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People today will always seek the expertise of trained plumbing technicians, in prosperous years and bad times. It’s true to say the economy has seen some sort of temporary set-back with new build work, though the need for domestic local plumbers continually tops supply. How often do you learn about the amount of telephone calls an individual had to make – just to discover a real plumbing technician who was available to fix their tap from dripping? And additionally many people enhance their bathrooms, en-suites and kitchen areas more times than they previously did, which always guarantees a regular flow of work for competent local plumbers. On the whole then, enrolling on some plumbing-related training course is a rather shrewd career move.

The majority of household tradesmen and tradeswomen find potential customers via others they’ve done jobs for. Working for yourself means getting on well with just about everyone you work for. Business is likely to appear from anyone and everyone! Pleasantness and favourable attitudes will definitely be remembered.

Industrial plumbers will typically be employed on Mon-Fri only, typically eight o’clock until five o’clock. Nevertheless, self-employed household plumbers have a completely different scenario. Clients are often out at jobs themselves, and plumbers who’re able to work a handful of early evenings and/or weekends can certainly noticeably increase their business money.

A thing which appeals to many older career re-trainers must surely be the idea of being self-employed. In most cases a good number of newly educated plumbing engineers above thirty go for home-based employment that they will deal with themselves. It’s a really shrewd direction to consider since there is a lot of profit and opportunities available for qualified people. The moment you’ve acquired the essential skills and know precisely the particular devices you’ll be working on, you’ll be on your way!

To become reasonably competitive, and at the same time still come out with decent money, you’ll need to get competent at costing accurately for projects. Which means including the costs of your overheads so you never lose money on a job. It is often fairly hit and miss at the beginning, nevertheless you’ll rapidly learn by any mistakes! Go for re-training organisations that help on this.

There’s consistently work on the market for local plumbers and gas technicians. After you’ve got to the level of being competent and qualified, you ought to get good at selling your business. Most of the work can be quite rewarding, as you are frequently seeing a task right through from start to end, or solving challenges for customers the moment plumbing disasters take place. Naturally, you really only have to accept the actual contracts you want to take on, although in truth it is really not a good practice to get overly picky at first!

Choose commercially recognised City & Guilds training programs. They are offered by both local FE colleges and also commercial training organisations. Nearly all young people getting into the sector straight from school or sixth form college will go for an apprenticeship training – by way of blending on-the-job NVQ or SVQ learning with FE studies. It’s much more common though for mature students to learn the trade part time – so they can continue to manage to cover their living expenses! This is in fact why the various plumbing-related training institutions provide modules which individuals are able to work through in their own time. Older individuals then will more often than not pay out a little more up front to get commercial retraining courses, but pick specialist re-training to fit the actual work they’re going to pursue.

No matter which training you settle on, you ought to come out with at least foundation domestic plumbing skills in sanitation techniques, warm and cold water technologies and a whole lot more. Yet when you increase your set of trade skills you can often accept a lot of more jobs. You may choose to get qualified to work on unvented hot water, or possibly water reg’s or maybe gas. Broad-based private domestic plumbing curriculums are really the fastest and most effective path into the self-employed home-based environment.

You’ll find it a lot easier to build your reputation if you provide a number of other trade skills. Everything you carry out will probably be a great deal more lucrative. There’ll be no hanging about for bathroom installers or maybe builders when you can perform the jobs on your own – and the householder will probably be significantly more comfortable.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Browse around Plumbing Qualifications or Plumbing Courses.

It is the use of tides or wind to deliver our daily energy needs that form ‘Green Energy’. ‘Green’ basically means that all the energy is renewable. It’s interesting to note that in some instances we’re actually travelling back in time to utilise some of the older energy skill sets e.g. Wind Power (Windmills etc.) Overall, this is the method of using modern techniques to provide eco-effiency and planet friendly options.

In the home environment, one can see examples such as Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating Collectors. For electricity created through roof-installed panels, you would need Photovoltaic Panels or PV’s. Equally important is that of Biomass Energy – which includes Stoves, Fuel, Pellets and Boilers burning Wood. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Finally, we have two of the most traditional forms of energy generation that have gone through some resurgence over the last few years; these being Wind Power, Wind Turbines and Hydropower (including Water Wheels.)

Solar Thermal Energy Systems – Also known as Solar Energy, this mainly uses two, albeit different types of solar panels to get the desired results. First, we have Solar Water Heating Collectors, which absorb energy from the Sun and transfer this into hot water. Furthermore, there are the Solar Electrical Panels (more correctly known as Photovoltaic heat collectors) which transform solar radiation into electricity. Solar Panels themselves need to be away from all light blocks, and should be on south facing roofs at angles of 30 degrees from the horizontal plane.

