One of the main problems with the industry is the age old conception of it by other trades and the public of, if it works its ok and also because a lot of the work is not visible then it's value is less than that of say a nicely skimmed wall or big shiny boiler, this leads to a general insecurity in the Electrical trade and it is difficult to explain to a customer in layman terms the why's and wherefores of something which is not to a decent standard and should be improved, again the attitude of it works so it must be ok!The only way I see this will change is when deaths and injuries/accidents are publicised more.
The industry used to be well respected ie the cleverest bloke on site was usually an electrician when the old apprenticeships were run, the modern version leaves a lot to be desired you can see on any forum the lack of general education is evident in many posts especially spelling, basic questions etc
I've worked with a few electricians and apprentices and have never stopped being amazed at the attitudes towards this trade, most think that once they've got their papers thats it no more reading!
the college system is also to blame I've worked with lads who left school with far better qualifications than my self and they struggle to comprehend a lot of the theory etc the colleges are now concentrating on meeting the ofsted requirements instead of the final product I've had meetings with the lecturers from my local college most of whom have not had any experience on the tools and continually allow people onto the courses who do not have the correct aptitude or attitude to be an Electrician but they do have lots of A's from school
I suggested that they look closer at who they take on I know its also down to the employer ,teach them the subject more thoroughly and the results will fend off the ofsted reports
a good example of this is the apprentice I employ (I'm lucky to have him), started when he was 22 with our old firm I had him from day one until I left in his 1st year ,out of 12 lads qualified and not
he was the only one I offered a job to if he should want it , he left to work withme at the end of the second year
He's just done his final exams, waiting to do the AM2 so he decided to work hard and do the 2391 last night
This lad (all credit goes to him by the way I help as much as I can but its down to him ultimately) has won apprentice of the year twice and passed everything with distinctions has had to sit in the same class as a couple of other lads I know who have about a 5th of his knowledge and understanding of the subject which is form his own reading etc and watch them being spoonfed answers to past exam papers and coached for their resits
one apprentice I worked with at a firm failed his multiple choice exams 6 times , he's now self employed and with a scheme !
and no doubt will be undercutting me on a job in the near future
There is also the undercutting factor which electricians seem to be good at more so than other trades, personally I won't do it I want to be paid what I think the job is worth,
undercutting for ridiculous amounts is not the same as being competitive this leads to the ****ging off of others and sometimes poor attitude towards others in the game
In other countries you need a license to work as an electrician ,they charge what they feel they're worth reflecting the skill/qualifications level and still remain competitive as all electricians are charging approximately the same but they sell on the quality or service given
in the Uk undercutting means everyone is worse off in the end as the work is constantly devalued and we end up working for nothing
the main cause I feel is the new generation of often underskilled tradesmen competing with the guy who is going to do it properly and as he has the overheads is going to lose out, then to compete he'll have to lower his standards ,its just a vicious downwards spiral
Compare this to the Gas fitter, the jobs virtually licenced joe bloggs can't do it, they hold customers over a barrel , and he always charges a rate much higher than your electrician would do for the equivalent amount of work we should be following their lead making the work pay , but without the rip off factor
Ours is a skilled and professional trade and its upto everyone to keep it that way
At the end of the day its a question of attitudes and ethics and not being too shortsighted
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