Working Away from Home as an Industrial Electrician’s Mate: What You Need to Know
Working as an industrial electrician’s mate is a career that can open up doors to new opportunities, new locations, and varied experiences. But with this flexibility comes a major question: what happens when you need to work away from home?
For many tradespeople, “working away” means taking contracts that require you to temporarily relocate, live in digs or hotels, and manage your finances around two sets of costs — your ongoing expenses at home and your day-to-day living expenses while on site.
This article breaks down everything you need to know about working away from home as an electrician’s mate, from pay rates and job length to accommodation, food, transport, and budgeting tips.
Why Industrial Electrician’s Mates Are Often Asked to Work Away
Industrial projects often take place in specific locations — large factories, manufacturing plants, shipyards, or renewable energy sites such as wind farms. These projects can last weeks or even months, and companies frequently need extra pairs of hands to support fully qualified electricians.
Because projects are often outside your local area, working away becomes part of the job. While this can be exciting, it also comes with financial and personal challenges.
1. Understanding the Job Opportunity
Before diving into the financials, ask yourself:
- Is this position interesting to me?
- Will I gain new skills or certifications?
- Does this experience improve my long-term career prospects?
Sometimes, a short-term inconvenience of being away from home can pay off in the form of valuable industry experience. For example, working on a major power station shutdown or a large-scale industrial installation may give you exposure you wouldn’t get in local work.
Tip: Always weigh the career value of the job as well as the financial value.
2. Pay Rates and What’s Included
The most obvious factor is pay. Rates for industrial electrician’s mates can vary widely depending on the project, location, and whether it’s direct employment or agency work.
Questions to ask before accepting a job:
- What is the hourly rate or day rate?
- Is there weekend or overtime pay?
- Are digs included (paid accommodation)?
- Do they cover food or provide a subsistence allowance?
- Is travel to and from site paid for?
Many companies offer what’s called a “lodging allowance” or “subsistence payment”, which is meant to cover food and accommodation. However, not all employers provide this — which means you’ll need to work out if your wages cover your extra living costs.
3. Covering Your Ongoing Home Expenses
Even while you’re away, your home bills don’t stop. This usually means you’ll need to budget for:
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Gas and electricity
- Internet and phone bills
- Council tax
- Any direct debits or subscriptions
It’s easy to get caught up in the higher pay rates of a working-away job and forget that you’re now effectively running two households: your home base and your temporary accommodation.
Budgeting Example:
- Rent: £650/month
- Utilities (gas, electric, water): £150
- Internet & phone: £50
- Council tax: £130
- Total fixed home costs: £980/month
This amount needs to be covered before you even start thinking about digs, food, or transport costs on site.
4. Accommodation (Digs) Options
Accommodation can make or break your working-away experience. If digs are paid for by the company, this removes a massive financial burden. However, if they’re not, you need to research affordable options.
Common accommodation choices:
- Company digs: Often shared housing with other workers.
- Hotels or B&Bs: Convenient but can be expensive if the project is long.
- Rented rooms (e.g., Airbnb, spare rooms): More homely and often with cooking facilities.
- Caravan sites: Common for long-term projects near rural industrial sites.
Tip: If you’re self-catering, you’ll save significantly compared to eating out daily.
5. Food and Daily Living Costs
Eating out three times a day can quickly eat into your pay. Unless your company provides a food allowance, you’ll want to budget carefully.
Average costs if self-funded:
- Breakfast (supermarket bought): £3–£5/day
- Lunch (packed lunch or canteen): £5–£7/day
- Dinner (self-cooked): £6–£10/day
- Total weekly food budget: £100–£150
Cooking for yourself in shared digs can cut costs in half compared to daily pub meals or takeaways.
6. Transport to Site
Since you don’t drive, transport is one of your biggest considerations. You’ll need to ask:
- Is the site accessible by bus or train?
- Are shift times compatible with public transport timetables?
- If not, what’s the cost of a daily Uber or taxi?
Example cost breakdown:
- Bus pass: £25/week
- Train travel: £50–£80/week
- Uber/taxi: £10 each way → £100/week
Over a month, that’s an additional £400 in transport costs if you rely on taxis. This can dramatically reduce your net earnings.
7. Job Length and Security
Another important factor is how long the contract lasts. Some jobs are only for a week or two, while others may run for six months or more.
A short job may not be worth relocating for once you factor in costs. On the other hand, a long-term contract gives more stability and allows you to spread out your accommodation and travel expenses.
Questions to ask:
- What’s the expected project length?
- Is there potential for extension?
- How much notice will you get if the project ends early?
8. Balancing the Numbers
At the end of the day, you need to know if the job is financially worthwhile.
Example Calculation (Weekly):
- Pay: £700
- Home bills (monthly ÷ 4): £245
- Accommodation: £200
- Food: £120
- Transport: £100
- Leftover: £35
In this scenario, you’re barely breaking even. Unless the role offers exceptional experience, it may not be worth it.
By contrast, if digs and transport are covered by the company:
- Pay: £700
- Home bills: £245
- Food: £120
- Leftover: £335
This is much more worthwhile financially.
9. Lifestyle Considerations
It’s not just about money — there are personal factors too:
- Time away from family and friends.
- Long days followed by evenings alone in digs.
- Adjusting to new places frequently.
Some people thrive on the change of scenery, while others find it isolating. Be honest about what suits you best.
10. Tips for Success When Working Away
- Always get details in writing about pay, digs, and allowances.
- Budget carefully — track your daily spending.
- Plan meals to save money.
- Check public transport routes before accepting the job.
- Negotiate if possible — some companies will cover more if you ask.
Final Thoughts
Working away as an industrial electrician’s mate can be a rewarding way to gain experience and boost your earnings, but it comes with serious considerations. From home bills to digs, food, transport, and job length, every factor impacts whether the role is truly worthwhile.