Electrician [1]
Our electricians keep the NHS running by making sure electrical systems and equipment are safe and working correctly.
To be fully qualified as an electrician, you need a level 3 qualification, usually an NVQ and/or a Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment. Although electricians often join the NHS fully qualified and experienced, it may be possible to train as an electrician. Employers usually ask for at least three GCSEs (or equivalent), including maths, English and science. They may ask for some experience in construction or other practical work. There are sometimes apprenticeships in estates support/estates maintenance that can provide this type of experience. Employers may ask for a driving licence. When you start as a trainee electrician, your training will include health and safety, how to use the tools and equipment and all aspects of electrical work
You will be encouraged to study for qualifications such as NVQs.
Estates staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As an estates support worker, you could start on AfC band 2. As a qualified electrician in estates maintenance, you will typically start on AfC band 3. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 4 and above.
Electricians in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. The job may involve shifts including early starts, evenings and weekends. Electricians may be part of an on-call rota for emergency cover. Terms and conditions will usually be different for electricians working outside of the NHS.
As an electrician you'll need to be very health and safety aware, able to follow procedures, careful and responsible, able to work alone or unsupervised when necessary and able to work to deadlines. You'll also need good manual (hand) skills, good organisational and time management skills.
Once fully qualified and with experience, an electrician can become a team leader, supervising the work of others. With further experience you could progress to manager, responsible for electrical services in a hospital, area or trust. Electricians may be able to move into other estates services roles such as estates technician . They can apply to train as engineers. There are opportunities outside the NHS.
Related roles
- Painter and decorator [2]
- Engineer [3]
- Estates technician [4]
- Audio visual technician [5]
Hotel services managers are a vital part of the hospital team, ensuring the smooth running of the range of hotel services so that our patients' stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
You could enter hotel services management by working your way up through a relevant apprenticeship (eg business administration), or with a level 3 qualification or relevant experience from another sector. Qualifications in hospitality and related topics are available from organisations including City and Guilds, Institute of Hospitality, Edexcel and BTEC. Foundation degrees, higher awards and degree programmes are offered by several universities.
Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern. Your career in NHS hotel services management could start at AfC band 3 working in a supervisory role. Managerial positions could range from AfC band 5 upwards and the most senior roles rising to Band 7 for example, as a hotel services manager. Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.
To work in hotel services management, you’ll typically need effective business acumen, attention to detail, good communication skills, leadership skills , organisational skills, a willingness to work with others and respect their views, a good level of numeracy and computer literacy, negotiating skills, the ability to challenge the way things are and find better alternatives, honesty and fairness in dealing with other people and a commitment to the ideals of quality and fairness in delivering healthcare.
With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further into more senior managerial roles – in particular within operational and estates management.