How to upskill as an electrician

Electricians are constantly in high demand in the UK. So, if you want to win more work, you might be wondering how to upskill as an electrician.

Upskilling is a great way to ensure you have the skills and knowledge that homeowners need – especially as more electricians enter the industry.

So, let’s see how you can take the next step in your career as an electrician…

What other jobs can electricians do?

Electricians are one of our most-searched-for trades. In 2024 alone, a whopping 1.3 million homeowners searched for electrical work on the Checkatrade website*.

So, what other electrical services could you offer to win more business? Below are some other electrical jobs you might want to add to your skillset…

Electric vehicle charging point installation

The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK from 2035. So, it’s no surprise that demand for electric vehicle charging points is set to soar.

In particular, the number of home charging points is predicted to go from around 3 million in 2025 to 15.7 million in 2035**. And they’ll all need to be installed by qualified electricians!

To make the most of this demand, you can find courses either online or in-person that cover all aspects of installing domestic electric vehicle charging points.

Electrical inspection and testing

Electrical inspection and testing is an area that you might not have covered in much detail or gained qualifications in if you had training in the past.

In addition to installing electrical equipment, it’s equally important to know how to check and test the installation before putting it into service, to make sure it complies with requirements.

There’s a wide range of courses you can take to brush up on your skills in electrical inspection, including:

• Safe isolation
• PAT testing
• City & Guilds 2391-52 Inspection and testing
• EICR inspector courses
• 18th Amendment Wiring Regulation

However, it may also be worth considering longer courses in advanced inspection and testing. These can give you the qualifications to provide periodic inspection services.

Offering inspection services is a great way to expand your client base and boost demand for your skills.

Solar panel installation

As the government attempts to phase out fossil fuels, solar energy will become increasingly important.

By training to become a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installer, you’ll be able to keep your skillset up-to-date and make the most of the new surge in demand.

Courses in solar panel installation tend to cover:

• All the different types of solar PV technology
• Giving you the skills to install
• Showing how to test
• Skills for maintaining solar PV systems

There’ll be a mix of theory and practical training and assessments. The qualifications you gain will normally be valid for five years.

After you’ve trained to become a solar PV panel installer, you can apply to become MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified.

This will give customers confidence that you can install solar panels to a high standard, and help you to boost the legitimacy of your business.

Battery storage

Battery storage is another new technology linked to solar panel installation. It allows homeowners with solar panels to store any energy they generate that they don’t need immediately.

By storing excess energy, they can reduce the amount of electricity they buy from the grid and maximise their savings.

You might want to consider training in solar panel installation and specialise in battery storage installation and design.

Smart home installations and maintenance

Advances in modern technology have meant that many homeowners either have or are looking to install smart devices in their homes.

By offering smart home installations and maintenance you’ll be catering to a growing number of customers in the UK.

And, as an electrician, you’re likely to already be familiar with many of the elements that homeowners might be looking for.

Rather than attempting to offer everything, start with one or two key elements of smart home technology and narrow it down to a few products and technologies that you want to work with.

How to upskill as an electrician in other ways

Expanding the services you can offer homeowners is one way to upskill. However, there are lots of softer skills you’ll need to hone to ensure that your business is a success.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Improve your sales skills
• Learn how to market your trade business to greater effect
• Hone your leadership skills to get the most out of any employees you hire
• Improve your customer service skills to build better relationships with your customers
• Master SEO for electricians so your business appears higher in Google searches
• Look at schemes such as the Registered Competent Person Electrical or BSI accreditation to enhance trust with homeowners

Finally, don’t forget to join Checkatrade! After all, we’re the tick that homeowners trust…

All our approved Checkatrade members have to pass up to 12 checks, which shows homeowners that your business is reliable.

FAQs

How can I improve as an electrician?

There are lots of courses you can take to hone your skills as an electrician. Check out our top training courses for tradespeople for some ideas.

In particular, we’d recommend taking courses specialising in new technologies that are quickly growing in popularity. That includes skills like electric vehicle charging point installation.

What to do after qualifying as an electrician?

After qualifying as an electrician, you can progress your career by setting up your own electrician business or specialising in a specific area such as smart home installations.

Running your own business is the best way to maximise your earning potential as an electrician, and upskilling can help you broaden your service offering to make the most of demand.

_{* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024
** According to the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce}