Don’t get taken for a ride by electrical ‘Rogue Trainers’ urges industry body

Want to become a qualified electrician? Look carefully at the training courses on offer to avoid wasting time and money, is the advice in a new campaign from electrical industry body The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP).

With thousands of searches each year on terms such as ‘electrical courses’ and ‘how to become an electrician’, many people are at risk of taking the wrong training path if they’re not aware of the correct routes they should follow.

Alongside the many training providers who are doing the right thing and offering industry-recognised qualifications, there are unfortunately some training providers – dubbed by TESP as ‘Rogue Trainers’ – who don’t deliver on their promises, presenting a range of courses which look impressive to the untrained eye, but on proper inspection don’t lead to qualified status.

Click to view video

In a short, animated video from TESP, an unsuspecting victim is drawn into a house of horrors by false claims which turn out not to be all they seem.

The advice to those wanting to become an electrician is look carefully at what’s on offer and be aware of red flags like hard sells, payment plans, and qualification packages which aren’t recognised by industry.

Full advice is available at www.roguetrainers.co.uk with top tips for choosing a training provider, along with warning signs to look out for when researching a provider’s claims. Visitors are signposted to TESP’s industry approved Training Routes to read more on the right paths to follow to become qualified.

“There are still too many reports of people spending thousands of pounds with companies who wilfully misrepresent where their training leads,” said Ruth Devine, TESP Chair and Managing Director of SJD Electrical. “Some providers use high-pressure sales techniques to trap learners with a large financial commitment, but devious contract terms mean there’s no realistic prospect of achieving the qualification.”

“When so many training providers jump through hoops to do things properly and engage responsibly with industry and employers, it’s important that potential learners are aware of the pitfalls.

“We hope to raise awareness of this campaign to the general public and help those who may fall foul of rogue trainers when looking to become an electrician.”

Watch the video and find out more about the campaign.

Click to view video

 

[Electrics]

"Importantly, the routes clearly stress that becoming a fully qualified electrician can only be achieved with valid on-site work experience, as opposed to courses that offer no ‘real world’ practical skills."

There is no standard, body, qualification or overseeing authority that defines 'fully qualified'. In short, there's no such thing.

 

[Dustydazzler]

The closest thing to 'qualified' in todays market is an up to date NVQ3 ?

But as you say the term 'qualified' in the electrical industry means nothing as it there is no formal one size fits all qualification

Its not like a driving test where you pass and then are qualified to drive , the electrical trade has never ever had such a universal standard

 

[Elec_Skills_Partnership]

Whilst there is currently no protection of title nor formal licence to practice for the profession, the industry-approved qualification routes on the Electrical Careers website from TESP (Electrical Training - Qualified Electrical Training Courses - https://www.electricalcareers.co.uk/joining-the-industry/training-routes/) show that whilst there is no one size fits all, there is a clear industry standard across all four UK nations.

The message from TESP on behalf of industry employers is that a vocational qualification including technical knowledge and work-based experience at Level 3, and the AM2 industry assessment of competence is required to be recognised as a qualified electrician. This can be achieved via a variety of aligned routes, be it the ideal route of the apprenticeship, a mixture of further education training and work experience - whether funded by Government or the learner, or via accreditation of experience through the Experienced Worker Assessment.

The routes to qualification are agreed in partnership with industry bodies, employers and providers. The routes are widely recognised across by Government and across different client sectors, and are intended to help learners avoid wasting their money on time on training that doesn’t get them to where they want to be.

The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification, which sets the requirements to join (admittedly non-mandatory) certification body schemes, aligns with the routes for work category A1.2 Other than dwellings covered by BS 7671 (as amended). The accepted qualifications are detailed in the accompanying EAS Qualifications Guide.

The ECS Gold Card eligibility requirements also align with the TESP routes.

 

[Electrics]

Whilst there is currently no protection of title nor formal licence to practice for the profession, the industry-approved qualification routes on the Electrical Careers website from TESP (Electrical Training - Qualified Electrical Training Courses - https://www.electricalcareers.co.uk/joining-the-industry/training-routes/) show that whilst there is no one size fits all, there is a clear industry standard across all four UK nations.

No they really don't - you're just an awarding body with no authority in law. No different to NICEIC. Until there are laws governing competence like with GasSafe there is no standard. This is just a fact no matter how many organisations step up and say they are setting the standards. If you don't have to adhere to them then there is no standard, and there certainly is no such thing as 'fully qualified electrician' - the law says 'competence' is all that counts.

