The third Monday in January, which falls on the 21^st of January this year, has been labelled as the most depressing day of the year or Blue Monday.

This year, rather than revelling in sadness and taking a negative attitude towards your life, we challenge you to turn this negativity into motivation and try something new. If Mondays in general (but particularly this one) make you feel down, depressed and unmotivated, then it’s time to make some changes.

At Access Training Academies, our goal is to give you the tools and skills you need to step into a career that is truly satisfying and fulfilling. We offer courses in a range of disciplines, so whether you want to try your hand at carpentry, branch into the world of IT and computing, or train to become a fully-qualified electrician – we can help! We have over 30 different courses for you to choose from, and our friendly and experienced tutors will guide and support you throughout to ensure you get the best possible results.

Never have another blue Monday again! Browse the courses we offer by heading to our site, or give us a call on 0800 345 7492 to talk to one of our advisers about how you can start your journey towards a more rewarding career.

Browse Courses Here >

Here at Access Training, we have traditionally provided our students with courses aimed at providing the required skills, knowledge and qualifications to succeed in a number 'trade' industries such as Plumbing, Gas Engineering, Carpentry etc. However, we are continuously striving to provide the best possible training courses we can, that reflect the current market and demand of our students. With that, we are proud to announce the introduction of IT Training Programmes, here at Access Training! 

Browse IT Training > 

With the world moving at a very fast pace into a 'digital' era, the need and demand for talented individuals in the IT sector continues to grow, something that we at Access Training have recognised and want to help with. As a result, we now offer a variety of IT training programmes across a number of different sectors in the IT industry - find out a little about each of these courses below!

IT Training Programmes

• Infrastructure Engineer - This is a very hands-on, demanding course where students will be required to manage an organisation's entire IT infrastructure. 
• Network Engineer - This course is centred all around problem-solving and analytical skills, where you will learn to identify and solve issues with IT networks.
• Cyber Security - This programme will teach you the essential abilities and knowledge needed to combat cyber attacks and online threats.

Our IT training programmes cover a wide range of areas within the IT industry, so no matter where your ambition or talents lay, we are sure you'll find the training course for you! So, whether you're looking to start a new career in the IT industry, or are hoping to gain recognised qualifications from reputable accreditors, our IT programmes are for you - Simply click above to learn more about each of our IT programmes and enquire today!

For further information regarding our training courses or if you would like to contact us to discuss anything else, please call us today on 0800 345 7492 or email us at info@accesstraininguk.co.uk. 

If you haven’t noticed already, we have a brand new website! Our friends over at Designer Websites, who helped us out with our last website re-design back in 2015, have once again proved their capabilities and professionalism to bring our current website up-to-date with a new, attractive look and feel!

All of the great, important features that we included in our last re-design, such as the ‘course finder’ function has remained – so there should be no worries about having any difficulties finding the information or course you need. In fact, with our new design, locating the essential information you want regarding our range of courses is now even easier, with simplified menus and website copy. Something which was high on our priority list for the new design. As well as having updated pages for all of our existing courses in the electrical, gas, plumbing and construction industry, we now offer fantastic courses in the IT sector! These can now be viewed and applied for today!

We hope you enjoy navigating and using our new website just as much as we do! If you have any questions or want to enquire about one of our courses, click below today!

Get in Touch >

Choosing to change careers is ultimately YOUR decision. But if you're unsure, you should spend some time evaluating your current situation in order to establish whether or not a career move is the right step to take.

Are you happy in your current job?

Perhaps you're considering a career change because you're feeling unhappy in your current job. If that's the case, ensure you aren't making a drastic decision based on one bad day at work, or a temporary problem that will likely be resolved before long. Take some time to write down exactly what it is about your current situation that is making you unhappy.

Having the negatives of your current job written down in front of you will help you to get a handle on how you really feel. As a bonus, you'll also have a list of attributes to steer clear of when searching for your new career!

Are you moving sideways? Or looking for a whole new career?

Before you go any further, ask yourself whether you're craving a mere change of scenery, or a new line of work entirely. If you have lots of experience in your current industry, you might be tempted to take the easy route and simply 'move sideways' - that is, get a similar job with a different employer, perhaps in a different city or a less familiar working environment.

This is fine if you're simply sick of your current manager or looking for a larger salary, but if you're genuinely dissatisfied with your current career, you shouldn't be afraid to try something completely new. Either way, make sure you know what sort of change you're after before you go after it.

