With numerous reasons to become an electrician, there has never been a better time to learn the trade.
More and more people are taking up a career in the trades thanks to everything from earning potential to the excellent working environment. So, if you’re considering a new career, here are our top five reasons to become an electrician.
1. High Earning Potential
When looking into any career, earning potential is an essential factor. You must ensure that the job you want can provide you with the salary you need to support yourself and your family.
Luckily for those looking into becoming an electrician, the trade boasts excellent earning potential. As a trainee electrician, you could earn around £10 per hour. A newly qualified electrician can expect to earn between £19,000 and £22,000 a year. As your experience and skill level increase, so do your earnings. The average electrician’s salary in and around London is £36,000. (Source: Reed.co.uk Average Electrician salary in the UK )
If you decide to work on a self-employed basis, you set your pay rate. However, if you set up your own business and employ others, your earnings could increase further.
2. Varied Working Environment
The 9-5 office life isn’t for everyone, and many people choose to leave the world of emails, contracts and office drama behind to pick up a trade.
As an electrician, your work will vary daily, whether working on something new as part of a larger project or working in a completely different setting each day. As a result, you’re not tied to one location. Instead, the industry offers a lot of freedom and flexibility.
3. Population Growth/Increased Demand
As the population grows, the demand for housing and more tradespeople grows. Since 2000, the United Kingdom’s population has increased by a staggering 8 million; by 2030, it’s expected to reach 70 million. As a result, people are being encouraged to pick up a trade to meet the demand.
Many existing tradespeople report having to turn down work because they do not have the time to complete it. Demand means that now is a better time to become an electrician than ever before.
4. Increased Rental Market
There has been a change in the social makeup of society. More single people live in rented accommodation than ever, with this number increasing. There is a lot of movement in the housing rental market, and private and social landlords are legally obliged by the Landlords and Tenants Act (1985) to ensure that the electrical wiring in their properties is safe. Periodic Inspection Reports of their properties should occur every five years or with every change of tenancy.
Only electricians holding a Periodic Inspection and Testing qualification can carry out this report. Therefore, they are in a great position to gain work due to faults or recommendations that may result from the Periodic Inspection Report.
5. It Takes a Special Kind of Person
Not everyone has what it takes to become an electrician. To do so, you must be 100% sure of what you want and motivated to achieve it.
Training to become an electrician takes time, effort and money. Though it’s no easy task, it is worth it for those with the drive and motivation to create a new opportunity and successful career.
Other Things To Think About
When you first start in the industry, you’ll likely work for an existing company until you establish yourself. However, that doesn’t mean there’ll be a lack of variety in your working days.
If you prefer to work alone, becoming an electrician is ideal. However, once you are confident in your skills, you can work on a self-employed basis, choosing your working hours, where you want to work and which jobs you want to do.
Sometimes, a lack of confidence can stop us from going after what we want, believing we don’t have what it takes. However, there are plenty of transferable skills and knowledge you’ll already possess. For example, if you’re used to working in an organised way, adapting to new situations and overcoming problems, you’re already equipped with the skills it takes to become an electrician.
Electrician Training & Qualifications
Before becoming an electrician, you’ll need to find a suitable course. These vary from full-time college courses to flexible and part-time courses. The most important thing is to find an electrical course that suits you and will get you where you want to go. You can earn several different qualifications depending on the type of electrician you want to be.
At Options Skills, we deliver the NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training Course and routes for experienced workers.
The NVQ course requires that you have paid on-site work experience, something many apprentices can struggle to find. Luckily, we have an in-house recruitment team with a network of businesses across the UK ready to take on our students and give them the experience they need.
With an impressive success rate, our team have placed hundreds of students into paid work. Once you have done this, you can undertake your AM2 assessment. Successfully passing this allows you to apply for your ECS Gold Card.
If you’re looking for a new working adventure and want to become an electrician, get in touch to learn more about our training courses 0800 802 1306.
