Living Healthy

For many people, a career within the electrical industry remains an interesting and varied choice. From here on we will use the phrase of Electrical Industry to explain the more accurate term of \”Electro-Mechanical Engineering\”. Equally we\’ll focus on those credentials that fit the UK domestic and commercial sector rather than those from around the world. Since there is such a wide list of choices in the electrical industry, we\’ll start by looking at the main themes first and then come back to any \’add-ons\’ later.

On consideration, we observe two forms of access into the electrical market. Whilst many candidates opt to join later on in their life, there still exists the more traditional route of the apprenticeship. To clarify, we\’ll label each of them as the \’Mature Entrants\’ and the \’Junior Entrants\’.

Mature Entrants who join the industry later on do so with the aim of working for themselves, usually as a one person business. Alternatively, \’Junior Entrants\’ will pick up lots of their work place skills by working with an already reputable electrical company. After they leave school a young apprentice will have many skills to learn during their first few years of working life.

The two different ways into the industry have two separate methods of preparation. In essence, the Junior Entrants follow an NVQ syllabus, or SVQ syllabus in Scotland. An NVQ qualification would need to be obtained as part of the training program. Often, this means that students have to gain an apprenticeship in order to be able to realise the course work and testing requirements of the job.

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.

Between self-employment and general employment we have two routes to consider in terms of typical income. For the sake of this document we will assume that everyone involved in electrical employment is working full-time. It is recognised that competence and qualifications add to income levels as well as experience and information gained.

With the right level of experience, \’Junior Entrants\’ salaries can rise considerably from twelve to thirty thousand pounds per annum. \’Mature Entrants\’ salaries though are often more difficult to work out, but can rise to 70.000 and above as reported in UK newspapers. However, it should be borne in mind that a self-employed person must meet their own costs for tools, clothes and vehicles (including insurance and petrol.) Allocations for personal/professional insurance will also have to be catered for. That aside, whilst the work is open to market-forces to some degree, the current skills shortage in the UK means that there\’s a high work-load available. Therefore, working seven days a week (if a student wanted) is a possibility for most. Although by working very long hours and having assistants to help, the figures of 70-100 thousand advertised in newspapers might be achieved, it wouldn\’t be easy.

Firstly, it is worth pointing out that the working week between the Junior and Mature electricians can vary enormously. Monday to Friday 9-5 would be the working week of most \’Junior Entrants\’. That aside the Mature market is equally affected by when their clients are available – this is especially so within the domestic sector, where evening and weekend work predominates. Again, this varies considerably, and many self-employed electricians make the mainstay of their income from office and small business installation, testing and inspection, which is Mon-Fri 9-5pm.

To be fair it\’s often the boss of a company who states the type of specialist knowledge that Junior Entrants gain whilst in their employ. Whereas the mature entrant can gain knowledge from any trade source – even one outside of the core of electrical work. If they are working mostly in the domestic market, this makes it easier for them to take on larger jobs across a range of disciplines (without having to sub-contract.)

One new, fast growing area – one that invokes a wide array of skills sets and is new to the industry overall – is that of the \’Green Engineer\’. The opportunity to provide both employment and potential service contracts, especially in the UK and the EEC sectors, mean that this area is of interest to both Junior and Mature electricians.

Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Go to City and Guilds Electrical Courses or www.CareerRetrainingCourses.co.uk/qcareco.html.

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