There are numerous people out there who are looking for ways to make their dreams come true but don’t know-how. To become an electrician is not always easy, but it’s certainly not impossible.
Becoming an electrician might sound daunting at first, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can achieve your goals.
In this article, I will be discussing what you need to know in becoming a qualified electrician in the UK.
There has been an acute shortage of skilled workers in the UK across several sectors, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons, roofers, painters, builders, and landscapers. There aren’t enough skilled tradespeople available for new housing developments at present.
New electricians can expect to earn between £19,000 -£ 22,000 per annum. After having gained more experience working in the field, you may be able to earn a significantly larger salary.
Electrician salaries in London currently hold the highest average salary at £36,000. At present, the lowest salary figures come from the southwest region, where the average electrical wage is £28,543.
These numbers represent an accurate estimate of the typical annual income earned by electricians. They’re calculated using a median figure, meaning they don’t include any outliers who earn significantly less than the rest of us.
Electricians are in high demand because there has been an increase in the need for skilled tradespeople.
Why become an electrician?
Research showed that a small group of electricians could earn between 6x and 8x the national median salary (depending on location) and take home up to 156k per annum. With house construction work continuing to rise, there’s no doubt that demand for qualified electricians will continue to grow. As a result, becoming one could be a profitable and secure job option.
How long does it take to become an electrician in the UK?
Understanding the answer to “What is the average salary for an electrical engineer in the UK?” is important because the length of time required to reach that level depends on which path one decides to follow.
It takes approximately 3 years for most people to complete their apprenticeships, during which they spend 4 days per week doing something relevant to their career path and 1 day per week studying towards a degree. Colleges often offer an accelerated program for more advanced students who want to finish their degree faster. These programs usually last between 3–4 years.
You may choose to pursue either full-time or part-time studies depending on how long it takes to complete your degree program.
Once the initial training has been completed, students may opt for additional courses or undertake on-the-job training. Part-time studies offer an additional benefit by allowing students to work during their courses without sacrificing academic performance.
Is there a quick way to become an electrician?
It takes less than 9 months to become an electrician through a trade school program. It usually takes between 2 and 4 years to become an apprentice electrician. Because after finishing an educational program, your real training might take up to four or five years.
You might need to wait several weeks or even months before becoming eligible for an apprenticeship position because there can be limitations regarding where they are located. You can possibly shorten your apprenticeship if you get credit for some of the class time from your pre-apprentice program.
How much do electricians make an hour in the UK?
As an entry-level employee, you won’t start out making the highest salary right off the bat. On the other hand, retraining as an electrician means that you have skills that could be used for employment in different fields.
On average, electrician salaries in the United Kingdom are £33,996 ($50,000) annually and £17.43 per hour. Most entry-level positions can get paid between £30k and £40k per year, but some senior roles earn up to £50k.
How long is an electrician training in the UK?
To become an electrician in the UK, you will need to combine training, experience, and a final assessment. This can typically be completed as:
In order to become an electrician in the UK, you need to get training, the experience of work, and the final assessment of training. It can be done as follows:
- An apprenticeship that takes 3 to 4 years
- You could break each element down into smaller tasks over a two to three year period (Technical or diploma certificate, i.e. NVQ/AM2)
They both include the same basic components but are arranged differently. Apprenticeships spread out their training elements over four years; however, diplomas allow candidates to complete them within one year.
Training with NVQ, AM2, and diploma
Step 1: Domestic Electrical Skills (duration 1 month)
Step 2: Level 2 Diploma (duration 3 months, 2 weeks on 2 weeks off)
Step 3: Level 3 Diploma (duration 3 months, 2 weeks on 2 weeks off)
Step 4: Level 4 NVQ (1to 2 years. Completed when you start working)
Most students typically take between three and seven months to complete the first three stages of training for becoming an electricians’ mate. About one-third of students find jobs during their studies, with up to 90 per cent of students finding employment after finishing the diploma.
Some people don’t need to go through the entire course; they may be able to get into another trade or role by gaining some experience from working in one of these fields first. If you change your mind at some point down the road, you can always go back to the route if you want to become an electrician.
Training through Apprenticeship
An electrical apprentice usually lasts for four years and combines all these elements together into one qualification. An apprenticeship requires you to be employed by someone else for some time before attending the course. You then need to produce evidence of your skills during the apprenticeship. Apprenticeships offer several advantages, including:
- Earn whilst you learn.
- The government fully or partially funds the training.
- You may be eligible for an employee benefit if your company takes you on.
- Learning takes place throughout your day at work.
Historically, apprenticeships were favoured by young people leaving school and starting out in life; however, they’ve become increasingly popular among older workers who want to retrain and change careers. Employers now encourage them too.
Conclusion
Becoming an electrical engineer is a good option because many people don’t want to spend their days at an office full time.
They prefer to be free from the daily grind of emails, contract negotiation, and office politics. But as an electrician, your work may change on a daily basis, whether you are working on something new as part of some more significant project or working ins a different setting every day.
The earnings potential is one of the most important factors when choosing a job. You need to make sure that the job you’re applying for pays enough so that you can live comfortably without having to rely on anyone else. So as an electrician you don’t need to worry about this thing. In short, I would say that an electrician job is best for these types of people.
