Electrician Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

If you are interested in electrics and like the idea of diverse and exciting work, this could be a great career for you.

Electricians work on a very wide range of projects, from bringing power to homes to taking part in major engineering projects. Their tasks can range from transporting data along fibre optic cables to programming computer-controlled ‘intelligent’ buildings and factories. They can also work with renewable technology, such as wind turbines or photovoltaic systems that turn the sun’s energy into electricity.

As an electrician, you would install, inspect and test equipment, ensure that electrotechnical systems work, and spot and fix faults.

Electrotechnical careers are divided into different areas:

• Installation electrician - Installing power systems, lighting, fire protection, security and data-network systems in all different types of buildings.
• Maintenance electrician - Checking systems regularly to ensure that they keep on working efficiently and safely.
• Electrotechnical panel builders - Having responsibility for the building and installing control panels that operate the electrical systems inside buildings.
• Machine repair and rewind electrician - Repairing and maintaining electrical motors and other machinery such as transformers to make sure that they work correctly.
• Highway systems electrician - Installing and maintaining street lighting and traffic management systems that tell the public what they need to know when they’re on the roads and motorways.

You could be working in all types of buildings, such as homes, offices, shops or sports stadiums. You may also supervise other people in a team.

Depending on your exact role, you may work on a construction site, which can be noisy, dusty and cold. You might have to work in cramped and uncomfortable spaces to reach the electrical cabling and equipment, and you may sometimes work at heights using a variety of equipment such as scaffolding.

Hours

You would normally work a basic 37-hour week, Monday to Friday, with the possibility of overtime. You may work shifts, or you may be on call where 24-hour cover is provided.

You would travel locally between jobs, and some projects may involve overnight stays away from home.

Income

First year apprentices may start on around £8,000 a year.

Newly-qualified electricians may earn over £17,000 a year, and experienced electricians may earn over £30,000 a year.

Some employers pay more, and you might get bonuses and overtime pay. Your salary will vary depending on your employer and where you live in the UK.

There are national set rates to cover travelling time, travel expenses and accommodation costs.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To work as a qualified electrician, you will need to gain an NVQ Diploma or Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) at Level 3. You may also need additional training if you want to do specialist work such as installing environmental technology systems.

You could start as an apprentice straight from school or college. You would combine training on the job with going to a college or training centre. It normally takes between three and a half and four years to complete training and an apprenticeship.

If you’re not able to do an apprenticeship straight away, there are programmes around the UK that can help you to progress to an apprenticeship, further learning or a job. Speak to your local careers adviser to find out more.

Some apprenticeship schemes are open to people over 25, although the number of places might be limited. If you are over 25 and employed, or you could be assessed on site, you could work towards the NVQ Diploma/SVQ without doing an apprenticeship.

The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

Electricians qualified before 1996

If you qualified as an electrician before 1996, you should contact the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (JIB). They will assess your experience and qualifications to decide whether you meet their requirements. They will be able to tell you if you need to take further qualifications.

• Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry

Overseas qualified electricians

If you have qualified as an electrician outside the UK, you could register with the JIB Electrotechnical Card Scheme (ECS). You will need to do three things to register:

• contact UK NARIC to find out what your qualifications match in the UK
• complete the City & Guilds 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations (2382)
• pass the ECS Health and Safety Assessment.

You may also need to contact the certification schemes listed below for details of how to meet Part P requirements of the Building Regulations (see Training and Development section below for more about Part P).

• ELECSA
• NAPIT
• NICEIC

You may need a driving licence.

Training and development

If you are already doing electrician work but do not yet have a qualification, you may be able to have your existing knowledge and experience assessed against the City & Guilds or EAL NVQs or new NVQ Level 3 Diplomas. The training you would then take would depend on the results of your assessment. Contact colleges and training centres for advice.

Your employer may ask you to take two other qualifications:

• City & Guilds (2391) Inspection, Testing and Certification of Installations
• City & Guilds (2382) 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

If your job involves carrying out portable appliance testing (also known as PAT testing), you will need to have relevant training. The City & Guilds In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377) course is a common choice. Any course that meets the IEE Codes of Practice would be suitable.

You do not always have to be a qualified electrician to carry out PAT testing, however, you would need to show your capability. This is normally shown by qualifications and/or relevant experience. For more details, visit the PAT Testing Information website.

• PAT Testing

Electrical Safety and Part P

Part P of the Building Regulations states that certain types of household electrical work must be approved by a certified contractor or building inspector. You can certify your own work by completing a short Part P training scheme. See the Part P contacts in More Information below for details about certification training, entry requirements and information about the electrical work that requires approval.

Entry requirements for a training scheme will depend on your qualifications and experience. Some providers offer extra training if you need it, for instance, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations. Some do not, so please check with the providers.

Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme

The aim of the Traditional Building Skills Bursary scheme is to reduce the shortage of skills in the traditional crafts and built heritage sector. It is doing this by offering bursaries and organising work-based training placements for suitable applicants.

To find out more about the scheme, suitability and available placements, visit the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme website.

• Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme

Environmental Technologies

The government has set targets for greater energy efficiency. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar electric systems. Some employers may also pay half the cost of training for qualifications in environmental technologies like fitting solar heating systems.

To find out more about this growing area of work, see the following websites:

• SummitSkills – Environmental Technologies
• National Skills Academy for Environmental Technlogies

You could continue your professional development by gaining higher qualifications such as NVQ Diploma/SVQ Level 4, a foundation degree, HNC, HND or degree in Building Services Engineering. If you want to do a degree course, many universities or similar institutions will accept a relevant qualification, or take your work experience into account, instead of traditional academic qualifications.

You can search for full-time courses on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website, or contact individual universities or colleges for information about part-time courses.

• UCAS

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) offers a membership scheme at various grades. Membership would give you access to a variety of professional development workshops and training courses. See the IET website for more information.

• The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Skills and knowledge

To be an electrician, you should have:

• good practical and hand skills
• an ability to follow technical drawings, building plans, wiring diagrams and other instructions
• an ability to work carefully, methodically and safely
• an ability to measure accurately
• a head for heights and willingness to work in all sorts of weather
• a willingness to work in confined spaces
• good written and verbal communication skills
• an ability to work in a team as well as on your own initiative
• a flexible approach
• good problem-solving skills
• good analytical and evaluation skills
• an ability to plan and organise other people's work, and motivate them.

More information

SummitSkills
Tel: 08000 688336
www.summitskills.org.uk

Electrical Contractors Association
www.eca.co.uk

Part P Self-Certification Schemes:

NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme
Tel: 0870 013 0382
www.niceic.org.uk

ELECSA
Tel: 0870 749 0080
www.elecsa.org.uk

British Standards Institution
Tel: 01442 278607
www.bsi-global.com

National Association for Professional Inspectors & Testers
Tel: 0870 444 1392
www.napit.org.uk

Opportunities

Most large employers have a formal progression structure. If you work for one of these companies you may have the chance to take on more important projects and managerial responsibilities as you progress and gain experience.

Once you are fully qualified and experienced, you may be able to move into design consultancy or teaching. You could also work abroad or set up your own business.

Higher qualifications could give you opportunities at technician or management level, where you would design systems.

Vacancies can be advertised in local newspapers, at Jobcentre Plus, and on websites such as Monster or Workthing. You may also find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

• bConstructive (for list of building firms)
• Construction Jobs Network

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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