I wouldn't have said anything but i don't like organisations saying things that are patently untrue in order to sell themselves.

The message from TESP on behalf of industry employers is that a vocational qualification including technical knowledge and work-based experience at Level 3, and the AM2 industry assessment of competence is required to be recognised as a qualified electrician.

Recognised by who? One group of people taking it upon themselves to try to define 'fully qualified' means nothing when there is no actual standards defining it in law.

The routes to qualification are agreed in partnership with industry bodies, employers and providers. The routes are widely recognised across by Government and across different client sectors, and are intended to help learners avoid wasting their money on time on training that doesn’t get them to where they want to be.

You can trade as an electrician with no qualifications at all. Competence is what 'qualifies' you to be an electrician in law. It's a shame that you've simply tried to justify the wrong statements you made instead of just admitting that you worded it wrongly.

The simple fact is there is no such thing as 'fully qualified electrician' and there is no standard setters or authority no matter how many of you governing bodies try to take it upon yourselves to become the authority. Until people have no choice but to follow your standards then all you are is a glorified NICEIC membership scheme with no authority to say what 'qualified' is and isn't.

 

[Lister1987]

I'm confused, which part are you taking umbrage to @CamoElectric ? The fact they're trying to demystify the "accepted" routes or that they aren't a statutory body with any form of control? I've not seen evidence of the latter, thry have said throughout thry work with various organisations (none of which at statutory) to try and give clear guidance to those wanting to get into the trade.

I agree with some of your points above but I would t shoot them down for what they are doing as upto now, no-one has tried to clearly define a path.

It doesn't help that the terminology throughout is a mix of 'qualified' and 'competent', the former is only 1 way to prove that latter and I would strongly urge TESP and thr wider industry to adopt not 'qualified' but 'competent' as the important factor - EAWR and other associated legislation doesn't use 'Qualified' so why is everyone else? Money I suspect; You need this qual, this qual and this qual.

I'm not opposed to the NVQ3 & AM2 as they help demonstrate the skills required but that whole mindset that you're not qualified competent without them needs to disappear - If you work with the organisations as you say you do, how about this as thr next meaningful change to the industry?

You could definitely improve what you do but I do applaude what you have done thus far.

 

[Elec_Skills_Partnership]

Camo – it’s clear you have differing views to us, so we will have to agree to disagree. However you have made some inaccurate statements about TESP which we must correct.

TESP is not an awarding body, a membership body, or certification body. We are a not-for-profit organisation that does not sell products or membership.

Our aim with the Rogue Trainers campaign is to raise awareness of those training providers who are looking to take advantage of the unsuspecting public, following reports of concerning practice.

We understand if you do not want to be part of this, but we are grateful for those who do and are really pleased with the level of support the campaign has received so far.

Have a good day!

 

[Electrics]

I'm confused, which part are you taking umbrage to @CamoElectric ?

Statements like this that are factually false but get bandied about:

"becoming a fully qualified electrician can only be achieved with valid on-site work experience".

There's no such thing as 'fully qualified', it literally doesn't exist because the profession is unregulated in this country, standing alone in Europe in this regard along with Netherlands. Go ask any European country if your skills are accepted and they will tell you you will be instantly accepted with any top qualification unless from the UK or Holland.

I get a bit tired of seeing people saying things like this, people saying things like 'you have to be fully qualified to rewire a light because it's ILLEGAL IF YOU DON'T', 'you can't sell your house unless the electrics are carried out by a fully qualified electrician' and other such things that are total nonsense.

I'm on the same side as you - i want heavy regulation but different bodies popping up to claim authority means nothing. Until something is written into law like Gas Safe there is no such thing as 'fully qualified', there are electricians that have qualifications XYZ, there are those with none but more experience who do a better job, those who have passed the 18th + inspection and testing and nothing else, those who have done design and EV, it's a whole mixed bag and there's no official definition of which of these you must have to be considered 'fully qualified'.

 

[Electrics]

Camo – it’s clear you have differing views to us, so we will have to agree to disagree.

There's no 'agree' or 'disagree' though - there's no such thing as 'fully qualified' in this country and no authority (as of yet) that has the right to decide what counts as such.

End of story.

 

[Dustydazzler]

The closest thing that England has to a 'qualified' electricians is an up to date NVQ3 ??

no such thing as 'fully qualified' as far as I am concerned