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how do I become an electrician

At Access Training, over 70% of our students successfully qualify as electricians while juggling full-time work commitments. This might seem daunting at first, but with the right approach and guidance, you can achieve your career goals while maintaining your current work schedule.

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how do I become an electrician

At Access Training, over 70% of our students successfully qualify as electricians while juggling full-time work commitments. This might seem daunting at first, but with the right approach and guidance, you can achieve your career goals while maintaining your current work schedule.

More...

Are you tired of hearing about the traditional university path and its hefty student loans? Did you know there are lucrative skilled trades in the UK that offer impressive salaries without a degree? In this article, we're diving into the world of these rewarding careers, revealing the top earners and highlighting exciting options without needing years of university studies. 

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Reduce heating costs

Heating costs can be a major expense during the winter months, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce them. Whilst most of these can be done by the general public, you may need additional help with others.

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18th Edition Regulation

The 18th Edition regulation is a set of guidelines for the safe installation and maintenance of electrical wiring systems in the UK. It is published by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and is commonly referred to as the Wiring Regulations. The 18th Edition regulation came into effect in July 2022 and is the most significant update to the Wiring Regulations in over 20 years.

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The UK is currently in the eye of a storm called the Global Energy Crisis, but our tiny island seems to be taking harsh hits in comparison to other countries. In the UK, we're particularly affected because 85% of our households use gas boilers to heat homes, and 40% of electricity is generated within our gas-fired power stations. This is higher than any other European country.

Due to this, many people have been left wondering whether gas or electric is cheaper in an attempt to curb the increasing energy bills. 

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With energy prices hiking rapidly in 2022, there's no denying that we're all looking to cut our gas and electric bill costs as much as possible. A typical household in Great Britain will, on average, pay around £2500 a year for their energy bill from October 2022.

In light of the Global Energy Crisis, we've spoken to our most trusty electricians, who have passed on their top tips for cutting electric bills especially for you.

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Increasing electric prices have been on the UK radar for a while now. It's all over the news, and across the front page of every newspaper. It's quite hard to escape the fact that we are currently in a post-Covid energy crisis. Rising bills are set to push two-thirds of UK households into fuel poverty by January 2023, so why is electricity so expensive to the point where it is 3x more expensive than gas and other fossil fuels?

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As a society, our energy output is excessive. Electricity and natural gas are the most-used energy sources within homes, and they create greenhouse gases and air pollutants that are extremely harmful to the environment. To combat this, energy efficiency is essential. It helps consumers to reduce their energy consumption, utility costs and the impact of the carbon footprint.

Energy efficiency should be practiced by all households - it is an integral part of building a cleaner future. The UK have committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. By being energy efficient, there is a chance that we will be able to achieve this target.

 

Does Energy Efficiency Reduce Bills? 

Yes! By lowering and prioritising your energy use, you'll see a reduction in your monthly bills. There are energy-efficient products on the market which may initially cost more, but they will undoubtedly save you more money over time. 

Interestingly, according to the Department of Energy & Climate Change, small and medium sized businesses could reduce their energy bills by up to 25% by installing energy efficient measures and practicing behavioural change.

 

What is Energy Efficiency? 

Energy efficiency, in its simplest form, is using less energy to perform the same task, thus eliminating energy waste.

A good example of this would be energy-efficient LED light bulbs - they are able to produce the same amount of light as incandescent light bulbs, but they use up to 80% less electricity. 

 

How To Be Energy Efficient 

If you'd like to start implementing energy efficient practices, then these small changes from the Energy Saving Trust are a good place to start.

Install a smart meter 

Smart meters are able to give you real-time information on your energy use. This way, you'll be able to manage your usage better so you can save money and reduce harmful emissions

Draught-proof windows and doors

Naturally, your home will lose heat through draughts around entryways, gaps and windows. With the winter months creeping in, there's no doubt that homes will suddenly get a lot colder. 

