Name:

What did you do prior to becoming an electrical tutor?
After completing a six year apprenticeship that covered everything from a plug top to a power station, I became a qualified electrician, carrying out work on all types of electrical installations. I then progressed through to becoming an electrical manager.

What do you like most about being an electrical tutor?
Having the opportunity to pass on my experience to the students, and teaching them the proper way to install the various installations. I enjoy watching them progress through their various exams and practical workshops to achieve the level 2 and 3 qualifications.

Do you have any particular tips on how to pass the practical assessments?
Watch, look and listen, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Read the task notes and follow the instructions. Working alongside a qualified electrician, gaining practical experience on various installations, is the best way to practise.

What’s your best practical tip for electricians working on-site?
Always be proud of the work that you do, achieving the sense of satisfaction from a job well done is priceless. Do it properly – you are a professional! Be reliable, arrive on time, do a good day’s work and abide by the relevant health and safety requirements. Be flexible in your approach and respect your fellow man.

What are the best things about being an electrician?
No two jobs are the same, they all differ in some way or another – the scope and variety mean you are never bored. Problem solving and fault finding give you a sense of achievement in your work, plus the potential to earn a good living. Also, some of the characters you meet on the job are priceless. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every day of my 47-year career and I have never been out of work.

Do you have any funny stories from working as an electrician that you’d like to share?
Hundreds of them! Here’s one but please do not try this yourself. When I first started my apprenticeship, the electrician I was allocated to said, “The first thing we have to do is see if you are suitable to become an electrician. We have to test your resistance so hold onto these test leads.” As they were connected to a meter you can imagine my reply. So he held them first whilst I operated the meter – nothing to it. So, me being the daft one, picked up the leads, and allowed him to operate the meter, not realising that it had a switch to take it from Ohms to mega Ohms – generating 500 Volts! I nearly jump out of my skin, to which he comments that “we’ll have to think about career planning – you’ll never make it if your resistance is so low!”

Remember, I was lucky this had no effect on me – never mess around or play with electricity. Treat it with respect.

Domestic Heat Pump Installer (Air & Ground Source)
Heat can be created by drawing in air from outside, or tapping into the heat that lays dormant underground. These sources can then be used to contribute to the buildings’ heating and hot water requirements.

Upon successful completion you can propose,survey, design and install domestic or small commercial heat pump installations, enlisting the manufacturers’ support where required.

Solar Thermal Domestic Hot Water
The sun is an abundant source of renewable energy we can tap into, even in our often cloudy climate. Solar panels generate hot water for the home, and can make a significant contribution to domestic requirements even during winter.

Upon successful completion you will be able to install one of the UK’s most popular renewable energy systems in people’s homes or small commercial units like shops and offices.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Burning coal or gas to generate electricity creates carbon dioxide which can contribute to climate change. A Solar PV system can reduce carbon dioxide by converting sunlight into electricity, which can then be used to help power a home.

Upon successful completion you can install, maintain and commission Solar PV systems in people’s homes or small commercial units like shops and offices.

Energy Efficiency Part L
Many owners of homes and businesses can do a great deal to improve energy efficiency. This could mean limiting heat gains and losses, commissioning energy efficient fixed building services and being educated on using reasonable amounts of fuel and power. Students can use this course to learn best practice and help people live and work in an energy efficient way.

Rainwater Harvesting
To decrease the pressure on water resources, rainwater harvesting collects and then recycles water that could otherwise evaporate or seep into the ground. The water collected can be used for non-drinking purposes e.g. flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering gardens, etc.

Upon successful completion you can select, install and maintain rainwater harvesting systems for domestic or commercial properties.

For more information or to enrol, call us on Freephone 0800 048 3640.

This can be completed as part of the ACS Workshop and Assessment package at our Birmingham, Bristol, Livingston* and London Central centres, or as a standalone addition to your existing ACS gas qualifications.

On completion of this course the qualification can be added to your Gas Safe Register card.

Please note that to attend this course you must already hold an existing CCN1 qualification.

For more information or to enrol, please call us on Freephone 0800 048 3640.

* In partnership

For further information call PTS on 01455 551210, visit www.ptsplumbing.co.uk or text PTS or SPARES to 83332 to find your nearest branch.

