Conveyancing and why the electrician trade keeps getting better

Annie Button has written an article looking at what conveyancers need to understand in the industry and why the electrician trade keeps getting better.

As conveyancing professionals, it’s important to maintain a broad understanding of the wider sectors that influence our industry. Our allied industry contacts include electricians, who are important for consulting on surveys and property developments. Having a good understanding of the trade, and good connections, allows for faster mortgage approvals and property transfers.

For that reason, we are taking a glance in the direction of electricians to discover how this trade just keeps on getting better for its workers. Whether it be job satisfaction, pay, or career opportunities, let’s explore why the future looks so bright for electricians.

Trade skills shortage

There is a worldwide trade skills shortage which is increasing the demand for electricians, among other tradespeople.

A UK survey of specialist contractors finds: “Almost two in every five firms named skill shortages as their most pressing business concern. Just over half of respondents said they had unfilled vacancies in their business, with these firms typically citing a basic shortage of applicants or a dearth of candidates with the required skills and qualifications”.

This means there aren’t enough skilled tradespeople to carry out the work. Trying to get an electrician to make a home visit is tough and in some ways, they can basically name a price for their services.

As always in the ever-changing property industry, it’s important to be aware of the lack of available electricians for things like surveys. Delays in property surveys can hold the entire process up so it’s important to get the wheels in motion as quickly as possible. Building good relations with tradespeople can help keep property professionals on top of the challenging work we face.

Affordable training

This affordability makes bolstering your electrical knowledge as a property professional a great way to stay ahead of the game. For instance, surveyors are encouraged to leave electrical safety to skilled electricians, but if you have the knowledge you could be saving yourself money and time.

Property developers who like to take a hands-on approach might consider improving their electrical skills through training. Electrician training and apprenticeships cover subjects like electrical installation, electrical science, renewable technology, and inspection and testing.

Bolstering your knowledge of electrical appliances and fittings can help you know if a property needs rewiring, what changes are afoot in the industry and electrical safety. The high demand for electricians plus affordable training makes it a great option rather than expensive degrees that rarely carry job security once complete.

It pays more than most of all trades

The sun is shining on all qualified electricians at the moment as they are the highest-paid tradespeople around. The salary comparison website, Glassdoor, names them as some of the highest-paid tradespeople with an average salary of £29,959. It is only outranked by structural engineers and site managers.

Due to the varied environments and qualifications required, and the aforementioned skills gap, average salaries for electricians have steadily risen for over a decade. One great thing about being a qualified electrician is the ability to work for yourself on side projects, like helping friends and family out. This adds a nice boost to an electrician’s income but restricts their available time even further for those who need them.

Challenging and varied work

Job satisfaction is key in most job sectors, but it is especially high in this trade. An impressive 63% of electricians declare they enjoy their jobs while 58% are also proud of the work they do.

That’s quite an impressive set of statistics as it shows ‘sparkies’ enjoy many aspects of their jobs and go home happy with their accomplishments. Interestingly, bricklayers have higher job satisfaction, 69%, but a significantly lower sense of pride, 19%.

Perhaps the reason why electricians enjoy their jobs and feel proud is due to the challenging and varied work they do. Dealing with electricity is tricky and dangerous without the proper understanding of what is going on.

Electricians need to understand health and safety, practical installation skills and be able to comprehend electrical diagrams. One day an electrician could be installing a lighting system for a restaurant and the next they are acting as a consultant for a surveyor or developer. As such, no two days are likely to be the same.

A job for life

Working as a tradesperson has plenty of benefits, not just job satisfaction. Many electricians find themselves working in collaboration with other tradespeople, building a network of friends.

Together, with their contacts throughout the trades, they can work throughout the years on various projects on the side while sticking to their day job. It can mean they work on multiple projects at a time and rapidly increase their experience levels.

It is a job for life, and the skills gained in training offer a strong base on which to build throughout their careers, as and when adapting to new regulations and methods. Electricians understand the latest safety regulations better than anyone, so they can help property professionals maintain the standards expected of them.

However, according to research by Our Life Plan, electricians can also find themselves ready to retire in their 40s. This likelihood of early retirement can increase the skill shortage if there aren’t enough young people taking up the mantle of those retiring.

An opportunity to be the boss

Many electricians go on to own their own business, ensuring they are the ones calling the shots. There is no need for physical premises to work from and as long as they have a van they can work pretty much anywhere. It can be extra rewarding for them to manage their own business and watch it grow as time goes by.

Earnings for those self-employed in the trade rose by 5.8% in 2019, making it the highest level on record. With so many new homes being built, being a self-employed electrician presents many opportunities for lucrative contracts.

Work anywhere in the world

A comprehensive understanding of how electrics work can serve an electrician well in their life. It means they can make plans to work in many different countries if they so choose. For example, Australia has been crying out for electricians, and its skill shortage is highlighted by how hard it is to fill job vacancies in the trade.

Approximately 35% of Australian listings remain unplaced after 60 days, due to a lack of electrical apprentices. That wait will only increase as senior electricians begin to retire, and it’s a similar story around the world.

This means skilled tradespeople have the opportunity to work in places they might only have dreamed of in the past. Of course, this also means there is a risk that skilled workers in the UK could flock to other nations, increasing the skill shortage on our shores.

Kindly shared by Annie Button

Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay