Electrician

Electricians install, commission and maintain electrotechnical technology in a wide variety of buildings and systems, such as:

• complex developments, like shopping malls, sports stadiums, hospitals and new housing projects
• advanced data cabling, data-handling systems and fibre-optic systems
• computer-controlled building management systems
• renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines or photovoltaics (solar panels)
• control equipment for complex industrial manufacturing and processing.

Electricians normally work standard hours, Monday to Friday. They need, however, to be flexible as the actual hours worked will depend on the project, priorities and deadlines. Many electricians are self-employed and their working hours can vary from week to week.

The job can involve working inside and outside, sometimes in cramped and uncomfortable positions.

Salaries may range from £17,000 to over £35,000 a year.

Electricians should be:

• practical and have good hand skills
• able to follow technical drawings, building plans and other instructions
• careful, methodical and work safely at all times
• good at problem solving
• reasonably fit and have normal colour vision
• analytical
• interested in electronics.

There are around 23,000 electrical contractors in the UK, employing just under 200,000 electricians. Employers range from small family businesses to large national, multi-service companies employing thousands worldwide.

To become a qualified electrician requires an appropriate NVQ Level 3 and a technical certificate. Many electricians start as apprentices straight from school or college. There are no set entry requirements for the electrotechnical Advanced Apprenticeship. It helps, though, to have at least three GCSEs (A*-C) or the Higher Diploma in construction and the built environment or engineering.

Apprentices combine training with an employer with off-the-job training at a college or training centre. Apprenticeship training normally takes around 42 months.

Some local colleges and private training organisations have their own training schemes. These can only lead to qualification as an electrician if students have the opportunity to achieve NVQ Level 3. To do this they must be able to be assessed on- site, carrying out practical work on real installations.

Once qualified at Level 3, there are opportunities to gain higher-level qualifications. Some progress to NVQ Level 4, or even to degree level, leading to further job opportunities at technician or management level.

Some electricians may move into design consultancy, teaching or management. Self-employed electricians may set up their own business.

Further details