It means those taking our Become a Qualified Plumber, Become a Qualified Plumber – Advanced or Become a Gas Engineer courses have access to the latest heating technology and equipment to learn and hone their skills on.

Vokèra is a preferred supplier of PTS and this excellent recommendation means that they are widely available at PTS branches (in which case, you should also read how you can get exclusive PTS discounts).

Eleanor Waldron, Marketing Director for Vokèra, said: “Training is very much at the heart of our business at Vokèra, we invest a lot to provide this valuable service to installers who benefit enormously from receiving training on different types of boilers. We are pleased to be partnering with OLCI, who are committed to delivering quality training. Such training is vital for the growth and success of our industry.”

A former musician, Alan used to own a recording studio where he worked as a Sound Engineer for over 10 yrs. As business slowed, he decided to retrain so he could set up his own company in a new industry. It was then that Alan decided to train with us.

Since completing our Become a Fully Qualified Electrician course, Alan has set up his own business, AV Electrics, which he has been successfully running for the past 2 years. He has since also registered with NIC as a Domestic Installer. Alan has built a healthy client base in London and, in addition to carrying out domestic work, he has also completed many commercial projects.

His advice to other students is to work hard and be as committed as possible, and giving a high quality service to customers in order to generate positive word of mouth.

If you’re thinking of setting up your own company then Alan’s advice can really help. The quality of service you provide is so important: Think about how you deal with people when meeting them for quotes. It could be as simple as offering to take your shoes off as you walk into a house or ensuring that your hands are clean before shaking hands. Then, once you’re on a job, remember to work hard and be professional. It can be the difference between generating positive word-of-mouth or losing out on potential customers.

If you want to work for a company, Alan’s experience could also help you find a job: think about the quality of service you provide to potential employers. Make sure your CV is up to date and well-presented. Plus, ensure that you have a good covering letter to send out with applications. We can help with both of these if you’d like. As Alan showed, success also comes by working hard. This could mean regularly looking on the Internet for vacancies, contacting companies and speaking to lots of people – including us. Then, when you get a job, continue working hard and doing things to the best of your ability.

If you would like to start your own business or join a company then consider contacting us. After your training we can help you set up your business with our Business Support Service¹. We can advise on ways to get customers, organise insurance & doing your books. Alternatively, if you would like advice on finding a job² then you can use our Job Support Service¹. We can help with CVs, interviews & job searches, and, using our industry contacts, we aim to match you with suitable vacancies.

Please remember that while we do everything we can to support our students, we cannot guarantee work experience or employment. We can help show you where to find experience and jobs, but ultimately your success comes down to what you put into it yourself. The more proactive and determined you are, the greater your likelihood of success. As Gary Player, the famous golfer, said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

To benefit from our Business Support Service or Job Support Service, please email info@olci.info.

¹ Available with selected course, including ‘’Become a Qualified Plumber, ‘Become a Gas Engineer’, ‘Become a Fully Qualified Electrician’ and ‘Domestic Electrical Installer’ courses. ² Although we can’t guarantee we’ll get you a job, we’ll do all we can to try to match you with a suitable employer.

OLCI students already enjoy significant benefits as a result of state-of-the-art nationwide training centres and flexible study-when-you-want theory modules. Now, this most recent alliance ensures OLCI students enjoy financial benefits too.

Elin Norlin, OLCI Marketing Manager, explains: ‘Teaming up with PTS allows OLCI students to enjoy discounts on their plumbing and heating materials and tools. We believe this added offer enhances our position as the UK’s leading construction training provider and, in this incredibly competitive market, gives our students the advantage they deserve.’

Nicola Wood, PTS’ Marketing Manager commented: ‘PTS wanted to give OLCI students an added advantage – and with a discount on our wide range of products for the trade, we’re delighted to help.’

To train to become a plumber, electrician or gas engineer and enjoy the benefits experienced by OLCI students, simply call OLCI advisors on 0800 058 2848.

One of our training providers is the successful leading construction training company OLCI Construction Training, a nationwide organisation with over 13 state-of-the-art centres across the UK.

