Self Employed Electricians

[Markpymm]

Hi All,

My first time on here....I have read through many of the posts and like to positive feel to this forum compared to some of the others.

I am just starting retraining as an electrician and wanting to do it properly, not chuck loads of money at it and rush through. I have enrolled on a C&G 2330 II & III course through Arena Training in Sheffield, and when I am ready will enroll on the 2391 and subsequent courses. I am going down the long route as I want to gain a solid base of elecrical knowledge, rather than just know the specific knowlwege of an domestic installer. Hopefully the right decision!!!!....Comments on this route would be appreciated?

From this post I am wanting to get some information on the business/self employed side of life as an electrician... Can some one please advise of all of the expenses a self employed electrician has to take into account & the initial start up costs..?
Insurances
Taxes
Certificates / Registrations
Van hire / purchase
Stock
Tool Kit????
etc, etc...

Any information would be much appreciated... :)

Regards

Mark

[Andy c]

hi Mark,going on loads of courses will not make you an electrician.They only back up what you learn on the job and in most cases only provide a a skeleton of knowledge.It is your own extra reading and asking questions that will meat on the bones!Get yourself a day job and go to night school,good luck. Your post leads me to think that you are under the impression that being a domestic installer is second rate,there are different grades of domestic installer and the NICEIC dont really make this clear to the public.I am full scope under the scheme and to be honest I should have gone for full registration,my fault,I will upgrade next time. Once again,good luck.

[big-aj]

Hi,
I agree with Andy c there's nothing like hands on experience academic training is a guide practical experience helps you understand what you have learnt. You say you are re-training have you already passed as an electrician? if so just get back in there. Funnily enough I have been out of the game now for 10 years, and am at the moment studying for the 17th, this plus all the usual politics like ECS,SPA,CSCS and JIB grading is the only thing that is holding me back at the moment,but then again I qualifed as an electrician in 1979 and it is in my blood so I feel confident at going back. If you are confident and good at what you do you will have no problem. Good luck and hope to see you out there!