Brainstorm some ideas

If a complete career change does seem like the right choice for you, the next step is to decide which new career you'd like to pursue. You've already prepared a list of things you dislike about your current profession - now you need to think about what positives you're looking for in your work.

A good way of doing this is to explore your current interests. If you pursue a profession that's relevant to your own passions, then the difficulties that always come with starting a new job will feel a little less daunting.

If you have no idea what you'd like to do next, why not speak to your family and friends - or even a professional career adviser - to establish where your strengths lie, what your core values are, and which line of work they would suit best.

Do you need any new qualifications / education?

Once you know roughly what type of career you'd like to pursue, you may find that you need some new skills and/or qualifications before you can proceed.

It's likely - if you're completely changing careers - that your current CV won't carry all that much weight in your new industry. So look for classes, college courses, and work experience opportunities that will serve as an introduction to your new profession and give you the tools you'll need to forge a new career path.

Here at Access Training, we offer career change course packages with no prior experience required. Select a training option to find out more:

Electrician Courses   Plumbing Courses   Gas Courses

Read our reviews to find out what past learners have said about their Access Training courses!

If you’re thinking about changing to a career in the electrical industry or are already working as an electrician and are looking for to gain further qualifications to move your career forward, Access Training Academies are here to help! If you are part of the former, you may have already had a think about how to kick-start your career as an electrician and what is the best option for you. We understand that this can get fairly complicated with a variety of roles of pathways available to you, but it doesn’t have to be with our range of fast-track Electrician Courses.

The demand for electricians

A recently carried out report showed that electricians and other skilled trade experts are among the most difficult professionals to employ through a lack of workforce numbers, above and over sales, management and executives. Figures issued by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the electrical industry is in anguish as a result of a lack of resources, largely due to an ageing workforce. As a result of apprenticeships or meaningful training routes not being available over the years, there has been a decreased number of new entrants into the field. This doesn’t have to be an issue, however, with Access Training Academies Electrical Courses.

Becoming an electrician

The main role of a typical electrician is to install, test and maintain electrical equipment, wiring, fittings and appliances in a variety of commercial and residential settings. Traditionally, the way in which an individual would enter the electrical industry would be to first complete an industry-recognised Level 3 qualification such as an NVQ while working or subsequently enrol onto an apprenticeship which combines studies with on-the-job training. These, however, can take many years to complete. Something you do not have to worry about with Access Training.

Access Training Electrical Courses

As mentioned, whether you are just starting out in your electrical career or are looking to increase your number of professional qualifications, Access Training provides a number of high-quality programmes that guarantee you achieve all necessary qualifications while gaining valuable work experience. Our New Career Courses focus on providing all of the basic and essential electrician qualifications, regardless of prior experience, whereas our range of Trade Professional Courses are centred around providing experienced electricians with further qualifications and training in order to meet current regulations and further their existing abilities. All of our Electrical Courses can be viewed below.

View our Electrical Courses >

If you have any questions or require further information regarding our Electrical Courses, please do not hesitate to contact us today by calling 0800 345 7492 or emailing info@accesstraininguk.co.uk.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a career in plumbing or you’re curious about where you can progress from your current plumbing position, there are a few different routes that someone in the plumbing profession can take.

Becoming a plumber

With no prior experience in the plumbing industry, people might believe that plumbers have a somewhat limited career path, but that simply isn’t the case. From your first day of training to become a plumber you are presented with a variety of different areas that you could choose to specialise in, including:

• Ventilation systems
• Heating systems
• Air-conditioning systems
• Solar-powered systems

Will I be doing the same jobs every day?

Not necessarily. The role of a plumber can be very diverse, one day you might be carrying out a bathroom repair or boiler check, and the next day you might be working on a design for a new plumbing system in a home or commercial building. It really depends on your skill set and the type of company that you work for.

How can I progress in my plumbing career?

One of the easiest ways to progress in your plumbing career is to acquire new qualifications and skills that set you apart from other plumbers and set you up to carry out a range of duties.

Our Premier Plumbing Course enables you to work across the plumbing, electrical and gas industries. The training in this course covers aspects such as:

• Health and Safety
• Bathroom Installation
• Electrical Principles
• Gas Safety

Find out more about our Premier Plumbing Course >

Alternatively, you could also choose to pursue higher education. With a good amount of prior plumbing experience and a range of qualifications under your belt, you could work towards acquiring a university degree in engineering or a related subject.

