Access Trade Careers

[jeff08]

I've been looking for an electrician course for a while now and came across a company called 'Access Trade Careers' to which they have quoted me about �5,500 for a 1 - 2 year course.

I was just wondering if anyone had heard of this company and are they reliable as I don't want to hand over the money and receive insufficient training and find myself at square one. I've looked online for reviews or at least something and I can't find anything.

Any help would be appreciated.

[CheekyChops]

That's very steep - what qualifications will you get for that?

City and Guilds do courses that will qualify you as an electrician and you can do these part-time whilst continuing with your current job. Usually over 2 years and for a fraction of that amount!!

I would be wanting to know exactly what qualification you will get and then find out how much it will cost to do an equivalent course elsewhere.

[buildersmate]

C&G is a recognised qualification (at different levels). If they are doing that, you can do similar at your local college for much less.

[jonyg57]

I'm also thinking about doing the sparky course with access trade careers, cos local colleges either don't do the courses or dont send out course details, and access appear to offer quite steep, finance for fees.

[jeff08]

Dear jonyg57,

I have stepped away from Access Trade Careers after they constantly bombarded me with letters and phone calls.

I do believe they are a complete rip off as they were offering me a position to do the electrician course for 'a limited 14 day period' and yet 2 months down the line they were still sending me letters with the same limited 14 day period.

I went and talked to my local careers advisor to which they have given me the number of my local college. They have also given me the number for OLCI who are about �1,200 cheaper than ATC, and also Learn Direct (although I think they are funding OLCI).

Have a go with either of those before you think about ATC as I still think it's a bit suspicious that I can't find a website for Access Trade Careers.

[marble66]

Access Trade Careers is a really good training company. I'm a Careers Advisor and i've referred quite a few people to them. The cost is competitive within the market place, they are extremely professional, offering excellent careers advice or job placement along with mentoring and support even after you've completed the course. At the end of the day you get what you pay for.

[Plumbking]

I put forward majority of my apprentices forward to Access, and infact anyone that I cant help.
They are extremely professional and the qualifactions they offer are everything that anyone will need.
Agreed, the price isn't the best, however this does reflect on the service, the whole process is very well organised.
The mentaurs are superb, always on hand and very efficient, also the recruitement service is extremely impressive.
The best training company i've ever dealt with.

[thestiguk]

Hi jeff08 i dont know if you have booked up but i would do what i did and keep my options open and look about.

I have looked at many courses including the one you are looking at but steered away from it. I went with a smaller company which offered me a more personal touch and gave me a lot of one on one advice.
There was never no salesmen or phone calls saying (limted spaces etc)
The courses i undertook (4 in total) really set me on my way and supprisingly all for where about �2000. so a massive saving there and yes the course where reconised qualifications.
Big is not always better, and high costs does not mean better training, idealy college would have been my first choice but age was against me. There is nothing like expericance ask any qualified sparky the course i went on done me proud and i am now learning even more with my new employer a time served sparky.

Best of luck hope this helps

[SamHolborn]

Hi, I'm doing the acces to trades course not the sparky so i cant comment on that one sorry
I'm currently doing the first step on the plumbing course with access 2 trade, the quaifications i eventually get are when finished are ,,,,

1. City & Guilds 6128-01 Level 2 technical cert in heating and ventilation.
2. OCN 116786 Level 2 Accredited Domestic Plumbing Installation.
3. BPEC Water (Water Fittings) regulations 1999.
4. BPEC Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems.

I tried the local college but way over subscribed with 14 to 24 year olds, it would have HELL OF LOT CHEAPER FOR ME, but i jus didn't get in. it is exspensive ,,,VERY,,, as im on the dole and paying out a lot i now need to get my water regs exam and i got to go to reading in the acces to trade education centre, the course itself is very well organised, the mentors are available 24/7 via email or an 0800 number,

Im going with acces to trades because i couldn't get any funding for any other courses an i cant see a plumber wanting to take me on not at my age wrong side of 44,,,,,

I noticed the date on this thread is rather old ... but anyway all these comments mite help other people decide on their course of action, hope you eventually got yourself sorted out with some thing

[joeboris]

@SamHolborn.
How have you got on? I've heard they've gone bankrupt...
I started a course last July and when I've been ringing it's just an automated message saying they're no longer providing training.

[pjgoodison]

They were part of the same group as Advent training and both have gone bust. If you're on a finance agreement hopefully you'll get money back.

All you guys who have been dropped in it but want to continue training should know an industry secret. Most of the IT home study material for these courses is produced by Microsoft or CompTIA and can be purchased for under £40 each and you can book the exams yourself through VUE.

For the the trade training try the learning guides and contacting your local FE college to see if they'll let you sit exams there.

Book Your IT Exams Direct:
http://www.pearsonvue.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Electrical Guides:
http://www.computerma...puboffers/electrical/

Microsoft home study kits:
http://www.computermanuals.co.uk/av/train-1

Network+., A+ & CIW
http://www.computermanuals.co.uk/av/train-2/

[kingcog]

Stay clear of OLCI they are just a bunch of salesmen/women who get you in to a contract with useless training packages and representatives who don't give a s**t about you, just your money!! I joined in 2008 and and realise they've sent the wrong package out in the post. after numerous phone calls to try and sort it out (put through to foreign, barely english speaking call centres!!!) I eventually spoke to a course advisor and he established I had been sent the wrong package. two months had gone, by the time it was sorted! I wasn't happy and cancelled the course (well tried to!!) 4 years later I got a bill for £13,000 for the privilege of been messed about by OLCI. I am now black listed! I was declined a mortgage cause of OLCI debt, and now I have to sort out court proceedings! I think it's fair to say joining OLCI has ruined my life!!.......Also beware alot of the review messages on here are from OLCI representatives!!