From Royal Marine Commando to qualified electrician, find out how Scott planned for his new career through home-study learning and part-time training while serving in the Armed Forces.
There may come a time in anyone’s working life when they want to reevaluate their career path. Whether it’s simply wanting a change of direction or circumstances force it, a career change into construction creates a job for life.
Scott was in search of stability. Having served for 12 years in the Armed Forces, it was time for a steady home life, and while renovating his home, he was inspired to take action.
We catch up with him following his AM2 exam earlier this month to find out more about his journey to becoming a qualified electrician.
Pathway to becoming an electrician
Although training with a private training provider is a faster route than an apprenticeship, there’s a demanding training timeline. Can you talk us through your training and how long it took?
Scott:
I became an electrical student in the summer of July 2023 and finished as an electrician in March 2026. The finish line is merely the start line in my new career as an electrician, armed with the basics to get me by, but an awful lot to still learn.
Whilst serving in the Armed Forces, I decided to do it in stages, studying part-time and using home-study.
1. Foundation Electrical Training and 18th Edition
July/August 2023
I started with a four-week foundation electrical course back in the summer of 2023, followed shortly by the 18th Edition. I went away for two weeks to revise for it, learning rules and regulations. to try and maximise my chances of passing the multiple-choice exam.
✔ 18th Edition
2. Level 2
September 2023
As time served in the Armed Forces, I was eligible for enhanced learning credits, which could be used on a course to help retrain into another career. I decided the best use for my ELCAS credits was to part fund my training with Able Skills, who are listed on the ELCAS website
Able Skills sent me all the material (books/joining instructions) needed for the course. Once I’d worked through the home study package, I could book practical work where I was tested on a variety of containment: PVC, Steel, Tray, and Trunking, along with terminating a variety of cables and accessories.
✔ City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building and Structures)
3. Level 3
November 2023
I called up the centre when I was ready to apply for the books for the Level 3 course, which covers the introductions for design, cable calculations, and fault finding.
As well as doing a design project to hand in on the final week and practical fault finding, this was very different to Level 2; it was more classroom-based, working out how and why circuits are running the way they are. The instructors are good at delivering it and experienced to pass on the knowledge. Never a silly question! Asked many myself.
✔ City & Guilds 2365 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building and Structures)
4. NVQ Level 3
April 2024
Being 31 and not being able to secure an apprenticeship, I had to start as quickly as possible, so I enrolled in the City & Guilds 2357-44 Level 3.
Able Skills runs through the whole process. You have two options:
- old school paper write-ups with pictures
- digital via a learning portal
I chose the digital option so I could make collages with notes attached explaining each process of how I achieved that unit, chapter, or element of the NVQ.
I managed to collect all the evidence over a variety of jobs, from commercial, industrial, and domestic, to achieve certain units (containment/fault finding). I could have done it all sooner; however, I only wanted to send my work when I truly understood how to do that work.
5. AM2
I didn’t pass my AM2 the first time as I didn’t secure a gland correctly. I will never make that mistake again! After all the hours of revising and the build-up to the exam, to come up short was frustrating.
I passed when I took it again in March 2026. When you pass the AM2, you can upload that to your digital portal or the training centre, it will be checked off/verified, issued a certificate of completion and the rest is history!
AM2: Electrical Assessment of Occupational Competence ✔
City & Guilds 2357-44 Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrical Installations (Building, Structures and the Environment) ✔
Out of all the trades, what is it about being an electrician that appeals to you?
I was a Royal Marines Commando for just under 12 years. I wanted more stability for myself, but more importantly, for my wife and home life. Whilst renovating a house, I thought to myself - I’d like to do this a lot more! Running circuits, designing rooms, I was inspired.
What was your first job in the industry and how did you get it?
It was a real challenge, especially after leaving the forces. I’d just moved county, and I put my CV out to around 200+ companies and eventually I got my first lead pulling FP200 (Fire Alarm Cable) as an Electrician's Mate on a University Campus for minimum wage. But starting a new career usually means starting from the bottom, even with my level 3 qualification.
Was there anything about the training that you didn't expect?
To find an accredited City & Guilds establishment and to be accepted with ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Scheme) wasn’t a simple task, given that I’m based in Devon! Fortunately, I found Able Skills.
Looking at the training itself, I didn’t expect there to be as much scientific theory and formulas, and I knew health and safety was important, but I didn’t think the training would need as much physical evidence as it did.
Was anything harder than you thought it would be?
Getting the variety of containment and faults needed whilst working as an electrician’s mate and electrical improver without a mentor was hard, but it was achievable. Being so new to the trade, anyone getting into this needs to know the cost of tools to do the job and should factor this in. I have so much of what I need now, but it was a sting at the beginning.
Did you find gathering evidence for the NVQ straightforward?
I think if you’re looking ahead and planning your day or expected day, then you can get some good evidence. It’s also about using those opportune moments to gain evidence. Sometimes it was practically difficult and that’s when it’s good to have someone on side to take the photo. I also learnt that I had to adjust the photo format for the software and change the camera settings to be compatible with the website when I went to upload.
What's been the highlight of your journey so far?
Looking back at how far I’ve come after getting my results. WOW! I’ve really crammed in as much as possible into my time studying in order to make the dream a reality.
If you could give three pieces of advice to a student currently training for your profession, what would they be?
In order to become an electrician, act like an electrician, learn the language of an electrician, and dress like an electrician.
If you’re working towards your NVQ and your AM2, get yourself an accountability buddy on the course. I was fortunate enough to meet Paul Cable (Cable by name, Cable by nature) while I was on Level 2.
Scott was able to fit training around his work in the forces while he transitioned to his new career. Financial support through Elcas to help fund the retraining and flexible learning via home study and part-time in-centre training with Able Skills made that possible.
Electrician Training