Why not take a look at the Plumbing Training Courses available on Access Training Academies, to see how we can help you start, or progress further in your plumbing career?

Click Here to see all Plumbing Courses >

The decision to become self-employed is a difficult one. You may have been working as part of a company or organisation for a period of time or may be a young and enthusiastic individual with a great business idea, eager to venture out into the world of work on your own two feet. Either way, the sphere of self-employment is both exciting and risky. But nothing is without its dangers. Individuals choose not to go into the unknown of self-employment because of the perils associated, but because of the advantages and individual benefits that it can bring. Before taking the step into becoming self-employed, it may be a good idea to remind yourself of these advantages to give yourself the confidence to make the plunge.

1. Taking Control - Arguably the biggest motivating factor in becoming self-employed is the power and enjoyment that comes with being in control of all aspects of your business. Many people who have worked for a company as an employee may get tired of being told what to do, especially if they do not have a close working relationship with their superiors. When you’re your own boss, you decide what happens within your company, you choose the target audience, you pick the look, style and culture associated with the brand that you want to create. You also get to choose the location and hours that you work. Two huge factors when it comes to making the transition into self-employment.

2. Job Security – The risks associated with self-employment are far greater in the beginning, as they’re more likely to have an influence. As time goes on, however, and your business starts to grow bigger, so does your job security. Unlike traditional employment where your boss has the ability to let you go at any time when you work for yourself, you’ll never have to worry about getting sacked. The knowledge that you are in full control over your future can be a big motivator in running your own business.

3. Utilising Your Skills – One of the biggest and most rewarding benefits of being self-employed is the ability to showcase your best and most effective skills. As you are creating your business from scratch, you get to decide what the focus of your work is. You get to tailor your company around your passion and area of expertise. This is hugely inspiring for anyone thinking about leaving traditional work as many individuals find themselves limited to the parameters of their position, unable to utilise their best and most effective skills, which can make many people feel like they aren’t being used to their full potential.

4. Greater Earning Potential – In regular employment, you are stuck within your agreed salary. In most cases, this can get increased on an annual basis or involve yearly bonuses, but generally, there is a cap on your earning potential when working in a certain career. When working for yourself, you have a much higher chance of earning a greater amount of money. This may take time to achieve, but when your business reaches the point of profitability, your earning potential grows significantly. You may even reach a point where you have the ability the expand and upscale your business to help it grow further and increase your earning potential even more.

5. A Sense of Pride – The ultimate advantage of self-employment is the sense of pride that can be achieved. Seeing your business grow from a start-up to a potential national level organisation or franchise is a hugely satisfying feeling. Most of the time, however, you do not need to reach those sorts of levels to feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s the small milestones that mean the most. As your business starts to grow, you gain a greater feeling of being established and with continued success and more correct decisions, you have the ability to create a business that can involve members of your family or can be passed down to your children. A business that leaves a legacy is something that is worth more than anything.

These are just a number of the many advantages of self-employment, all of which are achievable with the help of Access Training Academies. We have an extensive range of courses available, across a variety of industries that you are able to complete in order to get fully qualified and kick-start your journey into self-employment. Click below to view our full range of courses and gain both the experience and credentials you need to become your own boss.

If you have any questions regarding our courses or require further information about a specific course, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

Are you looking for an alternative to university? Or perhaps you're thinking of changing careers and you're keen to do something a bit more hands-on? Either way, our training courses are exactly what you're after!

Here at Access Training Academies, we offer a range of short and intensive training courses that are designed help you start your new job quickly, even if you've no prior trade experience to speak of. We can help you to get qualified in a number of different professions, including:

• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Plastering
• Gas

Our extensive course catalogue has something for everyone, and we tailor our training programmes to fit your needs and lifestyle. Whether you're looking for an intensive fast-track course or something that allows you to study alongside your present job, we can help you find the best way to learn. Our aim is to get you qualified as quickly as possible so that you can begin your new career and start earning right away.

If this sounds like the right choice for you and you'd like to get started on the road to your new job, please do not hesitate to contact our course advisers!

If you are considering becoming an electrician, you may be happy to know that electricians have the highest average salary out of all the trade jobs in 2018. 

