Be careful what you wish for, Carl.

Many industry-trained electricians have a natural, negative, gut reaction to the idea of people 'walking off the street' into an electrical career.

But, if you had such a closed shop as many sparks imagine should apply, then so would other trades and professions. There would be no room for people to change career and severe restriction in employment practices.

As it is, the regulations - statutory and non-statutory - simply require persons to be competent (see Definitions in BS 7671 and eg 16 of EAWR) and installation work in small, single phase installations ain't exactly 'rocket surgery'.

Whatever the rules, you'll never stop the chancers, but there have to be routes to competence for those with the right intentions.

It's just an expression.

It's a very common human reaction to change to suggest alternatives without really considering their implications.