Fast track training courses for tradespeople

What are fast track courses?

You can spend four or more years training to be an electrician, earning a low apprentice wage. And while that might be ok when you’re 16, things change when you get older, want to retrain and have mouths to feed and a mortgage to pay.

Fast track training involves squashing all the learning that would happen over years into just a few weeks. The risk is, you don’t get to spend time with other experienced people actually doing the job. You also need to check whataccreditationis on offer and whether or not it is nationally recognised. Even with accreditation, it’s unlikely to give you the same depth of knowledge as on-site experience would.

Should I do a fast track course?

If you’re prepared to do the research, the answer might be yes, if…

• 你是一个想要接受再培训的成年人，但你有账单要付，不能等很多年才能挣钱。但是因为你的实际经验较少，所以你仍然需要一段时间才能开始赚到可观的钱。
• 你有很多动力，想要换一份工作。这不是一个容易的选择，你需要一些认真的奉献——你可能需要牺牲一些去酒吧的时间，外出的日子和假期来完成课程。
• You’ve got the money to invest in the course.
• 你已经查过了你所在行业认可的课程，也就是雇主在他们的招聘广告中提到的。
• You can get experience elsewhere - experience is always king, and although your course may give you a decent footing with their practical training, you’ll want to get time on site as soon as possible.
• You already work in a trade but never got an official qualification. Or you’re working in a trade and want to upskill in another area.
• You’re a bit of a DIY whizz. You’ve got lots of experience and doing a fast track course in something like painting and decorating would give you the extra know-how to work in someone else’s home.

What will it cost me?

You’ll need to pay for fast track courses and they often run into thousands of pounds.
Some basic courses may only run for a few sessions and cost a couple of hundred pounds, however, these will only give you a taste of what’s involved in a trade, with perhaps a few DIY level skills.

More comprehensive courses which will give you Level 3 plumbing skills will cost something in the range of £3,000 to £4,000 depending on the provider.

Remember that your earning potential will also be tied to your skills and experience. A quick course might get you up and running on your own, but you might only be able to take on smaller, simpler jobs while you build up real-life experience and familiarity with your trade. That means your earning potential will be limited to that end of the market until your confidence and experience grows.

Where can I take one?

There are hundreds of private training companies offering fast track courses in different trades. Before you sign up to a course and spend your precious savings make sure you research:

• What qualifications you actually need to work in the job you want, from a good source like theNational Careers Service.
• What experience and certifications employers are looking for – check out their recruitment pages and job requirements.

Fast track courses aren’t a magical key to success. While they’re undoubtedly useful in some circumstances, they can’t really replace more traditional paths to becoming a tradesperson - there are no shortcuts to success.