Customer focus ensures success

Philip Laniado, Managing Director of OLCI, reveals the secrets of the company’s success: ‘OLCI Construction Training has been a City & Guilds accredited assessment centre for several years. We see our businesses as going beyond merely teaching qualifications to solving headaches suffered by many in the plumbing and heating industry. We pride ourselves on being able to offer bespoke qualifications. We work with all companies no matter the size, from those that employ one person to those that employ hundreds! And, regardless the size of the company, we always offer the same service standards.’

‘With each company we look at the training requirements and map the appropriate City & Guilds qualifications and industry standards to their needs. As we have worked in the business for many years we understand the pressures of the construction industry and the need for training to be flexible and relevant. We ensure that each company has their own designated Account Manager, the point of contact regardless of where the company is based or what training they need. We find that this enables us to develop an individual relationship so we can learn more about the business and react quickly where there are new development requirements. Our aim is always to provide the right solutions.’

Positive principles

OLCI’s success is driven from a series of core principles developed to make the business customer focussed and ensure that customers receive a positive experience and can have their training needs met through one contact point. ‘A major advantage of choosing OLCI is that we can deliver bespoke training or assessments at our centres or even at your company premises. This flexibility means your training requirements can be met in a way that best suits you and your company.’

OLCI Marketing Manager Elin Norlin explains: ‘OLCI aims to remove the problems and stress from organising qualifications or undertaking reassessments. We have evolved to tailor training to individual companies. This means companies both large and small can grow their business without training headaches. We believe that companies taking advantage of this can enjoy a positive ripple effect and start delivering increased morale and growing productivity.’

Real recognition

‘We work with City & Guilds because they provide relevant and up-to-date qualifications. Our reason for using City & Guilds can be summed up in a quote from one of our trainees, Russell Brown: "You know you are getting the proper bona fide plumbing qualifications in the end. City & Guilds qualifications offer recognition of an international seal of quality".

In fact, the City & Guilds’ name is recognised by 99% of employers in the UK – which means that training providers know they are offering marketable qualifications that are relevant to industry and to the needs of individual businesses. From this strong foundation City & Guilds is also able to offer a realm of additional support to training providers, including a personal service from our lregional and national offices, briefing events, regular updates, a popular online administration system that saves time and money, and a portfolio of flexible learning resources and online assessment methods which give learners the best chance of success.

At a time when university graduate unemployment is high*, OLCI, as a construction training provider, has seized the initiative and built this alliance that means their students can gain valuable work skills, written references to help them progress their career, and maybe even a job at the end of it.

Speaking about the scheme, OLCI Student Development Co-ordinator Rosanne Kincaid-Smith, commented: ‘This represents an exciting opportunity for our students – not only can they receive expert training to help them achieve industry recognised qualifications, but successful students can now experience site life with a fast-moving and exciting company.’

Greenbuild Director Dermot O’Neill said: ‘When OLCI approached us about working together we were delighted to help. OLCI students have the skills that we need and we can give them valuable hands-on experience within the industry, whilst they make a significant contribution to moving Greenbuild forward.’

* Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Plumbing Trade Supplies has joined forces with OLCI Construction Training to become the sole supplier to our training centres, which means that PTS account customers and OLCI students can now enjoy some exclusive discounts.

As one of the largest plumbing and heating suppliers, PTS supply a comprehensive range of bathroom, heating, plumbing, renewable energy products and genuine spares through a nationwide network of over 300 branches.

With over 30,000 stocked products from over 500 leading manufacturers and an extensive range of own brand products to suit your every need, most products are available direct from the branch or can be ordered for next day delivery.

Through this new partnership, OLCI students will now receive a unique PTS card to gain discounts on a range of products, including an exclusive tool kit, which contains everything they need to complete their course and move their career forward.
 
PTS account customers will also benefit thanks to significant discounts on all of OLCI’s training courses including topics such as ACS, Part P, water regulations and renewable energy solutions.

Alan Ball, Managing Director of PTS, said: “It’s important that merchants such as PTS support both installers fighting a tough economic climate and apprentices who are the future of our industry. By partnering with OLCI we can offer some cost saving benefits to both groups – helping them to improve their skills to support customers now and in the years to come.”

For further information call PTS on 01455 551210, visit www.ptsplumbing.co.uk or text PTS or SPARES to 83332 to find your nearest branch.