To combat this, you could invest in professional draught-proofing. This can cost around £225 on average, but the long-term benefits outweigh the upfront cost. You could save up to £125 every year on energy bills if you take the plunge and draught-proof your property. 

Second guess your washing routine

By putting more thought into your weekly clothes wash, you could save yourself around £34 a year. Avoid using higher temperatures as this uses up more energy, and try to limit your clothes wash to once a week.

Lights out!

Start a habit of turning off a light when you leave an area within a home. We're all guilty of it, but you could save almost £20 a year!

If you want to go the extra mile, swap all of your bulbs for energy efficient LEDS along with integrated sensors and timers for lights to ensure they're only on when they need to be. 

 

What Are the Benefits of Energy Efficiency? 

There are no disadvantages to being energy efficient - so it's a win-win situation! 

  • Reduce air pollution

Air pollution is one of the world's single biggest environmental risks to human health. Energy efficiency can reduce both indoor and outdoor concentrations of air pollutions. 

  • Improve health and wellbeing

Energy efficiency supports good mental and physical health by creating a healthy living environment for society. Recent evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that chronic thermal issues and fuel poverty also have negative mental health effects such as increased anxiety, stress and depression.

  • Lower your own energy prices

By using less energy, your monthly energy bill will reduce. You can also lower energy prices in general by reducing the need to add expensive power generation through reducing the pressure on energy resources. 

  • Improve energy access

Continuing from the point above, if you do this, energy will become a more accessible source due to the lack of pressurised demand. 


At Access Training, we train our Gas and Electric Engineers for a sustainable future

We believe in quality trade education that lasts, for the peace of mind of our students and any customers that they work for in the future. Take a look at our range of electric and gas courses and get in touch at 0800 345 7492 to contribute to a more energy-efficient future.

Gas Courses     Electrical Courses

 

Here at Access Training, we constantly stress the importance of safe electrical practice in the workplace, but this unfortunate incident really brings it home!

On the 12th of April 2017, two demolition workers were tasked with removing electrical distribution equipment from a switchgear room at the Molecular Products site in Essex. The principal contractor had told the men that the electrical equipment they were dealing with had been fully isolated.

Foolishly, one man attempted to 'reassure his colleague' that the electricals had in fact been isolated by throwing a metal crowbar at the 400v ac equipment.

Unfortunately, when the crowbar came into contact with the live electricals it created a flashover (explosion) at temperatures of several thousand degrees which led immediately to quite a devastating fire. The man who through the crowbar, Mr Banks, suffered serious burns and was taken into hospital.

HSE investigated this incident and found that the task had not been properly planned at that suitable control measures hadn't been put in place. The principal contractor had failed to follow the procedures stating that all electrical equipment should be treated as live until properly checked and confirmed to be isolated. 

The Consequences:

  • Mr Banks sustained horrific burns & injuries
  • Russel Haigh and Stuart Haigh pled guilty to breaching Regulation 3 of the Electricity at Work Regulations  Act 1989 and we both fined £80,000
  • AJ Wadhams & Co Ltd pled guilty to breaching section of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 197 and was fined £80,000

HSE inspector Adam Hills said:

“This incident has had a significant impact on Mr Banks life and the injuries could so very easily have been fatal. Had the companies followed the control measures outlined in their respective risk assessments, then this incident would not have occurred. Never assume that an electrical supply is disconnected. Always check with the distribution network operator or a qualified electrician to obtain written proof of isolation before commencing work.”

Read more about this incident here >

 Electrical Training

If there's one thing to take away from this, it's that working with electricals can be incredibly dangerous (and costly) if something goes wrong. That's why we can't stress enough how important it is that you receive the proper electrical training before carrying out this kind of work!

Here at Access Training Academies, we offer electrical training for students of all ages and abilities. If you're interested in pursuing a career in electrical work, come and learn the necessary skills and practices at one of our training centres. 

View Our Electrical Courses >

If you have any questions about our electrical courses, or to arrange a visit to one of our test centres, please don't hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0800 345 7492 or email us at info@accesstraininguk.co.uk.

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