Getting Set for a Career in the Electricty Industry

The electricity and energy industry is currently facing some large scale changes. With the advent of an ever-increasing selection of renewable and alternative energy sources, there is, in turn, an increased need for qualified workers. A skilled workforce is becoming increasingly hard to find in the UK, which means qualified Electrical Engineers, Electrical Distribution Engineers, and Network Engineers are very much in demand.

Studies have shown that around 186,000 recruits are needed to effectively overcome the skills gap, until at least 2014, which means there’s a lot of opportunities if its a field you’re interested in working in. Below, we’ll look at what skills and qualifications you’ll need to get started, as well as the best routes into the industry.

Skills and Qualifications

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There are a number of routes into the sector. Generally, you’ll need the following skills and qualities to get you started:

•   Problem-solving
•   Patience
•   Able to handle challenging environments
•   Good understanding of computer systems

There are a few routes to gaining the qualifications needed. One of the most popular options is through an apprenticeship. This method means you can learn a lot of the key skills on the job, and you’ll also have the advantage of experiencing the working environment as you learn. There a lot of large, well-established energy companies in the UK energy industry too, so apprenticeship schemes are fairly common and easy to find.

The following qualifications are highly recommended (and required in most cases) for a career as an electrical engineer:

•   At least four GSCEs, including science, maths, English, design and technology, or equivalent engineering experience.
•   A Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to Electrical Installation Skills.
•   A Level 2 Certicicate in Electrical Installation Studies.
•   A Level 2 First Diploma in Engineering Technology.
•   A Level 2/3 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology.
•   A Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology.
•   A Trainee Engineer Programme foundation degree.

 

 

Salary and Role Requirements

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Starting salaries for an electrical engineer or electrical distributor can be around £16k -20k per year. You can get a good idea of the kind of salaries you can earn by checking out our latest electrical network engineer roles. It’s important to note that the working environment for an engineer can often change – you can end up working from heights, as well as at night, so it’s important to be comfortable with these kinds of situations and environments.

Having a driving licence is important as well, as driving to different locations is likely to be required. In terms of hours, most engineering roles tend to have a 40-hour working week. You may be required to be on call in most roles as well. In terms of career progression, there are a lot of options. More experienced engineers can earn up to £50,000 in some cases. The average salary is around £30k per year.

If you need any help or advice with your application or jobsearch, then don’t forget to have a read through our Ultimate Jobseeker Guide, and register with us today to set up email alerts for all the latest Electrical Engineering roles near you.