An Electrician works with the electricity in domestic, industrial and commercial settings. The work can cover rewiring older houses, fitting out new build houses, flats and other dwellings with power sockets, switches, lights, fans and extractors, electric radiators, air conditioning. You may be working on industrial units or wiring factories for commercial and industrial machines.

Electricians install and maintain the cables, conduits, fittings, meters, switchgear and wiring for the electricity supply for a house, office or other building.Installation electricians follow architects' or contractors' plans to install new electricity supply equipment. They have to make sure the system is earthed and tested before the electricity company will connect the supply.

Electricians may work alone or with other tradespeople, such as plumbers, carpenters, and builders. They work indoors, in houses, factories, offices or workshops, or outdoors, on building sites. The work can involve climbing, crawling, lifting or bending. They may have to work at heights or underground. Working conditions can be cramped, cold, dirty or dusty.

Electricians need to be

• be good with their hands and able to use a range of tools
• be good at maths and science, especially physics
• be able to follow technical drawings and work out calculations
• be highly safety-conscious
• keep up to date with technology
• be methodical and careful
• be able to solve problems
• be physically fit and able to work at heights
• have normal colour vision
• be able to work on their own or with minimal supervision, be responsible for their own work and make decisions
• be organised
• be tactful and polite when dealing with customers.
• interested in practical work.

Around 350,000 people work in the electrical industry. They work for electrical contractors and building firms, manufacturers, engineering companies, local government, hospitals, colleges, power generating and supply companies. There are also many self-employed electricians. There is a shortage of trained electricians and there are good prospects for those with experience.

Electricians working for companies may be promoted to supervisory or management positions. Further training and qualifications are essential to become an approved installation electrician and to move on to work at a higher level. Installation electricians can become self-employed or set up their own contracting businesses.