As a result, Solar Water Power is often considered the most common form of Solar Energy in the UK. With the ability to provide almost half the annual need for hot water in the house, Solar Water heating systems are very important. Getting a professional fitting will cost around 2-5k, however, doing the job yourself could make it as low as 500 to 1500 pounds in total.

Systems Utilising Biomass Energy: This term encompasses all forms of natural products – such as plant and animal material. It’s the ability of this power source to generate diverse forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, that makes this so adaptable. Indeed, within the European Markets, the UK has some of the leading levels of Biomass material at hand. Added to all this, is the lack of C02 produced as a by-product of the whole process. Because the system often involves one tree being planted as another is felled, many wood crops are deemed to be sustainable sources.

To meet the need, fast growing trees, known as Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) are utilised. Perennial grasses are also responsible for large quantities of dry matter. Within this process also sits the lesser known Agricultural and Municipal Wastes. To begin with, Agricultural Waste is often produced as part of the agricultural process overall. However, waste derived from food or wood is another biomass entity – called Municipal Waste.

Geo-Thermal Energy Technology: This is primarily the heating of the Earth (mainly from the sun) and can be utilised in electricity and warm water production. In the UK, we are lucky that we can both heat and cool buildings from the ground source temperature of around 12 degrees. These heat pumps do need some power to operate; but for every one unit of energy they use, they generate four units of energy in return. The energy generated by a heat source pump can in fact be considered 100 percent renewable, if the power to operate the pump comes from solar electrical panels or a wind turbine.

Wind Energy Programs: Without a doubt, wind energy has to be one of the oldest forms of energy production known to man. Whether to your home or to a local grid, when the energy has been generated it must be delivered to a point of usage – and cannot be stored. In fact, the UK has the largest wind resource within Europe. The fact remains that in the UK, there exists the ability to realise 10 percent of our electricity requirement from wind power – as opposed to the current value of just 1 percent. Instead of producing electricity at a rate of 2-10p per kWh, we could be generating at 2p per kWh. Because of this, it is estimated that it takes between half a year to three quarters of a year to cover the installation costs.

Hydropower is a method that suits the UK energy production system. Although new in its approach, the act of harnessing energy from water has been going on for a long time. Within the UK, this form of energy production is responsible for somewhere in the region of 2 percent of all electrical needs.

By using a turbine, a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. The important thing is that, without having to rely on water storage, the turbines can generate electricity. ‘Micro-Hydro’ however utilises old outdated sluices and dams. This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. Between 200 pounds and 3k per KW of energy output, is a good estimate of the overall cost of a project such as this.

The demand on ‘Green Energy’ continues to develop – in light of the energy demands worldwide. The UK remains one of the main beneficiaries of this technology.

Electricians and Plumbers in particular are expected to provide the main thrust of domestic installation expertise. With EEC and UK recognition of renewable energy getting ever-higher on the political agenda, the grants and financial aid for introduction of these systems can only increase. Gaining installation certification across these areas can only provide further opportunity and job security to anyone already in related fields or looking to retrain. By mixing green training with those of electrical or plumbing, you could cover both angles.

(C) 2009 – S. Edwards. Browse around www.electricianqualification.co.uk/Green-Engineer-Certification.html or Renewable Energy Certification.

It is the use of tides or wind to deliver our daily energy needs that form ‘Green Energy’. They are thought to be ‘Green’ due to the fact that they are easily restored and natural. Often by going back in time we see the value of wind power and windmills as modern energy sources. Regardless of this, we are mainly talking about using modern techniques to offer planet friendly and eco-efficient solutions.

The home environment for example encompasses a range of energy ideas including Solar Thermal and Solar Water Heating solutions. Next on the list you would find the actual solar electricity Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) – which basically generate electricity through roof-installed panels. A further factor resolves around stoves and boilers which are known as Biomass Energy. We now also have Ground Source Heat Pumps which is simply the heat from the Sun. Considering items such as Wind Power and Hydro Turbines we are finally getting to very old forms of energy production.

For those wanting to train in this area we will expand on each section and cover off some of the skills required. Thinking about the issues already, this is definitely of interest to those in the field namely Plumbers, Electricians and Gas engineers. Checking out the pages on Electricity, Green and Plumbing careers would also help gather as much information as possible. CTRL-D this site now so that you can come back later and look at the links and adverts of relative training providers.

Thermal Solar Energy Systems: This technology is based around two core types of knowledge to achieve the results known as Solar Energy. First, we have Solar Water Heating Collectors, which absorb energy from the Sun and transfer this into hot water. Whereas Solar Electrical panels or Photovoltaic heat collectors transfer solar radiation into electricity. Obviously situated away from blockages such as chimneys these Solar Panels basically need to be mounted on south facing roofs at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal.

As a result, Solar Water Power is often considered the most common form of Solar Energy in the UK. Solar Water heating systems are extremely important and can provide over half of hot water needs to houses within the UK. The typical cost for installation ranges from 500-1500 pounds for a DIY system all the way through to 2-5k for a professional fit.

