channel4.com - Bricking It

Channel4.com Text Only

[ Text Only: Homepage ]
[ Graphical: Channel4 Homepage ]

The Experts

Peter Briggs, 48, Electrician

Peter is an experienced craftsman having worked in the trade for over 30 years. He runs his own company, and has the old school attitude - that with less machines you get the job done properly. He's down to earth and believes in calling "a spade a spade."

Interview | Looking Back

Career History

Peter started out in the construction trade at 16 and tried his hand at welding and labouring before settling on becoming an electrician. He now runs his own company with a partner covering domestic and commercial projects.

He comes from the 'old school' where tradesmen didn't have as many machines to do the job and things were done "properly". Peter is very honest and frank and is not one to mince his words. He says he is a talker rather than a "slapping someone with a stick" type person but he doesn't have a problem telling people where to go if need be.

Having a laugh on site is also part of Peter's working ethos - "what's the point in working if you don't enjoy yourself?"

Bricking It Interview

Why did you want to be an electrician?
I started with the Electricity Board, which suited me as it was practical, hands on, and I worked alongside a great bunch of guys. I got an interview and started an apprenticeship there.

My dad made me go for this job - I wasn't sure if I really wanted it, so when asked at the interview what my hobbies were I replied honestly: they were drinking and playing darts (hoping this would be an end to it, and I would get another week off before starting work!!)...

"Great! You'll fit in perfectly. You can start Monday", said Jim Miller & Tony Alderman (old school blokes who were not fooled by smart arsed kids like me).

I didn't realise until years later that my dad had worked out this was the perfect job for me, working with people who would leave a great impression on me for the rest of my life!

What's the best job you've ever worked on?
This one!!!!!

Honestly, this is a great job, working with the trainees who give a 100 per cent to what they are trying to achieve. Remember at the start of this project they knew nothing about the trades they were being asked to do. They are installing work to a level that we would expect from time served tradesmen / women. Whoever thinks the kids of today can't be bothered or are not interested, or don't want to work, come and see this lot. They are here 11 / 12 hours a day for 6 months trying to make this thing work!

I've worked on a huge variety of jobs over the last 30 years and would like to say hello and thanks to everyone I've worked with and those who made him laugh. It's hard to pick one out - being part of a standby team at Tilbury Dock, getting call outs in the middle of the night and having the responsibility of getting everything sorted so the factory is able to function. Working with a good team gave me a great sense of satisfaction.

My first job at the Electricity Board was great - learning from old boys, great comradeship and a good base in the trade.

What's your job like?
I've been in the trade for 30 years and over the span of my career I've worked as a live cable jointer with the Electricity Board and a huge number of industrial sites as an electrician. Latest contracts include the entire outdoor lighting installation for the Paddington Basin Canal Development, and the Millennium Park Project at Mile End Park including the complete electrical installation of the arts, ecology and nursery school buildings and all the park lighting. These latest projects where installed by just myself and great mate Clive - aka "Numbnut".

These days I can pick and choose what I work on - one of the benefits of being self employed and having worked so long in the trade. Most of what I do is large scale outdoor lighting projects and I like to concentrate on my garden lighting business.

What are your hours / wages like?
Generally, I earn a good living as an electrician. Jobs are advertised at an average of £12 / £13 per hour. Most electricians earn £20 - £22,000 a year, but someone self employed at the top of the ladder can earn £60 - £70,000 a year. It's the exception rather than the rule.

P.S. I am definitely not at the top of the ladder... still on the bloody roundabout!!

What qualifications do you have?
I have:

415 volt live cable jointing
11,000 volt cable jointing
City and Guilds 16th Edition IEE wiring regs for electrical installations
City and Guilds Optical Fibre Installation and Testing (multimode)
City and Guilds Optical Fibre Installation and Testing (single mode)
Certificate of ECS Health and Safety Assessment for the electrical contracting industry
JIB Registered

and 48 years studying at the school of hard knocks & enjoyed almost every day of it... and I'm a qualified grandad & babysitter.

What's your advice to would-be apprentices?

Make a conscious decision about the trade you want to go into - apprenticeships are so scarce people are grabbing any one they're offered
Make sure you really want to do it - you'll be spending the rest of your life at it.
When you're on the apprenticeship take on board that you've got to get your head down for 3 / 4 years, you'll take a lot of flack, but once you're through that you'll be making your own decisions for the next 50 years.

And finally...
Tip when working on a building site: it's all about diplomacy and communication. At some time you will need help or a favour from the other lads on site, as they will from you.

Never work where someone is working above you... they will drop something.... it will hurt... A LOT!!!!!

DON'T TRUST anyone when they tell you the electric is turned off. TEST IT YOURSELF, or don't touch it.

When you're starting up, take every opportunity you can to go for a meeting after work in a pub - chat usually turns to work and after a few beers that's when the jobs can start to flow and...

Don't spit at camels, they are better at it than us
Don't stare at scaffolders, it makes them restless
Don't talk to the site idiot, they will follow you round all day
Don't laugh at the brickies when they muck about, they get too boisterous
Don't worry if the plumbers don't say much, they are still learning
Don't shake hands with chippies, they always have a finger or two missing

For more information on Peter check out www.ballo.co.uk. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party websites.

Channel4.com Text Only

The Experts

Training

About Apprenticeships

Real Deal

Search Courses

Job Profiles

Get Advice

4Homes