Hoping for some advice (for a friend) on what path to take with Artisanal training courses

[Dom]

Long story short - he is my best friend that I have known from high school; his family has never really been financially well off; this reflects to the types of jobs they have and the earning potential.

I am very fond of the mother fucker and see his potential to excel and do well - he just needs a push out of the slump and this is where I want to help.

I am planning on buying a short artisan course for him for his birthday in June 2022 - I would seriously appreciate some advice on where to start (so he can get some sort of work from it), where to study it through (recommendations of where people have gone) & what sort of area of artisanry (there are quite a few but he seems to like to do stuff with his hands & the electrical/electronic side)???

Thanks.

 

[TollieKop]

Long story short - he is my best friend that I have known from high school; his family has never really been financially well off; this reflects to the types of jobs they have and the earning potential.

I am very fond of the mother fucker and see his potential to excel and do well - he just needs a push out of the slump and this is where I want to help.

I am planning on buying a short artisan course for him for his birthday in June 2022 - I would seriously appreciate some advice on where to start (so he can get some sort of work from it), where to study it through (recommendations of where people have gone) & what sort of area of artisanry (there are quite a few but he seems to like to do stuff with his hands & the electrical/electronic side)???

Thanks.

That's awesome of you man! +1

It depends on his interests really, the scope is broad
Also depends on his own fears, if he is afraid of heights, electrician is tough

If you can find out what he actually LIKES and what he enjoys doing or what he's already good at doing, it can guide you to make the right decision
I used to work for a training company - my advice is speak to the companies. They can really give you a proper idea of what to try - it's their job to convince you to train with them

 

[TollieKop]

Accredited Artisan Training - Technotrain

We are an accredited training provider focused on artisan training, learnerships, skills programmes, assessments & other value-added services

technotrain.co.za

Denel

The Centre provides Training mostly for Aircraft Mechanics, where provision is made to develop the individual to a level where a license from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SA-CAA ) could

www.deneltechnicalacademy.co.za

SEIFSA Training Centre – Inspiring Excellence

training.seifsa.co.za

 

[Dom]

That's awesome of you man! +1

It depends on his interests really, the scope is broad
Also depends on his own fears, if he is afraid of heights, electrician is tough

If you can find out what he actually LIKES and what he enjoys doing or what he's already good at doing, it can guide you to make the right decision
I used to work for a training company - my advice is speak to the companies. They can really give you a proper idea of what to try - it's their job to convince you to train with them

I get you - I am struggling to narrow it down in isolation (want to do it as a surprise).

Will try to chat & sneakily probe him for some more info to guide me.

Would love to find him something where a company is fine to train + given him experience (not a fan of golden handcuffs but they have their uses) but those opportunities seem few & far between.

 

[TollieKop]

I get you - I am struggling to narrow it down in isolation (want to do it as a surprise).

Will try to chat & sneakily probe him for some more info to guide me.

Would love to find him something where a company is fine to train + given him experience (not a fan of golden handcuffs but they have their uses) but those opportunities seem few & far between.

WhatsApping you all the info bro, he won't have trouble with work etc!

 

[Crouchinglee]

Electrical trade - difficult but there is a lot of potential to grow and branch off
Mechanical trade - Less difficult (still difficult) but the career paths can be limiting.
Boilermaking trade - easy/medium difficulty and there isn't many career paths but the pay is great especially if you branch off into QC.
Fitting and turning trade - Meh I have no interest in their trade so my opinion isn't worth this sentence.

All trades make money as long as you are willing to take the time to study and improve constantly!

 

[Dom]

Electrical trade - difficult but there is a lot of potential to grow and branch off
Mechanical trade - Less difficult (still difficult) but the career paths can be limiting.
Boilermaking trade - easy/medium difficulty and there isn't many career paths but the pay is great especially if you branch off into QC.
Fitting and turning trade - Meh I have no interest in their trade so my opinion isn't worth this sentence.

All trades make money as long as you are willing to take the time to study and improve constantly!

Awesome - thanks for the input. Will probably try start him on electrical & see where he may want to branch off into.

 

[Crouchinglee]

Awesome - thanks for the input. Will probably try start him on electrical & see where he may want to branch off into.

Just a warning the electrical route has a very high fail rate (but any person with enough common sense can pass)
Fault finding and schematic reading should become second nature to him then he should have no issues down the line

If I was smart I would have done my electrical trade and gone up too N5 then bridge from there to industrial electronics and do N4-N6 there and only after that migrate to the robotic engineering field + Degree but noooooooo don't listen to the people !!!

