What Is An Electrician’s Mate?
When you have an electrician come over to your house, do they always come with an assistant? And is this assistant qualified to handle residential electrical tasks?
The electrician will sometimes bring his mate, don’t worry, his mate is an apprentice learning the trade, not his drinking buddy from the pub. Electricians’ mates work supervised, so if they work on your electrical system, rest assured the work is checked and double-checked.
Contents
What do I need to work as an electrician mate?
You will have been taking a recognised electrician course at a training centre specialising in electrical work such as domestic installation.
You will likely be in your second to the third year and have a good understanding of electricity and have some electrical skills.
It’s a possibility you may need to have your own transport and all of the tools needed to work as an electrician.
What does a sparky mate do?
A sparky is slang for an electrician with obvious connotations of things going wrong and electrical sparks flying everywhere.
The sparky mate will work alongside the qualified electrician, undertaking valuable work that can sometimes be seen as tedious but nevertheless necessary.
A sparky mate can be found pulling cables and running cables to sockets, the job is varied, and it’s all that a qualified electrician has to contend with in his daily working activities.
Can an electrician mate still attend college?
Yes, the qualified electrician will be motivated to bring on the next generation of electricians and will certainly accept his workmate being on a day release course through the academic year.
The main idea of being an electrician’s mate is to learn more about the onsite skills and get the practice that is also important but difficult to find.
What is an electrician’s improver?
The improver is much like the electrician’s mate. They will work alongside a qualified electrician to complete installations.
Like the electrician’s mate, They do not have the required skill set to move forward and being an improver is to improve his skill.
Can you complete the evidence-based portfolio as a mate?
Yes, one of the critical parts of passing the fourth year NVQ exam is to complete your portfolio.
The electrician you are working with will be aware that you need to accomplish certain tasks and have then signed off to complete your course and qualify.
Before you qualify, the electrician will possibly talk to you about staying on and working under his banner. It’s a great idea because you will need to continue learning.
What makes a competent electrician?
Aptitude, attitude, skills, knowledge. However, that is not quite enough in the field of electricians.
Once you have qualified and gained your NVQ Level 3 Diploma, you will then be required to work for a further two years before you can apply to become an accredited competent electrician.
Once you are accredited, you can now sign off on your own part P work, which will make you competitive if you decide to become self-employed.
What qualifications do I need to get an ECS card?
You will need to have completed and passed your NVQ Level 3 diploma. You will need a lot of experience working as a domestic installer or in your chosen speciality.
You should be confident to work unsupervised at all times and know the trade inside out before you apply for the ECC card.
Once you have reached this stage, you will be eligible to apply for the ECS Gold JIB card.
What is a JIB Approved electrician?
The JIB (joint industry board) is given to those electricians who have undergone a formal apprenticeship and have attained their qualifications after four years.
Once you have satisfied the criteria, you can apply for your JIB card, which is proof of your qualifications and skill level.
Do you need the 18th edition for a gold card?
Yes, the JIB gold card is thorough in its requirements for electricians, and without comprehensive knowledge and qualifications, you can not get your JIB gold card.
However, The JIB is your pass to work as a contractor on most building sites around the country and is, therefore, a valuable piece of plastic for the electrician.
How do you know if someone is a qualified electrician?
Sometimes, it can be difficult, so you should look out for telltale signs that something is not as it seems.
Almost all electricians are registered with NICEIC, and they proudly display this on their website, business cards and even on their vans.
However, if you are unsure, you are entitled to ask for their certification to set your mind at rest. If the electrician hesitates, then walk away and don’t take the risk, even if the rate is lower than everyone else.
Do I need AM2 to be an electrician?
If you are new to the industry, then the answer is yes, you must have an AM2. But for, experienced electricians with a wealth of knowledge, are not required to sit the exam.
How much does an electrician’s mate earn in the UK?
It depends if you are an electrician’s mate and working through your course to become qualified your pay will be relatively low for a good reason.
You are being paid to train, and there is a trade between knowledge gained and pay.
However, if you remain an electrician mate without qualifying, you can earn around 14 pounds per hour or £34.500 per year, which is a good salary for an unqualified person.
How much does a qualified electrician make in a year?
An employee can make around £50,000 a year plus overtime if they wish.
However, if you want to hit the dizzying height of earning over 100k per year, you will need to become self-employed.
There are some hurdles to jump when you are self-employed. You need to grow your business and have a solid business plan to demonstrate you are not taking a shot in the dark and hoping for the best.