Biomass Energy and ‘Energy Crops’ – This is a general term for all forms of plant and animal material e.g. wood, straw, poultry litter and ‘energy crops’. Considering its ability to produce energy in the form of heat and electricity this type of energy is extremely flexible The ability to generate electricity is one of the UK’s main concepts as it has one of the larger Biomass legacies within Europe. Added to all this is the lack of C02 produced as a by product of the whole process. To that end, many wood crops come from sustainable sources (as one tree is felled, another is planted in its place; thus the new tree absorbs the CO2 produced during the heating process.)

‘Energy Crops’ such as Willow and Poplar play a major part in the process under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the ability to produce dry matter and perennial grasses are very good for this. Equally significant within this practise sit Municipal and Agricultural waste products. To begin with Agricultural Waste is often produced as part of the agricultural process overall. Whereas Municipal Waste is derived from wood or food and can be used for biomass energy.

Systems Using Geo-Thermal Energy – This is primarily the heating of the Earth (mainly from the sun) and can be utilised in electricity and warm water production. Using the ground temperature of around 12 degrees in the UK we can both heat and cool buildings. Whilst these heat pumps require energy to operate their rate of return is excellent being four units kept for every one unit of energy used. The energy generated by a heat source pump can in fact be considered 100 percent renewable, if the power to operate the pump comes from solar electrical panels or a wind turbine.

Wind Energy Based Systems – The use of wind as a source of energy has been going on for thousands of years, especially in milling grain and pumping water. That aside the ability to generate energy and transfer this onto homes or the local grid has been a relatively new option. In fact, the UK has the largest wind resource within Europe. Potentially we can produce 10 percent of our annual energy needs through wind power although at present within the UK we still only use 1 percent. Although electricity is still being produced from between 2-10 p per kWh it could be generated from as little as 2p per kWh. Due to this we are looking at 6-9 months in total to cover the costs.

Finally, we have Hydropower; an area in which the UK does well within Europe. Just like a thousand years ago we are looking utilising energy from water. That aside it is fair to say that some 2 percent of the UK’s electrical load comes from this source.

By using a turbine a Hydropower system can transfer the kinetic energy of moving water into another form. By using a dam or a natural river process these turbines do not require water storage. Alternatively ‘Micro-Hydro’ systems use hitherto outdated sluices and dams to generate electricity. This process alone could meet 200mW of the UK requirement. When considering the install cost of items such as this it is worthwhile to think about the return which rests somewhere between 200 pounds and 3k per kW of energy created.

The demand on ‘Green Energy’ continues to develop in light of the energy demands worldwide. That said the UK is well placed, especially in the domestic sector to take full advantage of the various items above.

With the bulk of development work in the domestic field both the Plumbers and Electricians are set to capitalise in this area. You can now get a range of grants to support the growth of renewable energy ideas within the European market. Equally important is the role of gaining qualifications to install items that we have talked about. By mixing green training with those of electrical or plumbing you could cover both angles.

(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Navigate to Green Certification or Click HERE.

Lots of people choose a career within the electrical industry because it both appeals and motivates them. Although often assigned to as ‘Electro-Mechanical Engineering”, we will simply refer to this as the Electrical Industry. As there are a wide variety of global standards, we will focus on those from the UK and in particular those relating to the domestic and commercial markets. We will begin by reviewing the main issues first and come back to the ‘add-ons’ later, because of the huge number of options available as a career within this subject.

Essentially, we see two distinct forms of entry into the electrical market. The primary route is the apprenticeship which is considered the more traditional and then we have the second phase for those who are joining at a later stage. For the sake of clarity throughout, the first will be known as ‘Junior Entrants’ and the second simply known as ‘Mature Entrants.’

Mature students, or entrants, often train so that they can become self-employed and work on their own projects without having to pay wages to external electricians. Those who join as Junior Entrants, on the other hand, appear to do so with the aim of joining an established electrical firm – in order to gain further qualifications and experience whilst picking up practical and other work-place skills. After they leave school a young apprentice will have many skills to learn during their first few years of working life.

Entry has two separate approaches to teaching. Junior Entrants are heavily linked with NVQ’s (or the Scottish equivalent – SVQ’s.) Whilst the core syllabus is relatively similar to non-NVQ commercial training, there is a particular requirement to attain the actual NVQ qualifications as part of the overall training program. ‘Junior Entrants’ will have to be in an apprenticeship of some sort in order to achieve the testing and course work required.

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. Having said that, the mature student does aim to gain the necessary skills to do the job, whilst at the same time reducing their training costs at all times. Although this may offer quicker and more commercial options, it does reduce the official requirements set for certain areas of the industry.