According to multiple reports, electricians have enjoyed the best annual salary in a trade job for many years. This varies by experience, of course, but it is clear that becoming an electrician can be a lucrative career path. Not to mention, it can be a rewarding and challenging job that keeps you out of the office and out in the open most of the day. 

How much do electricians earn?

The national careers service reports that the average electrician salary sits somewhere between £18,000-£42,000 per year. That's based on 30-40 hours of work per week. While there is a large gap between the lower and upper end of the scale, this is largely dependent on experience. 

• Starter Electrician Salary - £18,000 - £23,000
• Experienced Electrician Salary - £25,000 - £35,000
• Highly Experienced Electrician Salary - Up to £42,000

According to the Office of National Statistics, the average electrician salary for 2018 is £30,784. This is an increase from the year before and shows that electricians salaries are increasing on a healthy incline year by year. In comparison, the average pay for a Plumber is £29,799 and £26,416 for a Carpenter in 2018. 

What qualifications do you need to become an electrician? 

Experience comes with time, but getting a head start with the right qualifications is the best step to take. The basic qualification needed to become an electrician is a Level 3 Electrical Qualification, which we provide here at Access Training. To enrol on one of our Level 3 electrical qualification courses, you do not need any previous qualifications as we will walk you through stage-by-stage. You'll learn everything you need to know to become an electrician in either our Essential Electrical Course, Professional Electrical Course and Premier Electrical Course. 

Furthermore, if you'd like to progress even further and earn a better electrician salary, you can gain further qualifications to become a specialist in your field. Here are just a few specialist electrician courses we provide:

• Part P Domestic Installer
• 17th Edition Electrical Regulations
• Portable Appliance Testing
• Inspection & Testing 

We are dedicated to providing quality courses here at Access Training. Find out more about our courses here. 

In an unpredictable Britain, vocational training could be your light at the end of the tunnel. Learning a highly sought-after skill through vocational training is dependable to way to ensure you maintain job stability in an ever-changing market.

Due to the recent bad weather, we've seen people across the UK struggling with major plumbing issues and even going without power in severe cases. As a society, we are so reliant on these basic necessities to get through the day, that the prospect of being without them is frightening! In fact, with a large percentage of UK workers spending 8 hours a day on a computer, when we lose our electricity supply - businesses grind to a halt. 

But who maintains and safeguards the installation of these basic needs? The skilled trade workers amongst us, that's who. As the world of technology increases so does the demand for those skilled in the trades. This is why we believe vocational training is just as, if not more so, important than a university degree. 

So, what are the benefits of vocational training?

1. No costly debt from University

Recently, the Prime Minister Theresa May announced that University Students in England face "one of the most expensive systems of university tuition in the world".

One of the main benefits of training to become a tradesperson is that you have no major debt looming over you once you finish your course. In fact, as soon as you receive your certificate, you can immediately start earning money from what you've learnt! Vocational training typically costs a mere fraction of university costs and it also provides more financial stability as trade skills are always in demand.

Many people go to university nowadays because they're unsure what they want to do in the future. Sure, this may seem like a good idea at the time, but is it really worth the debt? If you're not dedicated to the path you've chosen, it's not worth spending 3 years learning about something you won't pursue in the future.

As said by entrepreneur, Joseph Valente, who set up his own very successful plumbing business ImpraGas, 'If you're motivated by the business, that's going to drive you every day'. Joseph believes you shouldn't 'waste three years doing something that your hearts not in' and we agree. 

Vocational courses ensure you're on the right path straight away and can easily make your trade your passion. 

Please share this with someone who is debating whether to go to University🎓 pic.twitter.com/wKSBGLS2N1

— Joseph Valente (@MrJosephValente) 23 January 2018

2. Job stability

There will always be a need for plumbers, electricians and builders. As previously mentioned, it's difficult to imagine how we would live without these basic necessities provided for us. The skills learnt through a trade course will always be vital to a thriving society and will ensure you're in demand at all times.

After learning a skill that is needed in every part of the world, you'll find it even easier to pursue the right career for you. If you want to move abroad for work, go ahead! If you want to switch companies, there are ton's more which are desperate for your skill set. If you want to be your own boss - do it! 

The qualifications and skills gained from vocational courses provide you with the stability and freedom most people aspire to have. 

3. It takes far less time to become qualified

On average, training courses for vocational trades take months rather than years to complete. This is the ideal way to train for anyone who is looking to switch careers and has a job alongside their training course. 

