A Background In Electrical Qualifications

For many people, an interesting and varied choice often means a career within the electrical industry. Often (and more correctly) referred to as 'Electro-Mechanical Engineering', we'll simply refer to it as the Electrical Industry for the sake of simplicity here. In addition, we will stay with the UK market and especially items relating to the domestic and commercial sectors rather than global issues. We will begin by reviewing the main issues first and come back to the 'add-ons' later, because of the huge number of options available as a career within this subject.

Essentially, we see two distinct forms of entry into the electrical market. To being with we have the older apprentice course and then secondly we have the option for those who wish to make a career change to join the industry. We have to reference individuals so we will plainly do so by 'Junior' and 'Mature' entrants.

Principally, Mature Entrants join the electrical workplace later on, and focus on becoming self employed. This means working on their own and not having to pay salaries to anyone else. On the other hand, to gain further credentials and experience 'Junior Entrants' tend to work for a recognised electrical firm. Upon leaving school many apprenticeships provide a fast learning curve for young adults looking to boost their auxiliary skills.

The distinct types of entry have differing styles of training - The Junior Entrants syllabus involves NVQ/SVQ's as well as proving working skills. As part of the training program an NVQ would be a requirement to attain. This requires being in a directly-related work program or apprenticeship of some type, so as to meet the testing and course-work requirements.

By opting to work on a freelance basis, many Mature Entrants appear to focus on those areas that provide profitable and practical solutions other than NVQ's. i.e. Those certifications that will get them up and running with the best financial return from their training investment. This system, although appearing to reduce the attributes laid out, does allow for a faster and more solid entry into the domestic market.

With regard to regular earning potential we have two clear paths - one for employees and the other for the self-employed. Whilst self-employed people can choose the hours that they work, we assume that they are working full time for the purpose of this review. The aptitude and talent for getting things done can affect the levels of salary as well as any experience or knowledge gained.

The basic salary for Junior Entrants tends to start around the 12-15k mark, but rises regularly to around 30k with the right level of experience. However, with incomes of 70,000 or more a year, a 'Mature Entrants' salary can often be more difficult to judge. Often costs such as tools, clothes and even transport need to be assessed and included in the business mix overall. Furthermore, professional items such as accountancy, tax and insurance need to be considered to make the business work properly. Aside from that, the current skills shortage within the UK still means that there's lots of high value work out there. Working 7 days a week is totally achievable for most people if they want it. To be fair, high salaries bounded about by the press do require long working hours or help to achieve them.

To be fair, most Junior and Mature electricians experience very different working hours to each other. For a 'Junior Entrant', most work is on a simple working week basis. The Mature market is however often reliant as to when their client base is available, especially in the domestic sector. With many self-employed electricians the core of their income comes from items such as business testing and installation and as such operates during the main part of the week.

A Junior Entrant that has chosen to adopt a career within the electrical trade is more than likely to gain follow up expertise within the particular field they fall into, often dictated by the main business activities of their employer. However, many mature entrants gain extra skills by learning those trades such as gas and plumbing work. Without a doubt the extra skills help them in their overall employ whether this is commercial or domestic work.

One fresh approach is that of the 'Green Engineer'. The chance to win some big employment and business advantages within the governmental as well as the traditional growth sector means that this area could be attractive to both Junior and Mature Entrants alike.

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