Salaries are often simply broken down to those that relate to self -employed people and those in general employment. Obviously, with self-employment, there is the added issue of whether the Entrant is part-time (working around another job) or full-time; we will concentrate on full-time. Skill and knowledge levels can often determine salary levels, although this is equally via a proven ability or certification scheme.

‘Junior Entrants’ can expect a basic salary of 12K at the beginning of their training. With application and experience this figure often more than doubles in time. ‘Mature Entrants’ salaries though are often more difficult to work out, but can rise to 70.000 and above as reported in UK newspapers. Regardless of all that is the need to cover off additional costs such as tools, clothes and even a vehicle and all that goes along with that. Furthermore, professional items such as accountancy, tax and insurance need to be considered to make the business work properly. Whilst there is lots of available work, a severe skills shortage means electricians are very much in demand. If a student wanted to work every day of the week this would be possible in some areas. To be fair, high salaries bounded about by the press do require long working hours or help to achieve them.

To be fair, most Junior and Mature electricians experience very different working hours to each other. Most of the work for Junior Entrant electricians will be on a simple 9-5, Monday to Friday basis. Whereas the Mature market can be more dependent on the domestic market for some – i.e. weekend and evening work, when their clients are available and back from work. And yet, a huge number of self-employed electricians operate during the main part of the working week by focusing on office and small business systems.

Once a career in electrical work has been chosen, a Junior Electrician is often at the mercy of their employer when it comes to learning new skills and expertise. Whereas the mature entrant can gain knowledge from any trade source – even one outside of the core of electrical work. Without a doubt the extra skills help them in their overall employ whether this is commercial or domestic work.

An up to the minute angle – involving a new level of skills – is that of the so called ‘Green Engineer’. This could be an area of interest to both Junior and Mature Entrants, and with the expected growth and governmental (both UK & EEC) support, it could provide some highly lucrative employment and business opportunities.

Copyright 2009 S. Edwards. Pop to Electrician Courses or Electrical Training Courses.

Basically, the ‘Green Energy’ idea is how our everyday needs are supplied by natural resources such as wind, tides and even geothermal heat. They are considered ‘Green’ because they are environmentally friendly. It’s interesting to note that in some instances we’re actually travelling back in time to utilise some of the older energy skill sets e.g. Wind Power (Windmills etc.) But in the main, this is the process of utilising modern technology to provide eco-efficient and planet-friendly alternatives.

The range of renewable energy technologies utilised within the home environment includes both Solar Thermal, and Solar Water Heating Collectors. It is equipment such as Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) that develop electricity through suitable roof-panels. Then there are Stoves that burn Bio-Pellets – which make up the subject commonly known as Biomass Energy. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Lastly, there are two of the more historical forms of energy production – namely Wind Turbines and Hydropower.

Thermal Energy Systems: By using different technologies, Solar Energy is effectively made up of two types of solar panels. Making hot water from solar energy is the first stage – and is known as Solar Water Heating Collection. Then we have the work of the Photovoltaic Heat Collectors, often called Solar Electrical Panels – which transform solar radiation into electricity. Across the board, Solar Panels should be mounted on a south facing roof, at an angle of 30 degrees away from horizontal – and to some extent away from blocking trees, surrounding buildings and chimneys.

Within Solar Energy overall, Solar Water Power is most commonly used in the UK. With the capacity to deliver 50 percent plus of a household’s hot water requirement annually, Solar Water heating systems are crucial to energy in the UK. The average cost of installing this type of equipment is expected to range from 500 to 1500 pounds for a DIY system, through to 2-5k for a professionally installed system.

Biomass Energy Technology: This term encompasses all forms of natural products – such as plant and animal material. It is extremely useful – in that it can produce a range of power sources, including heat and electricity. It is interesting to note that the UK has some of the largest quantities of Biomass material to generate electricity within Europe. It should be borne in mind that the whole process is designed to produce energy without an impact on CO2. As each tree felled, it is replaced by another. This helps to reduce the overall effect on C02.

‘Energy Crops’ trees such as Willow and Poplar play a major part in the process – under the banner of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). Of equal importance is the production of perennial grasses – because of their yield of dry matter. Whilst Agricultural and Municipal waste may be lesser known, they are essential to the whole process. One natural offshoot of agricultural work is Agricultural Waste. Municipal Waste such as food or wood can also be utilised as a biomass product.

Systems Based On Geo-Thermal Energy: Used in the generation of both warm water and electricity, this energy mainly comes from the Sun and heats the Earth. Using the ground temperature of around 12 degrees in the UK – we can both heat and cool buildings. Generally, items such as Heat Pumps are thought of as very effective, as they produce four units of energy for every one that is used for generation. A greate return of energy (sometimes almost 100 percent) is produced – because heat source pumps can operate in-line with wind turbines and solar electrical panels.

