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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business

Taking pride in a life well spent as a sparkie

An electrician rewiring a home
‘It’s been great fun and absolutely fulfilling.’ An electrician rewiring a home. Photograph: Antonio Garcia Recena/Getty Images

Thank you, Adrian Chiles. You genuinely made me feel proud, reading your words (Kids, don’t look to me for career inspiration. Look to your electrician instead, 16 July). For 47 years I’ve been honing my skills as an electrician, the vast majority of that time on a self-employed basis, with the added pressure that can impose.

Work security is a real worry, especially during recession periods. So is chasing payments, the endless paperwork and the added burden and expense of Part P building regulations, which are constantly evolving with updates, new books to buy and exams to sit, plus one day a year spent with an assessor scrutinising your work.

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