 

[cdmnuy]

Maybe something in Solar?

Solar Installation Training ✔️ Course by GREEN Solar Academy

Solar Installation Training and PV courses in Joburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth ✅ national & international certification✅ PV GreenCard ✅

solar-training.org

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[Crouchinglee]

Maybe something in Solar?

Solar Installation Training ✔️ Course by GREEN Solar Academy

Solar Installation Training and PV courses in Joburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth ✅ national & international certification✅ PV GreenCard ✅

solar-training.org

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My only issue with this is that if he goes the electical route this would be seen as an avenue he can explore where if you qualify in Solar installations thats it - no progression beyond this step.

Electrician -> Technician -> Engineer -> (the world is your clam)
Solar installations -> Solar technician -|

 

[cdmnuy]

It could also be solar technician -> solar installation company owner -> international solar installation company owner -> next Elon Musk. You must be optimistic jejej


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[crackOlicious]

I dont think I'm pronouncing that work correctly in my head

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[kryptonzp]

There's a free coding camp called we think code not sure of his age but that's also an avenue they also set you up with a job after it's quite popular with companies now.

 

[AndyX-25]

Bud, Bell Equipment offer good apprenticeship. Opportunities to travel as well. I went to England, some other appies went to Germany, America, Congo, Asia. There's lots of potential if you show interest and make the most of it. I like Bell over other companies because of the potential to travel.
Worth checking the website.
In general you can't go wrong with a trade. The old people say it and it's rather true. He should do what interests him most.
Big ups to you for doing what others cant/won't for him bud.

 

[Dom]

^^,

 

[llewellyn4237]

I am doing my instrumentation trade now, should have been qualified when covid hit last year. Im stuck coz the trade centre's accreditation expired, waiting for that now. Done my practical on the FA Platform. Applying for apprenticeship your friend should at least have N2 with the trade subjects of the trade he wants to do, so if you can pay for him to do that if you can, that will be 3 months of his life. He does not have to do N1. I only have matric with maths and science and my 2 trade subjects on N2.

 

[Dom]

I am doing my instrumentation trade now, should have been qualified when covid hit last year. Im stuck coz the trade centre's accreditation expired, waiting for that now. Done my practical on the FA Platform. Applying for apprenticeship your friend should at least have N2 with the trade subjects of the trade he wants to do, so if you can pay for him to do that if you can, that will be 3 months of his life. He does not have to do N1. I only have matric with maths and science and my 2 trade subjects on N2.

Sorry to hear that Covid dampened things for you.

Thanks for the info N1 & N2 - were your trade subjects generalised or specific (are there core required subjects as with a degree in other words)?

 

[TollieKop]

I am doing my instrumentation trade now, should have been qualified when covid hit last year. Im stuck coz the trade centre's accreditation expired, waiting for that now. Done my practical on the FA Platform. Applying for apprenticeship your friend should at least have N2 with the trade subjects of the trade he wants to do, so if you can pay for him to do that if you can, that will be 3 months of his life. He does not have to do N1. I only have matric with maths and science and my 2 trade subjects on N2.

Bear in mind N2 is the requirement to do your trade test

Applying for apprenticeship you need to be 15 years old (turning 16 that year), grade 9 and sound health

 

[llewellyn4237]

Sorry to hear that Covid dampened things for you.

Thanks for the info N1 & N2 - were your trade subjects generalised or specific (are there core required subjects as with a degree in other words)?

On N2 I needed instrument trade theory and industrial electronics top be able to do my trade test. Im going to do up to my N6, when I eventually get a job and able to pay for that. Might go control systems route, but will see. Another trade I will suggest is millwright.

You do need specific subjects for the trade you want to do, some trades share some subjects.

 

[llewellyn4237]

Bear in mind N2 is the requirement to do your trade test

Applying for apprenticeship you need to be 15 years old (turning 16 that year), grade 9 and sound health

Yes, some guys did not have N2 because they started with N3 after school, so they also had to do the 2 trade subjects with me. They accepted our matric results for maths and science so we dont have to do the full N2 to do the trade test.

 

[Dom]

On N2 I needed instrument trade theory and industrial electronics top be able to do my trade test. Im going to do up to my N6, when I eventually get a job and able to pay for that. Might go control systems route, but will see. Another trade I will suggest is millwright.

You do need specific subjects for the trade you want to do, some trades share some subjects.