Wind Energy – An Update On Old Technology: As an energy source, wind energy has to be one of the oldest forms of energy creation in history. Where the local power grid demands it, energy can be diverted and sold there. To be fair, the UK has the highest level of wind generation within Europe. The fact remains that in the UK, there exists the ability to realise 10 percent of our electricity requirement from wind power – as opposed to the current value of just 1 percent. Although electricity is still being produced from between 2-10 p per kWh, it could be generated from as little as 2p per kWh. Recovery of the cost involved is somewhere between 6-9 months.

Hydropower is a method that suits the UK energy production system. The field of using moving water to release energy is a very old technique – albeit we now do this in new ways. It is this type of energy production that could meet 2 percent of all the UK’s demand.

The Hydropower process uses a turbine that can convert the energy from one form into another. The important thing is that, without having to rely on water storage, the turbines can generate electricity. It is by using the eroded national distribution systems, that allows for outdated sluices and dams to be used by techniques known as ‘Micro-Hydro’. This smaller form of electrical output has been recently reviewed and could allocate some 200MW of capacity to the UK system. The capital cost of installing a micro-hydro system can run between 200 and 3000 pounds per kW of energy output.

Because of the energy need of the Western World, we are now seeing a rapid rise in ‘Green Energy’. Within the UK and mainly the domestic sector, we are well placed to take advantage of the schemes above.

Once again, it is the Electrician and Plumbing trades that are set to capitalise on the domestic installation process. Grants and financial aid is also set to increase within the EEC and the UK – as ‘Green Energy’ gets ever higher status. As a new industry, there are a range of new certificates to gain. To cover both ends, you could consider electrical or plumbing training along with green systems.

(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Try Solar Energy Training or electriciancoursesuk.co.uk/Solar-Energy-Courses.html.

We often read in the press of the salaries that the Plumbing trade is achieving. Salaries of 30-70k p.a. are often discussed, along with the lack of plumbers within the UK. So, are we being told a story or is this the genuine picture? Without a doubt, a fully experienced Plumber can command salaries of such levels. Those taking the more conventional ways to work will find it hard to reach the incomes of 70-100k p.a. that are sometimes achieved by the self-employed.

To be fair being with a regular employer often results in working from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm as standard. Normal remuneration such as holiday pay and sickness allowance, along with wages of between 15k and 30K p.a., are usual from UK companies in this area. A self-employed person can earn more money than this traditional approach, but will often need to work outside of the Mon- Fri, 9am to 6pm example. This is more common in the domestic market where self employed plumbers often have to work evenings and weekends to suit those clients that work during the week.

There is also the issue of self-employment itself – which definitely suits some people more than it suits others. This can involve factors such as getting the basics sorted out and the need to use good ‘business sense’ overall. There are additional charges levied to people who work for themselves including legal and accountancy fees as well as those relating to materials and transport. While these costs can mount up, so too do the benefits, however the costs should always remain a smaller part of the income generated. Added to that, the positives virtually always outstrip the negatives!

From the outset it’s the double offer of teaching them from experience and covering most of their working needs that Student Entrants are looking for in employment. As quickly as possible the Self Employed Entrant needs to increase their list of accreditations that they will rely upon. To be fair it is the ‘domestic’ market which appeals to a large number of self-employed plumbers and not necessarily that of the commercial sector. (Well the majority do at least)

There does appear to be some union between certification relating to each path of Plumbing education and hence the industry. Without a doubt the issue of NVQ’s (SVQ’s in Scotland) raises a constant concern as to the way forward.

To begin with, the Student Entrant appears to rely more heavily on the NVQ structure than the Self Employed Entrant. The Self Employed Entrant will regularly employ a range of certifications in order to meet the needs of their client’s requirements from the beginning. Certainly, the self-employed person needs to rapidly gain the key domestic-centred qualifications that will satisfy their typical household-based clients. Once they have covered the core parts the Student Entrant will often carry on their study not dissimilar to an apprenticeship in the workplace (where the NVQ element can be appraised.) The Student Entrant can also make financial savings at the start, as it is a cheaper form of study overall. It is often by gaining certifications faster, by being motivated by a more commercial standpoint that the Self Employed Entrant will achieve considerable financial benefits before a Student Entrant.

To be sure the financial returns required is the result of clear careers discussions covering certification and the overall study requirements. It would generate serious hardship, for example, for an adult requiring 20k p.a. (to provide for their family,) to go back to college and spend 3 years in low-paid apprenticeship work. Furthermore, many Student Entrants have their studies paid for them whereas the self-employed students fund the variety of course themselves. For self-employed people these costs are set by the course structure and the level of certification sought and can end up between 3k-10k+.

Self Employed Entrants can consider a wide range of private technical colleges as opposed to the reliance on further-education colleges and that differentiates them from Student Entrants. It is through well known educational paths that many commercial training companies can offer routes into correct qualifications and skill-set requirements. In the current climate the ability of Self Employed Entrants to maintain their current financial situation and job, whilst at the same time as training in the evening, part-time or on self study classes remains one of the advantages of this system. With so many training colleges available, it makes sense to gather information from as many sources as possible. We’ve provided links and adverts from several, so why not book-mark this page (CTRL-D) so you can come back later to review your options.

