Juggling a full-time job and a personal life can be a tough task for many of us in the working world; however, that’s not to say it’s impossible.

In fact, some manage to play the game to perfection – quite literally. One such example of that is self-employed Yorkshire electrician, Ben Kaye.

Shocking Victory

A master of the work/life balance, Mr Kaye somehow manages to juggle being a full-time electrician while also playing hooker for Halifax RLFC.

Halifax currently play their rugby in the Championship, the second-tier RFL division beneath the Super League; however, the northern underdogs have had their fair share of headlines in the top-flight too.

This season, the Fax shockingly made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, defeating Bradford Bulls in the quarters before being knocked out by league giants, St Helens.

Kaye himself has also had his fair share of time in the rugby spotlight, having played for the mighty Leeds Rhinos and Harlequins RL (AKA London Broncos) in the Super League.

In a wild twist of fate, Kaye even wound up working on the Leeds’ Headingly Stadium during the ground’s renovation, lending his electrical expertise in the demolition of the South Stand.

Electrifying

Despite being just 30-years old, Kaye believes himself to be in the twilight of his rugby career, having sustained a myriad of injuries over the course of his playing days, including two torn groins and severely torn biceps tendons.

Speaking to the BBC prior to the showdown with league giants, St Helens, the bright spark told cameras he would describe his dual careers as what else but… “electrifying”. Need we say more!

Jokes aside, Kaye’s moonlighting as a weekend rugby league warrior highlights a key bonus of being a self-employed electrician – that being flexibility.

Freedom

Between mid-week call-outs, installations and routine jobs, being a self-employed electrician provides you with the freedom to work largely to your own schedule, taking on as much or as little work as you like.

What’s more, the electrical trade provides a virtually endless stream of work. Electricians are in constant demand and, barring any revolutionary global breakthroughs, that doesn’t look to change any time soon.

If you’re looking to put the power back in your hands, why not take charge of your future by training to become an electrician? At Access Training UK, we offer a variety of courses that are specifically engineered to get you plugged in, charged up and good to go in no time.

Meanwhile, we also offer a range of courses tailored towards more experienced tradesmen looking to further their careers, hone their skills and build on their existing training and expertise. Whatever your skill level, we can help you give your electrician career healthy boost.

For more information on our electrical courses, call Access Training UK today on 0800 345 7492 or get in touch online using the link below.

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If you’re someone who’s finding a monotonous nine to five job isn’t fulfilling your ambitions, then becoming self-employed will seem like a very appealing option! Being your own boss gives you lots of freedom to:

• Choose who you work with
• Decide your own working hours
• Determine your own rate of pay

And much more! Self-employment often appeals to people with young families who need more flexibility in their lifestyles to cope with the demands of young children. However, self-employment is something that people of any age or skill level can pursue with the right training and motivation to do so.

How can Access Training Academies help me become self-employed?

Access Training Academies specialise in providing the training you need to pursue a career in the profession of your choice. Whether you want to start your own electrical company or become a freelance carpenter we can give you the training you need to become your own boss in a short space of time.

We are one of the country’s leading training providers and we have a range of courses to suit all skill levels. Even if you are a complete beginner, we can teach you the technical and practical elements of your chosen profession so that you leave our training centre feeling confident enough to work!

Success Stories

You might be thinking, ‘I’d love to be self-employed but I’m not sure how feasible it really is.’ There’s no need to doubt your abilities, we’ve had plenty of successful students go on to become self-employed when they leave Access Training Academies with their new qualifications!

Here are a few student testimonials to inspire you:

• I'm the happiest I've ever been in my working life. I love being my own boss and having control over my work schedule. And I'm earning three times what I was at the BBC! - Richard Gates.

• This course has led to me becoming self-employed as an electrician and I’ve expanded my family's building and roofing business - Scott Daly.

• I plan to become a self-employed as a plumber and the course has helped me learn all the skills I need to work on my own confidently – David Morgan.

So, what are you waiting for? Enquire today to start your journey towards becoming self-employed in a profession you love! We will guide you every step of the way.

Browse Our Courses Today >

As an electrician you should charge enough to cover your costs and pay yourself - this is usually between £45 to $60 an hour. However, this price can change depending on a variety of factors. Read on to learn more about what you should be charging for your electrical work.

How Much Should You Charge as an Electrician?

So you've finished your electrical course and are ready to start your new life as a self-employed tradesperson. Being your own boss can mean great things like having full control over what jobs you do, what hours you work and when you can take your holidays - but there are some things you'll need to put some serious consideration toward. It's time for you to consider just how much you plan to charge for your services.

Ten Things to Consider When Deciding How Much to Charge as an Electrician.

Many people will work it out from a simple calculation of hourly rate multiplied by 35 hour week multiplied by 52. However how do you come up with a reasonable hourly rate in the first place? Check out 10 things you'll need to factor in to come up with the best price tag:

1. Your Skill Level: More skilled electricians can take on specialist jobs, and therefore they can often charge more. Do you have a skill that requires a higher pay? Additionally, you may want to save money to go on a course to learn one of these specialist skills, like an electric vehicle charging installation course.
2. Time off: When you are self-employed, you generally won't be paid for any time off. This includes sick days and annual leave. Learn to keep some money aside when you are working, to support yourself with when you can't.
3. Insurance: Every business needs insurance. Not just that, but there's many different types you may need - public liability, business car insurance, contents insurances etc. Make sure you know exactly what you need and scout around for the best prices.
4. Supplies: Don't forget that fuel and equipment is costly! If you're going to be buying supplies, you'll need to charge enough to cover those costs.
5. Emergencies: As well as a regular supply budget, you'll need an emergency supply budget. Don't forget that vehciles can break down, and tools can stop working. You'll want to keep your tool-kit in top shape, so keep some money aside for if something breaks.
6. Marketing: Do you want your own website? Business cards? Your phone number on the side of your van? Marketing is entriely up to you (unless you hire an agency) so it can cost as much or as little as you need. Just remember - marketing is crucial for bringing in new business. 
7. Lost Business: Not every quote you give will result in a job, and these quotes can take a lot of time to put together. This is tricky though - you might not want to put your prices up just to account for lost quote time, as this could lead to even more lost business!
8. Vehicle/space: Are you looking to stay as a one-person business forever, or do you have bigger dreams? If you want an office and a fleet someday, you might want to start saving for expanding your business from the get go
9. Tax: If you don't want to keep track of you're own finances, then you'll need to hire an accountant or use an accounting service. This is an additional cost that not everyone considers at first, but as a self-employed person you are responsible for your own taxes, so this can be important!
10. Getting Paid: This is the most important one! You will spend time and resources sending out invoices and chasing down payments. Take this time into consideration when billing.

Don't let this list stress you out too much. It might seem like a lot all together like this, but plenty of electricians manage all of the above and still take home a healthy sallary. This shouldn't disuade you from joining one of the most in-demand industries!

Does your initial estimate seem a little low? According to MyJobQuote, newly qualified electricians can £32,000 per year before tax.

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Have you considered stepping into a brand new career and becoming a fully qualified tradesperson? Here at Access Training we offer a full spectrum of trade courses including electrical training. By training with us not only will you enjoy our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced tutors, but also gain exactly what you need for a long and prosperous career. To find out more please get in contact with our course advisers on 0800 345 7492 or click the button below.

 Electrical Courses