Awesome, thanks so much for the info & good luck for your further studying.

Any colleges/technikons that you can recommend in JHB?

 

[llewellyn4237]

Awesome, thanks so much for the info & good luck for your further studying.

Any colleges/technikons that you can recommend in JHB?

I dont know any places that side. If you have time to do N levels full time, I recommend it. Doing this part time is expensive and time consuming plus fiull time you can get a NSFAS bursary.

 

[Dom]

I dont know any places that side. If you have time to do N levels full time, I recommend it. Doing this part time is expensive and time consuming plus fiull time you can get a NSFAS bursary.

No worries then.

I would imagine he can do it full time.

Would you know what type or part of the NSFAS bursary scheme? I can apply on his behalf quick.

 

[llewellyn4237]

No worries then.

I would imagine he can do it full time.

Would you know what type or part of the NSFAS bursary scheme? I can apply on his behalf quick.

Not sure how that works. Find out what he wants to do as a trade and take it from there. You never too old, Im 40 now. I might only be where I wanted to be 10 years back, in 10 years time only.

 

[Dom]

Not sure how that works. Find out what he wants to do as a trade and take it from there. You never too old, Im 40 now. I might only be where I wanted to be 10 years back, in 10 years time only.

Of course - you can study whenever you want/need to.

I finished my degree in 2016 & only started studying again in 2021.

 

[TollieKop]

On N2 I needed instrument trade theory and industrial electronics top be able to do my trade test. Im going to do up to my N6, when I eventually get a job and able to pay for that. Might go control systems route, but will see. Another trade I will suggest is millwright.

You do need specific subjects for the trade you want to do, some trades share some subjects.

100%

Instrumentation is very niche - harder to land a job, but once you have one you're kinda set for life (provided you don't mess up your work relationships)

Instrumentation kinda progresses into either:

1. Automation and control systems (Basic trade can take you hella far - and huge money if you play your cards right)
2. Plant design (engineer/technologist)
3. Electronics engineering - kinda off, but if you find you can afford uni and able to push through it, you could do that

The easiest money is option 1. PLC programming pays a shit ton of money - and all you need is basically a PC/laptop and critical thinking skills
Ladder logic is stupid but since most electricians/operators aren't going to learn the more advanced PLC languages, almost 99% of companies mainly use ladder logic

Llewellyn, PM me your number. I can send you some manuals etc for instrumentation
Also, your company can pay for your studies
You only study to get a job. Once you have a job, try to have the company pay for your training/education. They have a budget for it!

 

[TollieKop]

Also, N1 is important

N2 is crucial though.

The problem is, with some subject material that tends to get increasingly harder in N3/N4, they actually had fundamentals in N1 (which is easy, but you can spend all 11 weeks learning and understanding very basic things which makes all the upcoming work much easier to understand)

 

[Dom]

Really appreciate the thorough responses here - I am more geared towards financial/accounting things & you are helping me to get a decent understanding to pass onto him!!

 

[TollieKop]

Really appreciate the thorough responses here - I am more geared towards financial/accounting things & you are helping me to get a decent understanding to pass onto him!!

If he's smart with his PC, he doesn't even need a trade. He could do PLC training
*PLC training is ridiculously expensive though, but you just need the certification to land a contract - you could pass your business acumen onto him - he must pay you one day lol
Okay my mind is doing a thousand things. Basically he doesn't NEED the training, but it helps in securing a contract. What will keep him getting contracts is how he performs once he takes on a project. So he can practice the PLC programming from home. I will send you the free software, for him to get started. Maybe we can also make a group chat when you finally do this so I just explain some basics on circuit designing.

Like I said, it's almost OP how unfair the salary is

R10k call out, R5k/hr
We used to pay that, and then R50k upon completion
Takes the kid like 3 hours for all that money

And he has matric

 

[DeusExMachina]

No worries then.

I would imagine he can do it full time.

Would you know what type or part of the NSFAS bursary scheme? I can apply on his behalf quick.

+1 to NSFAS

If his family earns less than R350 000 per annum, he can get a full-paid bursary to study almost anything.

He will need a matric certificate only and proof of his parent's income to complete the application.

For the initial application online, you just need his ID and parent/guardian ID that will be responsible for paying the college/uni/TVET registration fees (which will be paid back should he get NSFAS funding)

Do it quick, applications for 2022 close on 7th January 2022 and he will have to wait until November 2022 to apply for 2023.

If he's young and driven, don't limit him to a trade, get him a degree/diploma.