Many plumbing students will increase their ‘marketability’ through the use of further courses. Areas such as Gas, Green Energy and Electrical training can offer additional qualifications to Plumbers. As part of the commercial and domestic heating procedures, Gas training continues to be popular with Plumbers.

It is with its main subjects, alongside added NVQ’s, that result in Gas Training being viewed as a technical program. The opportunity for on-going training is for those who trained first as a plumber and are now seeking to add some extra skills to their repertoire. It is from this position that many believe the mix of Plumbing/Gas Training is more apt to the mature student. By reducing the NVQ parts the Mature Student appears to be able to allow the focus on the core subjects.

It is this blend of training that would appear to satisfy the needs of the self-employed professional. To earn money whilst at the same time as gaining a wider range of perceived skills becomes a desirable prospect. This alone can add to their industrial viewpoint, as opposed to relying on sub-contracting core elements to third parties. Sub-contracting can not only reduce the earning potential of a job, but also erode the value in the customer’s eye, as they may have to wait for key stages to be handled by someone else before the final completion of the job. The more skilled a plumber is in their job role – the more that they have to offer their client base.

Finally, whilst the Student Entrant breaks into the industry more quickly the Self Employed Entrant has the opportunity for higher potential earnings, but to do so they need to develop a broader range of certifications and a higher level of business skill sets. Note: This information deals with industry requirements and policies for the UK market alone.

Author: Scott Edwards. Navigate to Plumbing Training or Plumbing Qualifications.

The fact is that a career within the electrical sphere is a frequent alternative for many people. Within this document we will not use the full term of Electro-Mechanical Engineering but use the term Electrical Industry instead. Also, for ease we will concentrate on those principles that sit within the domestic and commercial markets for the UK. We will begin by reviewing the main issues first and come back to the ‘add-ons’ later, because of the huge number of options available as a career within this subject.

Basically there are two clear ways to gain admission into the electrical market. The first is for those wishing to train via a more traditional apprenticeship route, and the second is for people who are entering the field at a later stage in life. To begin with we have the ‘Junior Entrants’ and then we have the ‘Mature Entrants’.

Many Mature Entrants enter the market so they don’t have to rely on others, especially when they can work on their own building ideas and not have to pay for anyone else to help them. Whereas the ‘Junior Entrants’ train alongside regular electrical employment to pick up practical work place skills as they gain their qualifications. 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. Whilst the core syllabus is relatively similar to non-NVQ commercial training, there is a particular requirement to attain the actual NVQ qualifications as part of the overall training program. New employees gain the necessary course work and testing elements through an apprenticeship or some form of suitable work program.

By working independently and without the need for NVQ assessments, many Mature Entrants can concentrate on those areas that provide the biggest profit and offer the largest practical solutions for themselves. Having said that, the mature student does aim to gain the necessary skills to do the job, whilst at the same time reducing their training costs at all times. Whilst this may seem to reduce the overall qualification set, this meets the trade requirements for the areas involved, and thus provides a quicker and more direct commercial route to the market.

In terms of typical earnings, we have two clear routes – those relating to employment and those for self-employment. Whilst we will focus on full time employment, there exists the issue as to whether self-employed people are doing this full time or part time. The aptitude and talent for getting things done can affect the levels of salary as well as any experience or knowledge gained.

Although starting wages for ‘Junior Entrants’ are around 13k p.a. they can rise above 30k p.a. but this does depend on their level of experience. On the other hand experienced self-employed electricians have been known to earn around 70 thousand or more within the UK. Irrespective of this salary level many self-employed people also need to manage extra business costs such as tools, clothes and vans. Self employed people also have to allow for added expenses. Whilst there is lots of available work, a severe skills shortage means electricians are very much in demand. Working 7 days a week is totally achievable for most people if they want it. It should be understood that the 70-100k figures that we see thrown around in newspapers are not easily achieved, and would either require working long hours or having assistants (or both.)

In light of the above, it is often understood that there is wild variance between the working expectations of Junior and Mature Entrants. Most of the work for Junior Entrant electricians will be on a simple 9-5, Monday to Friday basis. The Mature market is however often reliant as to when their client base is available, especially in the domestic sector. And yet, a huge number of self-employed electricians operate during the main part of the working week by focusing on office and small business systems.

A Junior Entrant that has chosen to adopt a career within the electrical trade is more than likely to gain follow up expertise within the particular field they fall into, often dictated by the main business activities of their employer. Whereas the mature entrant can gain knowledge from any trade source – even one outside of the core of electrical work. Without a doubt the extra skills help them in their overall employ whether this is commercial or domestic work.

