Part P certification for electricians

Apprentice 7 Years, 50 years as a Spark, Worked on HV, LV, ELV and DC Systems. Designed and planned and installed large commercial and industrial installations.I am a Chartered Electrical Engineer, now I cannot put a socket in my kitchen without giving money every year to a jumped up Certifying Body who no one knows of. Not only that they now change the Regs every year to ensure annual course revenue. PART P the best reason NOT to be an Electrician.

I am trying to build a new house and have been delayed for months then cost me a couple of thousand Quid through this new crazy government legislation, not only just the 'part p' but we have to have a land investigation to tell you there is no gasses under the sub strata then when there is no gas you still have to put a membrane in. Then there is the 'ter/der calcs' whereby you have to pay someone to calculate the energy efficiency of a house before it is built, then pay for another calc after it is built. Then you have to have the house 'Pressure tested'. god only knows why?
I had to scour the country to find a competent qualified person to do this as it seems the government has brought in the legislation with little thought to who is going to service them.
It is no wonder that they have become unelectable and some body threw an egg at a certain government minister, they should have thrown the whole crate.

Married to an apprenticed/Certified/30 years as an electrician- Sorry ELECTRICIANS do not exist anymore- wonder who is most competent- the Government who seem to know nothing about electrics or the 'Scheme Providers' who's scheme provides nothing but confusion to the homeowner, but abuses electicians by putting money into THEIR pockets!!!
When will the government realise that they have ki11ed TRUE electricians and opened the floodgates to electrical imitations. Sadly the honourable concept of Part P has been ravaged by the greed of the Scheme providers - The equivalent of the monetary greed of the banking system??
When will the Government learn that by adding monetary gains to any regulation they open the floodgates to the vultures- They may appear as saviours to the concept- But they are the death of the ideal- SADLY in this case they are the death of over a century of Electrical brains and innovators.

im 26 and just and although im not an electrician myself but working in electronics I am about 6 months into a course at my local college which im really struggling fund my self as its working out at about £1000 a year and is a 3-4 year course. once you have done a course you can see why they are charging so much as the theory side of the electrical principles is really hard and not for the faint hearted. so assuming these guys have done a propper course and not something dodgy on the internet then they not only carry the skills but also the technical know how too.

I do think poor workmanship is down to the few lazy ones or under skilled that need a good kick up the a**e because they are getting lazy in their jobs.

I think the main problem is that anyone willing to make an effort and do a good job is fed up of being insulted by people who feel it is their right to be rude just because they are having a bad day/feel like it.

Hi Youthful Griper

Thanks for your last post, very interesting reading I reckon we are a minority because we would pride ourselves on the quality of our workmanship rather than the profit involved.

Another reason (I'm sure you realise this in your job and no offence to you whatsoever) but real skills like Electrics and Plumbing are in demand in more desirable countries, like Canada and Australia so hopefully I can emigrate as well!

Cheers mate

I'm up in West Yorkshire and the scenario is pretty much the same - plenty of call for qualified and skilled people but not many opportunities if you want to start out... unless you're 16 and just left school with very few GCSE's. I currently work for a national health-care institution. No prizes for guessing which one! I'm on around £2k more than yourself. This goes up each year but not sure how much longer I can stick it out as I've been here... it'll be 4 years come July. There are some great people here and some not so great people and if you love attending meetings, you'll fit right in!

I don't want to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire either. There are some days I could just waltz in, hand in my notice and be done with it but it's what happens next. Can't do that without a back-up.

Watching such programmes like House of Horror and Rogue Traders, it really does make you wonder why people want to be cowboy outfits, obviously motivated by money and not the fact they can be satisfied by a job well done.

I hope everything turns out well and if we do end up being electricians - best get that Part P Certification!

Hi Youthful Gripper, I totally agree with you about being stuck in a rut and your right about the lack of jobs in certain areas, the problem is there is plently of demand for decent skilled trademen but very few oppotunities to actually start training.

On the plus side I'm sure that they would rather employ someone like you or I with a few years employment experience rather than someone fresh out of school....I hope!

Also most newly trained plumbers/electricians are starting at £15-16,000 a year (where I live in Essex) so thats more than I make now (£12,000) so depending on your current earnings you could be in for a pay rise to switch jobs!

I think we should "make the jump" ASAP!

Best of luck getting married mate, All the best for the future.

Hi Vocation Nationa, I'm sure there's plenty more of us out there.

I'm at home with my parents, money is a bit of an issue as I'm getting married later on in the year and expect to move house as well. So a decision needs to be made very soon because before long I won't be able to take much of a pay cut.

It's that feeling of being stuck in a rut that's the killer which is made worse by their being no suitable jobs in my area.

I hope your successful in achieving what you want.

Hi Youthful Griper, Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one! I think you can still get Appreticeships up to the age of 24. Thats if your like me, live with parents and not too worried about money just yet!

cheers mate

Vocation Nation - I'm in the same boat. Bored of my IT based job and want to do something hands on and constructive. I don't think it's too late to make the decision... I'm 23!

I think this highlights the skills gap which is widening in the UK and other western nations. I am thinking of leaving my IT job for a career as a Plumber or Electrician (any advice?) I think that I would get more satisfaction actually constructing things than sitting at the same PC every day.

As a 21 year old hopefully I haven't left this decision too late! Also I hate these "rouge traders" and I would always be honest to my customers.