Electrician's mate jobs in the UK: the card, the work and how to start
An electrician's mate works under a qualified electrician — pulling cable, fixing containment, carrying and preparing materials. You don't need electrical qualifications to start, but most sites want a card: an ECS card for labourers on electrical sites, or a green CSCS Labourer card. It's also the most common first step to becoming an electrician.
Rates: indicative 2026 ranges from published UK price guides — see day rates 2026. CIS: gov.uk.
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How to start as an electrician's mate
Get a site card
On electrical sites: an ECS card for labourers (you meet the ECS health and safety requirement). Elsewhere: the green CSCS Labourer card — Level 1 Award in Health & Safety + the CITB Operatives test, £36, first card valid 2 years.
Know what the job is
Cable pulling, fixing tray, trunking and conduit, drilling and fixing, keeping the area clean and safe. A mate works under supervision and never does live work or certifies anything.
Basic tools and PPE
Drill, levels, tape, screwdrivers, a set of hand tools, boots, hi-vis and gloves. Ask the firm what they provide.
Apply and get on the crew list
Apply below in 30 seconds. Many firms hire “electricians and mates” in the same ad — say you're a mate and what you've done.
What firms look for in a mate
Reliability
Turning up on time every day matters more than anything else on a mate's CV.
A valid card
ECS or CSCS, in date. A photo on your phone saves a day at induction.
Enough English for safety briefings
You'll sit inductions and toolbox talks; understanding them keeps you safe.
Willing to learn
Electricians train the mates who listen. Say if you want to become an electrician — good firms support it.
What you actually take home
Example: at £150 a day, a 5-day week is £750. As a self-employed subcontractor registered for CIS, the firm takes 20% (£150) and pays you £600. If you're not registered for CIS, they take 30%.
That 20% is an advance on your tax and National Insurance, not a fee. After the tax year ends (5 April) many workers get part of it back — more if they keep receipts for tools, PPE and travel. See the CIS refund guide and what you can claim.
Before your first CIS payment you need a UTR number and to register with HMRC as self-employed — how to get a UTR.
Put yourself on the crew list: 1 minute, free, no account. Firms looking for your trade text you directly.
Join the crew list →Common questions
Do I need experience to be an electrician's mate?
No. Many people start as mates with no electrical experience; any time on a construction site helps, and reliability matters most.
Which card does an electrician's mate need?
On electrical sites, usually an ECS card for labourers; on other sites the green CSCS Labourer card. Check the job ad — if it doesn't say, ask the firm.
Can a mate do electrical work?
Only under the supervision of a qualified electrician, and never live work. Testing and certification are done by qualified electricians.
How do I go from mate to electrician?
Through a recognised training route: an apprenticeship or adult trainee route registered with the JIB, leading to NVQ Level 3 and the AM2 assessment — then the ECS Gold card.
How much does an electrician's mate earn?
It depends on the site, the area and your experience; on Graftum each job shows its rate. Under CIS, 20% is taken off and part of it can come back after the tax year.