An up to the minute angle – involving a new level of skills – is that of the so called ‘Green Engineer’. The chance to win some big employment and business advantages within the governmental as well as the traditional growth sector means that this area could be attractive to both Junior and Mature Entrants alike.

(C) 2009 S. Edwards. Go to CLICK HERE or Electrical Training.

There are actually 4 different sectors in the full CompTIA A+ syllabus, of which you need to pass two for your A+ qualification. We would advise however that restricting yourself to two of the specialised areas could expose flaws in your knowledge when applying for a job. Try to cover all four – employers will notice the difference.

A+ computer training courses cover diagnostics and fault finding – via hands on and remote access, alongside building and fixing and understanding antistatic conditions.

You might also choose to think about adding the CompTIA Network+ training as it will give you the knowledge to become a networking engineer, and have a more responsible working role.

A skilled and practiced consultant (in direct contrast to a salesman) will ask questions and seek to comprehend your abilities and experience. This is useful for understanding your starting point for training.

If you’ve got any work-based experience or base qualifications, you may find that your starting point is not the same as someone new to the industry.

For students embarking on IT studies from scratch, it can be helpful to start out slowly, kicking off with some basic PC skills training first. This is often offered with any educational course.

A sneaky way that training providers make extra profits is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, but is it really:

Thankfully, today we tend to be a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and most of us realise that of course we’re actually paying for it (it isn’t free or out of the goodness of their hearts!)

We all want to pass first time. Entering examinations one by one and funding them as you go sees you much better placed to get through first time – you prepare appropriately and are conscious of what you’ve spent.

Isn’t it outrageous to have to pay a training course provider in advance for examination fees? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance – and sit exams more locally – rather than possibly hours away from your area.

Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exam fees when there was no need to? A great deal of money is netted by organisations charging all their exam fees up-front – and then hoping that you won’t take them all.

Re-takes of any failed exams through organisations who offer an ‘Exam Guarantee’ inevitably are heavily regulated. You’ll be required to sit pre-tests to make sure they think you’re going to pass.

VUE and Prometric examinations are currently clocking in at an average of 112 pounds in Britain at the time of writing. Why pay exorbitant fees for ‘exam guarantees’ (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) – when the best course materials, the right level of support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be proper direct-access 24×7 support from expert mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across only provide support to you inside of office hours (typically 9am-6pm) and sometimes a little earlier or later (but not weekends usually).

Don’t accept training that only supports trainees through an out-sourced call-centre message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Training organisations will defend this with all kinds of excuses. The bottom line is – support is required when it’s required – not at their convenience.

The most successful trainers use multiple support centres across multiple time-zones. Online access provides the interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, no matter what time you login, there is always help at hand, without any problems or delays.

If you opt for less than support round-the-clock, you’ll quickly find yourself regretting it. You may not need it late in the night, but what about weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

The old fashioned style of teaching, utilising reference manuals and books, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, look for learning programmes which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts.

Many studies have proved that long term memory is improved when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we’ve been studying.

Courses are now available on CD and DVD discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Through video streaming, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to do something, followed by your chance to practice – via the interactive virtual lab’s.

Be sure to get a study material demo’ from the training company. You’ll want to see slide-shows, instructor-led videos and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where available, so that you have access at all times – it’s not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being ‘up’ 100 percent of the time.

Written by Scott Edwards. Go to Web Designer Course or Click HERE.

Due to the exciting choices available, the electrical industry offers jobs that many people choose. For simplicity’s sake we will use the phrase Electrical Industry to cover off the more accurate term of “Electro-Mechanical Engineering”. As there are a wide variety of global standards, we will focus on those from the UK and in particular those relating to the domestic and commercial markets. By starting on the main subjects and checking the ‘add-ons’ later on we can review the centre of the electrical industry.

The electrical market has in our opinion two methods of entry. 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’.

Principally, Mature Entrants join the electrical workplace later on, and focus on becoming self employed. This means working on their own and not having to pay salaries to anyone else. On the other hand, to gain further credentials and experience ‘Junior Entrants’ tend to work for a recognised electrical firm. Often a young apprentice will be in their first job since leaving school, and will therefore have a host of ancillary skills to learn during their first few years as a working adult.

The distinct types of entry have differing styles of training – Junior entrants go through NVQ training in England and Wales, and SVQ training in Scotland. The core syllabus is similar to non NVQ commercial training, but the certification is compulsory. ‘Junior Entrants’ will have to be in an apprenticeship of some sort in order to achieve the testing and course work required.

By working independently and without the need for NVQ assessments, many Mature Entrants can concentrate on those areas that provide the biggest profit and offer the largest practical solutions for themselves. Such as obtaining documentation that gives them the best chance to gain from their training endeavours and thereby the best financial rewards. Although this may offer quicker and more commercial options, it does reduce the official requirements set for certain areas of the industry.

