The Big Electrician Shortage

[The_Wallock]

Er

What shortage, I read all these adds about how short we are nationally for sparkies & plumbers. I then place a job search for available positions as an Electrician & how many vacancies do I find, er yep, you guessed it, 1.

Or is the Industry just in a lul at present. Or is the way forward to stay self - employed and sub - contract, is this how the Industry is working at present, as I could understand the lack of advertised jobs, as if you are in the Industry it would be more, who & not what you know to find work ?

Or am I missing something

[max power]

I must agree with you i did a search for electricians within a 3 mile radius of my home and 81 came up.No wonder work has dried up.With frims offering a weeks course to train to part P and they think they are fully qualified electricians.Something should be done about part P and what they can do and cant do.Thats my moaning done

[Central Scrutinizer]

Well it has been quite clearly laid out what Part will, and will not, allow you to do

Whatever the original intention of Part P was - it is very far removed from the outcome

I think the term 'electrician' may need redefining - the term 'Domestic Installer' is now a seemingly accepted term for someone trained quite specifically and solely to work on electrical installions in dwellings, and I agree they are very far removed from 'electricians'

But then again so are many 'electricians' - people tell me they are 'electricians' - and to me that is a very broad and all encompassing term - yet they have never touched a star/delta starter, could not tell the difference between kw and kVA outputs of generators and would not know (let alone programme) a PLC if it bit them on the leg

horses for courses i suppose......

[The_Wallock]

Hmmm

From the research I have done so far, it does seem that Part P is a farse, never the less I do not intend to fast track around it, I fully intented to at least achieve 2382, 2392 & 91. And if I can't find work then I will endeavour to create my own.

[cj-sharpy]

Well it has been quite clearly laid out what Part will, and will not, allow you to do

Whatever the original intention of Part P was - it is very far removed from the outcome

I think the term 'electrician' may need redefining - the term 'Domestic Installer' is now a seemingly accepted term for someone trained quite specifically and solely to work on electrical installions in dwellings, and I agree they are very far removed from 'electricians'

But then again so are many 'electricians' - people tell me they are 'electricians' - and to me that is a very broad and all encompassing term - yet they have never touched a star/delta starter, could not tell the difference between kw and kVA outputs of generators and would not know (let alone programme) a PLC if it bit them on the leg

horses for courses i suppose......

Saying that I know plenty of bloke who know this put could trace a cable through a wall to save their lives as they live on tray plate and basket and never have to work round problems in 50yr old houses. Some people never see a circuit more than 5 years old and assume they are better sparks cos they work on ore modern tuff. Horses for courses and all that.
I am middle of the road where by I have a good understanding of house bashing and also work in Unis and hospitals but would not consider my self an expert in either. And to be honest anyone who thinks they know everything is an idiot. Its clear to me you can work in our field for 50 years and still learn from the apprentices. I do!

[Central Scrutinizer]

yeah absolutely agree with you - every days a school day, and i personally am constantly learning - I thought a lot about open circuit neutrals on PME systems, and i thought i had it, then one day i was sketching out a solution to a problem, and it was like someone opened the curtains in a dark room, suddenly i REALLY knew it

and one of my biggest industry gripes is the use of the term 'electrician'

my background is far more industrial fixed and mobile plant and machinery, large machines, motors and generators, that sort of stuff

I came into 'fixed' installations relatively late in my career, i was used to putting out temporary stuff in fields, BUT - I have always been called , and always considered myself to be, an 'electrician'

now if you listen to some people, the term 'electrician' is soleley reserved for those carrying out fixed installations, and can only be achieved by someone holding a level 3 installation qual, an NVQ L3 in electrical installations, and AM2

i hold none of these, although i hold a vast array of electrical quals, although in the eyes of organisations such the JIB i would not be classed as an electrician

been kicking around for 25yrs in this game; been there, and, I can assure you, done that (and yes, on occasion, i have worn the t-shirt), and i have met few (very few) so-called 'electricians' that i couldnt go head-to-head with, so i think we should recognise the fact that there are something like 42 trades/sub-trades that would classify themselves as 'electricians', and i personally welcome the use of the term 'domestic installer' to describe someone with a very particualr skill-set

