

 

[Guy]

To the op. I have done a fasttrack course (last year) I am going to assume that is what you are considering (if you are a youngster and considering apprenticship ignore this). Although I am struggling to find employment I do not regret making my first steps in becoming an electrician, if you know you want to do then quite simply, do it. The reality..........on finishing these courses you are 'on paper' an electrician, but in the real world of finding work you will be applying for 'electricians mate' positions. An average electricians job that is advertised will ask for the normal quals such as 17th but also 2391 (which you will not pass through just classroom and workshop experience) and 3yrs experience. Unless you have a friend/family that can get you work in the industry then be prepared for periods of unemployment and short contracts as a mate which round here (manchester) is

 

[Cirrus]

I think it certainly depends where in the UK you are. I live and work in the SW and can honestly say there is NO shortage of sparks in this part of the world. The demographics have changed enormously over the last 5 years with several electrical contractors with 50 - 100 sparks each on the books going bump. What this does is flood the market with self employed sparks as their employment opportunities are nil. Now all I see when in the wholesalers are spark after spark arriving in small cars, loaded with tools and a set of steps poking through the sunroof!

I was talking to my business partner about the 'new van' club only last week. There seems to be trend of going to the bank, remortgaging for

 

[batty]

Well I have been trading for over ten years certainly don't earn

 

[jg90]

I don't see how it's possible to be a shortage I passed my trade test last year and haven't worked with a company since as I don't have enough experience don't know how to get it without working lol

 

[binky]

News reports always annoy me, they are forever talking about skills shortages whether in trades or industry, but they never say what the shortages are, and certainly don't look at why? If they did we might be able to re-train to fill the gaps. My suspicion lies with Nicky Tesla - poor wages on offer for fully qualified people. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys :^O

 

[steptoe]

can you really blame Nicky for that? or have I missed something?

 

[NozSpark]

I just wih there was a shortage,, that would mean there would be plenty of work for us