Electrical services are a competitive sector in the UK. In 2019, there were over 259,000 practising and qualified electricians working across the country, indicating both the level of competition and the choice available to customers looking for an electrical installer. If a job is not completed competently and to a high standard, then the customer is likely to move to another contractor.
Being an electrician is also a hazardous profession, involving working in a potentially very dangerous environment, and there are ever-present challenges and safety risks arising from working with electricity. A critical element of the job to remember is, therefore, remaining safe while providing the highest standards of completed work.
These twin aspects – safety and quality – are the principles that undermine the idea of competence in the electrical sector, and why electricians need to work efficiently and to the highest standards to get more business.
Competent Electrician Definition – What Do We Mean By Electrical Competency?
For electricians, competence has a very strong meaning. In many sectors of life, ‘competence’ indicates a person with basic skills and foundational knowledge, but nothing advanced – e.g., a ‘competent driver’ is someone with the skills to pass their test and not cause an accident, but they won’t be winning a Grand Prix any time soon. For an electrician, on the other hand, competence is defined as having all the necessary technical knowledge and experience to avoid dangers and complete work to a very high standard.
This necessitates a very high level of technical expertise and theoretical knowledge, beyond what ‘competence’ often indicates in standard conversation. An electrical installer must have the knowledge, skills, and experience to complete the job at hand to the satisfaction of the customer, while also following all the necessary regulations and industry standards. They must also have the foresight and knowledge to diagnose and solve emerging problems quickly and effectively.
What Qualifications Do Electricians Need In The UK?
For practising electricians, demonstrating competence involves obtaining certain qualifications and certifications in order to work safely and legally, and also maintaining their knowledge base through regular refresher training and specialist knowledge.
For example, an important element of working with electricity is to remember that even though skills may seem transferable, it does not mean that they are. The skills and knowledge held by a maintenance electrician and an installation electrician are often different – there will be certain tasks that both parties can undertake competently, but much of each individual’s role is not comparable with the other, and competence may not exist on a universal role basis.
In other words, electrical services are such a broad field that the most valuable contractors are those with specialist competencies and technical skills.
To establish yourself as a qualified electrician, you’ll need to complete an approved apprenticeship or an equivalent course, such as the City & Guilds 2365 Diploma in Electrical Installations, giving you the knowledge and skills required to carry out broad-based electrical work safely and competently. Beyond this, you may wish to expand your skill base with additional qualifications such as the 18th Edition Wiring regulations (BS 7671), City and guilds 2391 Inspection and Testing, or further qualifications to specialise in renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and so on.
Becoming A Qualified Electrician With PTT
At PTT, we offer several training routes for individuals interested in becoming a qualified electrician, as well as specialist training courses for practising electricians looking to deepen their areas of competence and expertise. For more information, please contact us directly.
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