In reply to Post #14
It's there you senile old git.
Click on 'fight' ....
It's there you senile old git.
Click on 'fight' ....
In reply to Post #16
Well done, my ageing eyes have problems late at night. My apologies.
BTW that will be the first and last time I apologise so now **** off
Well done, my ageing eyes have problems late at night. My apologies.
BTW that will be the first and last time I apologise so now **** off
In reply to Post #17
Cheers for the replies guys. Ive looked into it all a little more. Hopefully ill be able to get on an evening college course starting in september. I have 3 applications on with 3 different colleges. One is unlikely as its on one evening a week so will take ages. Got the choice of 2 colleges, doing 2 nights a week, one being EAL, the other C&G. Would rather the C&G but need to see what happens.
Pretty much ruled out the intensive ones now, spoke to someone today, was very pushy, quite intrusive about my personal situation, and also spouted wha fet like a load of **** to put me off the college courses.
Im a realist, and know through my current work that experience is 10 tomes better than any qualification, so plan is, level 2 and level 3 diplomas at college whilst carrying on where i am. After that, look at doing some work experience. Good thing with staying where i am for now, is that i can offer myself out to work for free to get the experience. Then do any bolt on courses, and start the NVQ, AM2 bits once i have a bit of experience under my belt
Pretty much ruled out the intensive ones now, spoke to someone today, was very pushy, quite intrusive about my personal situation, and also spouted wha fet like a load of **** to put me off the college courses.
Im a realist, and know through my current work that experience is 10 tomes better than any qualification, so plan is, level 2 and level 3 diplomas at college whilst carrying on where i am. After that, look at doing some work experience. Good thing with staying where i am for now, is that i can offer myself out to work for free to get the experience. Then do any bolt on courses, and start the NVQ, AM2 bits once i have a bit of experience under my belt
In reply to Post #19
Good luck mate
I twice typed a reply, got too bloody long . Similar thought but plumbing, have seen it from the pov of a British Gas engineer who went self employed after 15 years, a newly qualified lad and my retired father in law who was life time served. FIL put me off, 3 adverts from studying/newly qualified lads in the pub vault, offered themselves as apprentice or free, they couldn't get work. Ironically the NQ lad on our road was/is a roaring success.
Also recently from a electrician who re-wired our house, retrained/qualified at 35, did 5 years commercial work for experience, got fed up with the travelling now SEP.
I did re-train, did my HGV2 then 1/flt/digi tacho, after a few months the Mrs drew the line at the hours, at least I gave it a go, should have done the plumbing
Good luck mate
I twice typed a reply, got too bloody long
. Similar thought but plumbing, have seen it from the pov of a British Gas engineer who went self employed after 15 years, a newly qualified lad and my retired father in law who was life time served. FIL put me off, 3 adverts from studying/newly qualified lads in the pub vault, offered themselves as apprentice or free, they couldn't get work. Ironically the NQ lad on our road was/is a roaring success.Also recently from a electrician who re-wired our house, retrained/qualified at 35, did 5 years commercial work for experience, got fed up with the travelling now SEP.
I did re-train, did my HGV2 then 1/flt/digi tacho, after a few months the Mrs drew the line at the hours, at least I gave it a go, should have done the plumbing
In reply to Post #10
Testing and inspection is not as hard as it used to be 👍
Testing and inspection is not as hard as it used to be 👍
In reply to Post #1
I re-trained as a sparks at 26yr old... Did my C&G qualifications (including 2391 Inspection and Test.)
Practical experience is absolutely key, and no decent outfit will take anyone seriously without it... I started with a local firm just fetching and carrying etc, then very gradually worked my way up, eventually doing ten years in London, mostly on commercial sites...
I was self-employed as a subby and each time I moved contractor, I'd stick £5-10 on the day rate until eventually I was on full whack everywhere I went... Be careful though, as if you want full rate then you'll need to know exactly what you're doing, as the foreman could ask you to do anything, including switch rooms, 300mm armoured terminations etc, none of which are easy..! I found other sparks would rip the urine if someone wanted full rate but was useless - again, experience is key...
After a few years, I swore that by the time I was 40 I wanted to be off the big sites, as it's tough work that takes its toll physically... Nowadays, I test lift control panels in a nice dry and warm workshop, it's a decent number...
Am I glad that I re-trained? Yes, it's given me a decent living and if you're any good at it then you'll always have work. It is graft though, and not for the workshy or lazy. Get stuck in, be keen to learn and you'll get along fine. I always tried to help any of the apprentices who I was teamed with, and especially if they showed willing. Good luck, fire away if you need any info. 👍
I re-trained as a sparks at 26yr old... Did my C&G qualifications (including 2391 Inspection and Test.)
Practical experience is absolutely key, and no decent outfit will take anyone seriously without it... I started with a local firm just fetching and carrying etc, then very gradually worked my way up, eventually doing ten years in London, mostly on commercial sites...
I was self-employed as a subby and each time I moved contractor, I'd stick £5-10 on the day rate until eventually I was on full whack everywhere I went... Be careful though, as if you want full rate then you'll need to know exactly what you're doing, as the foreman could ask you to do anything, including switch rooms, 300mm armoured terminations etc, none of which are easy..! I found other sparks would rip the urine if someone wanted full rate but was useless - again, experience is key...
After a few years, I swore that by the time I was 40 I wanted to be off the big sites, as it's tough work that takes its toll physically... Nowadays, I test lift control panels in a nice dry and warm workshop, it's a decent number...
Am I glad that I re-trained? Yes, it's given me a decent living and if you're any good at it then you'll always have work. It is graft though, and not for the workshy or lazy. Get stuck in, be keen to learn and you'll get along fine. I always tried to help any of the apprentices who I was teamed with, and especially if they showed willing. Good luck, fire away if you need any info. 👍
In reply to Post #22
Cheers mate. I have a few mates in the building trade so hoping I'll be able to get a bit of experience through them. I'm in a position where I can stay where I am for now and do some work for experience on the side so I'm ok financially before I take the plunge.
May tap you up in the future for a bit of advice
Cheers mate. I have a few mates in the building trade so hoping I'll be able to get a bit of experience through them. I'm in a position where I can stay where I am for now and do some work for experience on the side so I'm ok financially before I take the plunge.
May tap you up in the future for a bit of advice