EBME Forums Forums Management Recruitment Trainee EBME Technician Salary?

And ... as we all know, Huw ... Points Make Prizes!

I hope you're not referring to Eastwood Park, there, Bill?

Back to the topic.

I would suggest that although Jordan has a BSc in physics he needs to do some electronic course such as HNC so he is aware how technical calculations etc are made. He also needs to gain as much hand on experience as possible either by in house training or manufacturer's courses.

Then, re-negotiate his grade. If he doesn't get very far, move on, somebody out there will not hesitate to take you on.

Sound advice. He is already doing his HNC, it seems.

Although (as I say), City and Guilds would have been just as useful, or perhaps even more so. But ... are C&G courses still available, I wonder?

Having said that, there is another way (and it's the one I like myself), and that is as an "apprentice" to an experienced tech. But I doubt that such an approach would sit well within the organisation of the NHS. And my guess is that it may not appeal much to Jordan, either.

Geoff,

I was having a dig at the concept of the FD. There are so many different academic paths it can be confusing: C&G, HNC/D, NVQ, FD etc. I recall a previous thread on this.
Unfortunately the NHS is not set up to allow apprentice types to progress easily. As mentioned earlier on in this post all grades are treated as separate jobs. I suppose the thing to remeber about the NHS is that its core personnel are nurses and doctors and they don't understand the requirements of an engineering/ maintenance workforce. NHS Biomeds, estates lads etc. have to "fit in".

Yes, that's a very astute point. But techs can progress through the limits of the Band, can they not? Beyond that (as has been mentioned a few times already), they will need to apply for other positions, possibly located elsewhere. The same as everybody else in the UK, then!

On the matter of training, to my mind it matters very little (in fact, not at all) how a tech was trained, what route was taken, or what the course(s) were called (even if the "training" was "only", in fact, by way of hard-won experience), just as long as he's ready, willing and able (capable) of doing the actual job before him.

Yes, biomeds (or whatever they may be called locally), being support staff, are undoubtedly "poor relations" when compared to the medical and nursing staff. But (again, to my mind) that is only right and proper. After all, patients are cared for by nurses, not engineering technicians!

From what I have read on this thread, you can only pass through the bands if a position is available, otherwise the choice is stay at your current grade or move elsewhere. If you have to move to progress then surely the trusts are wasting money and time as they will then have to start the recruiting process to replace someone that otherwise could have just been promoted. Makes no sense to me.

Yes, but there is ... er, bandwidth within each Band, is there not?

If you're interested, look up the list of pay scales that was published here a year or so ago.

And anyway ... define "progress". It doesn't have to mean "money grab", does it?

Would you be happy to stay on the same pay grade year in year out if a position within your trust was not available, you have said many times "people working for the NHS stay for life if they can" If you were young and ambitious would you stick around (hoping against hope?that someone leaves) For job satisfaction a lot of us left the UK and remember money (tax free) played a big part in our decisions.

Better speak for yourself, Neil.

But in answer to your question:- yes, I would (if I enjoyed working in the place, the location, my mates ... and all the rest).

But ... we're not talking about me (and you). We're responding to a (young, supposedly) bloke looking for advice!

"Hoping against hope"? What the heck are you talking about?

Yes, but .. no. If you work in a dept where the various bands do the same work .. irrespective of qualifications and experience ... well, dead man shoes or whatever else.

If there isn't structure within a department .. all is lost.

If you're doing the same work as the bloke next to you but you're being paid £5k - £10k less than him... A4C hasn't fixed things.

We can all be flexible, but £notes DO come in to it.

Cheers
Mark