With regard to regular earning potential we have two clear paths – one for employees and the other for the self-employed. Whilst self-employed people can choose the hours that they work, we assume that they are working full time for the purpose of this review. Certainly, whilst salary levels can be affected by knowledge and qualifications, they can also be affected by competence and aptitude.

‘Junior Entrants’ can expect a basic salary of 12K at the beginning of their training. With application and experience this figure often more than doubles in time. That said, due to the UK press telling people that electricians can get salaries in excess of 70k p.a., it is more difficult to gauge incomes for ‘Mature Entrants’. Often costs such as tools, clothes and even transport need to be assessed and included in the business mix overall. Self employed people also have to allow for added expenses. Aside from that, the current skills shortage within the UK still means that there’s lots of high value work out there. 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.

To be fair, most Junior and Mature electricians experience very different working hours to each other. Most of the work for Junior Entrant electricians will be on a simple 9-5, Monday to Friday basis. Whereas the Mature market can be more dependent on the domestic market for some – i.e. weekend and evening work, when their clients are available and back from work. This alters quite a bit, with lots of self employed electricians gaining much of their income from small office work, which is predominantly Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Any specialist knowledge the Junior Entrant gains whilst in someone’s employ is usually down to the sectors of industry that company works in. However, many mature entrants gain extra skills by learning those trades such as gas and plumbing 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 fresh approach is that of the ‘Green Engineer’. The curiosity of both Junior and Mature Electricians to this new industry is well founded especially when considering the power of the UK and the EEC markets in areas of growth and governmental projects.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Browse around Electricians Courses or Electrical Certifications.

The fact is that a career within the electrical sphere is a frequent alternative for many people. From here on we will use the phrase of Electrical Industry to explain the more accurate term of “Electro-Mechanical Engineering”. Furthermore, we will focus on the UK market and the domestic and commercial elements rather than those from elsewhere around the world. Because of the vast number of options available for a career within the electrical industry, we’ll start by concentrating on the main topics, and come back to the ‘add-ons’ later.

We consider that there are two ways to enter the electrical market. Initially there’s the more traditional apprenticeship approach, but equally there is now an alternative, suited to those who are keen to enter later in their life. To clarify, we’ll label each of them as the ‘Mature Entrants’ and the ‘Junior Entrants’.

People who do not want to pay any extra salaries, but want to enter the industry with the focus of being self employed are who we refer to as Mature Entrants. Alternatively, ‘Junior Entrants’ will pick up lots of their work place skills by working with an already reputable electrical company. During their first years in the working environment, a young apprentice, or junior entrant, will have a host of additional skills to learn.

The distinct types of entry have differing styles of training – The Junior Entrants syllabus involves NVQ/SVQ’s as well as proving working skills. An NVQ qualification would need to be obtained as part of the training program. This means that work programs or apprenticeships have to be sought in order to arrange the necessary course work and testing phases of work.

Many mature students gain entry into the market without the NVQ element, and simply choose the most commercially practical route to self employed work. Having said that, the mature student does aim to gain the necessary skills to do the job, whilst at the same time reducing their training costs at all times. This system, although appearing to reduce the attributes laid out, does allow for a faster and more solid entry into the domestic market.

In terms of typical earnings, we have two clear routes – those relating to employment and those for self-employment. With self-employment a person may be working on a part-time or full time basis -to that end we will assume they are working full time. The aptitude and talent for getting things done can affect the levels of salary as well as any experience or knowledge gained.

‘Junior Entrants’ can expect a basic salary of 12K at the beginning of their training. With application and experience this figure often more than doubles in time. However, with incomes of 70,000 or more a year, a ‘Mature Entrants’ salary can often be more difficult to judge. 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.) Furthermore, professional items such as accountancy, tax and insurance need to be considered to make the business work properly. In the UK there is a lot of work for electrical professions due to a short fall of current skilled people. In light of the above, a full seven day week is available to most people should they want it. Whilst figures of seventy to a hundred thousand are often bandied around in the press, they do not often inform you of the long hours you would need to work to achieve this.

In light of the above, it is often understood that there is wild variance between the working expectations of Junior and Mature Entrants. Most of the work for Junior Entrant electricians will be on a simple 9-5, Monday to Friday basis. 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. Although by testing and installing various business systems, many self-employed electricians manage to work during a normal working week.

Once a career in electrical work has been chosen, a Junior Electrician is often at the mercy of their employer when it comes to learning new skills and expertise. Alternatively, the mature entrant can gain other training outside of their chosen field, such as gas and plumbing work. Within the domestic market this allows them to work under a range of headings without having to rely upon sub contract suppliers.

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’. Looking together to the UK and the EEC this activity could be of benefit to both Junior and Mature Entrants, providing new growth and opportunities to both disciplines.

Copyright Scott Edwards. Visit Electrical Certificates or 2391 Courses.