[TESTIT TESTIT 123]

I must agree with you i did a search for electricians within a 3 mile radius of my home and 81 came up.No wonder work has dried up.With frims offering a weeks course to train to part P and they think they are fully qualified electricians.Something should be done about part P and what they can do and cant do.Thats my moaning done

Why do you assume that because someone has the Domestic Installer title that they have been on a short course

I started my electrical training many moons ago on 3 phase motors,i then worked on maintenance for a number of years before going into electrical contracting.iI went to college and did the 2360 1 and 2,i did the 16th and have recently been back to do the 17th and 2391 .About 3 years all together.

And yes you guessed it i am an NIC domestic Installer,so next time you see the sticker on someones van dont assume he is a five day wonder.

[Bikeelec]

Haha most are though

[robint]

yeah absolutely agree with you - every days a school day, and i personally am constantly learning - I thought a lot about open circuit neutrals on PME systems, and i thought i had it, then one day i was sketching out a solution to a problem, and it was like someone opened the curtains in a dark room, suddenly i REALLY knew it

and one of my biggest industry gripes is the use of the term 'electrician'

my background is far more industrial fixed and mobile plant and machinery, large machines, motors and generators, that sort of stuff

I came into 'fixed' installations relatively late in my career, i was used to putting out temporary stuff in fields, BUT - I have always been called , and always considered myself to be, an 'electrician'

now if you listen to some people, the term 'electrician' is soleley reserved for those carrying out fixed installations, and can only be achieved by someone holding a level 3 installation qual, an NVQ L3 in electrical installations, and AM2

i hold none of these, although i hold a vast array of electrical quals, although in the eyes of organisations such the JIB i would not be classed as an electrician

been kicking around for 25yrs in this game; been there, and, I can assure you, done that (and yes, on occasion, i have worn the t-shirt), and i have met few (very few) so-called 'electricians' that i couldnt go head-to-head with, so i think we should recognise the fact that there are something like 42 trades/sub-trades that would classify themselves as 'electricians', and i personally welcome the use of the term 'domestic installer' to describe someone with a very particualr skill-set

Well the whole initiative started with high ideals, because up until the latest mess we are now in, any Tom Dick or Harry could go around calling himself a leccy and do domestic work (not industrial where you needed a JIB ticket).

So for the last 70 years, domestic electrics more than say 10 years old can be in an appalling state depending on what cowboy or ignorant DIYer has been at it.\

IMHO a domestic installer is someone who only installs new wiring (or completely re-wires) with accessories to the 17th edition.

Any practitioner who is called upon to update/modify older installations that are left complying to 16th or earlier editions needs vastly more knowledge and practical experience to render a safe and creditable result (that could stand up under scrutiny in court). This is of course where 95% of the problems lie.

I dont know where we are in terms of alignment with EU practice (not just because they have differnet unfused plugs etc), but I can see a time coming when ******** and insurance companies will insist on an electrical inspection certificate before support a domestic property sale. Given the current muddle, this would be a disaster for the property market just now.

I believe that there is a need for a classification of domestic electrical inspector (like a structural surveyor in civil work) whose duty is to use test equipment, visual inspection AND most importantly provide a scope of necessary work sufficient to allow competitive bidding from or more competent local installers. The isntaller should then be able to self certify that he has carried out works according to the inspectors report. All of this to be bound up and sent to the local BC office as pert of the property planning records.

The inspectors remain independent from installation works and must be fully electrically competent and hold a certificate of competence or licence. Tradesmen are not being asked to perform as designers - for which they are not fully fit and which leads them into uncomfortable areas - as evidenced on this forum.

The government can step in here and offer grants to householders for their first inspection. In theory, once it is done right first time, any further inspections on a property sale should be simple and inexpensive - always providing some cowboy hasnt been at it. The seller become legally liable to state that no non-permitted alterations to the electrical installation have taken place since the last inspection.