Of course, many people gain their vocational training through apprenticeships rather than vocational training courses. Apprenticeships are good if you're just coming out of school and can afford the low pay. Perseverance and patience is key to apprenticeships - but if you have commitments, it may not be possible to dedicate yourself to a job that cannot pay your bills. When you reach adulthood, money is a necessity and low pay for a couple years could put your livelihood at risk. 

Many training courses are flexible to fit around you and so you can easily maintain your job whilst training for a new trade profession. 

4. You can start working sooner

Another benefit of vocational training is that it provides you with all the experience you need to start working right away. Many graduates coming out of university find that this is not the case with their degree and they still need to gain that all-important experience.

Learning a trade means you are skilled in this area as soon as you complete your course. You can start working for a company, work freelance or even strive to set up your own company.

Anne Milton, the Minister of State for Skills and Apprenticeships, recently said that apprenticeships and courses are "on-the-job training. What's not to like?". She also believes that "the default should not be University. No matter how bright you are, there are other options out there."

5. Vocational trades are well paid

On average, Plumbers earn around £31,000 per year. Electricians earn around £32,500 and builders earn around £37,500. Compared to the average starting salary for graduates hovering around £19,000-£22,000, it's fair to say that a vocational training course could work in your favour financially.

These wages can increase substantially in different areas and will progress over time. As with everything, it pays to have patience in an industry. However, if you embark on a vocational training course, rather than a university course, you will start your career in the industry sooner and progress in the salary department quicker. 

If these benefits of vocational training have convinced you to pursue this path, Access Training Academies are the largest provider of vocational courses in the UK. Take a look and find the right course for you today. 

In Britain alone, on average 3.8 people out of every 1,000 employees are made redundant. This includes those who have taken voluntary redundancy because they found their job role was no longer significant. Therefore, throughout your training career, you’re very likely to find yourself retraining someone who has recently lost their job.

Redundancy is often likened to the grieving process or bereavement as it is an incredibly difficult time in someone’s life. Especially if someone has been in their job for a number of decades, losing that responsibility can leave a person feeling completely lost and displaced.

Retraining someone who has been made redundant requires a different training approach to the usual student. Here are our main training tips to consider when retraining the recently redundant.

1) Assess the needs of your students

Before you start your training plan, it is important to fully grasp what they want to achieve through the training course. Do they want to go back into their old line of work? Do they want to develop skills in a new field?

If you’re in a class full of people who have recently been made redundant but want to improve their skills in their past industry, you should structure your training plan around them. It would be a wasted effort to go over information your students already know.

2) Ensure you provide office hours

Those who have recently been made redundant will appreciate the opportunity to talk to you on a one-to-one basis. Office hours are the best way to provide this support and will also help you understand your students on a personal basis.

The more you learn about your students, the easier it becomes to train them. For example, if someone worked for many years as a tradesperson prior to their redundancy, they will most likely have expert knowledge of that industry and have many transferable skills that will help them with their training.

3) Include Interactive Training techniques

This popular method of training is used in most classrooms and with good reason. Interactive training is the best way to motivate your students to stay engaged. While you may be tempted to plan your lessons around fitting in masses of information, it is important your students are actually paying attention.

The interactive training technique involves breaking sessions up with quizzes, demonstrations, case studies, group discussions and Q & A sessions. These short breaks help keep students involved in the lesson and will provide those with past experience the opportunity to share their knowledge. This technique works with all members of your class, including those who have been made redundant.

4) Use the Motivational Interviewing method

As you can imagine, redundancy can largely damage someone’s confidence. They may have taken up retraining to help them feel confident in their abilities again.
Motivational interviewing is a good method of evoking a positive and motivated response from your students. The steps to take when using this method are as follows:

• Engaging – establish a relationship based on trust and respect between yourself and your student.
• Focusing - using an ongoing process to maintain direction.
• Evoking – encourage confidence in your student by using their own goals and motivations to inspire your training.
• Planning – create a plan of action with the view to reach the students goals that you and your student commit to.
  
  

Motivational interviewing can be done in office hours or before lessons even start to help you fully understand what your student hopes to gain from this course. It’s one of the best ways to encourage your students by showing them you actually care. 

Always remember that anyone can be retrained but it takes a dedicated trainer to do an effective job.

Would you like to work with us here at Access Training? Get in touch today to see the jobs we have on offer!