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Electrician Green Job

Electricians install power, lighting and renewable technologies in buildings. They also inspect and repair electrical control systems and machinery.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £44,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 45 a week

You could work: on call; as customers demand

4.1%
Future employment

There will be 4.1% fewer Electrician jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As an electrician, you could:

  • test electrical systems to make sure they're safe
  • build electrical control panels
  • service and repair electrical components in machinery
  • fit smart controls for lighting, heating and security systems
  • install electrical and fibre-optic cabling in homes and businesses
  • respond to emergency call outs

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For an electrician to be a green job, you could:

  • install solar panels on buildings
  • work on the roll out of electric vehicle charging points
  • service and maintain controls on low carbon heating and cooling units

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work on a construction site, at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be cramped and at height.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a work accreditation scheme
  • applying directly
College

You could start a college course to gain some of the technical knowledge that may help you get onto an apprenticeship, or find a trainee position with a company.

Courses include:

  • electrical installation
  • electronic and electrical engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

You'll still need practical experience in the workplace along with further on-the-job training to become fully qualified.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship with a company, such as:

  • Installation and Maintenance Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Domestic Electrician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are open to all ages.

You can also train to become an electrician through an apprenticeship in the armed forces.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
  • Army apprenticeships|https://jobs.army.mod.uk/regular-army/what-you-get/apprenticeships-skills/
  • RAF apprenticeships|https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/apprenticeships
Work

If you've worked as an electrician and do not yet have a level 3 qualification, you may be able to get your skills and experience recognised through the Experienced Worker Assessment.

There are 2 assessment routes available, with one requiring at least 3 years' experience and the other needing 5 years.

Direct application

You may be able to get a job as an electrician if you've got experience and relevant qualifications from a related career, for example in building services or electrical engineering.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Career tips

It's very important to check what training courses are offering before signing up. Electrical Careers give advice on how to choose the right training and qualifications to become a qualified electrician.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become an electrician from:Electrical Careers; Go Construct

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With experience, you could work in:site supervision; estimating and contract management; electrical project design; training and assessment

You might also become self-employed and set up your own electrical business.

You can find out more about becoming an electrician from Electrical Careers and Go Construct.

For other roles linked to Electrician, employers such as SSE have roles as an Electrical Power Engineer and Craft Apprenticeships: Linesperson, Electrical Fitter, Electrical Jointer, Electrical Engineering.

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Electricians are needed to install and EV charging points for electric vehicles, and to install and service smart meters, heat pumps and solar panels (PV) to help make the move to low carbon transport and buildings in the West of England.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • Level 1-3 Electrical Installation at SGS College
  • Level 3 Maintenance Electrician at Bath College
  • T-Level Building Services engineering for Construction: Electrical Installation

Click here to find a local provider

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 3 Electrical, Electronic Product Service and Installation Engineer Apprenticeship
  • Level 3 Domestic Electrician Apprenticeship

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

Examples of Post-19 courses you could study at local colleges

For more information on the different routes you can take to get into working as an electrician, take a look at the 'Routes into this job' section above and visit Electrical Careers to learn more about Electrician Plus.

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Local employers 

  • Local energy companies
  • MJP Electrical Services Ltd

For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • problem-solving skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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