Nineteen branches of the electrical wholesaler Newey and Eyre are to partner with training company JTL to make the most of the opportunity of National Apprenticeship Week (9-14 March 2015).
In a first for the industry, visitors to branches in England and Wales stretching from Newcastle to Cardiff and Southampton will be treated to a sponsored breakfast whilst receiving information on apprenticeship developments in the industry, as well as helpful advice on further training and development in the electrical industries. Each of the events will have an early start and continue through until 11am on a designated day of the week.
JTL training officers will be on hand to answer any questions, encouraging contractors to learn more about the benefits of apprenticeships and consider their staffing and recruitment plans for the year.
“We’re excited to be involved in National Apprenticeship Week and see the initiative as being important to the industry of the future,” said Luke Biddle, marketing manager at Newey and Eyre. “With JTL now being responsible for training some half of all of the newly-qualified electricians in the country and the need to attract new blood into the sector, we are keen to support our customers in filling current and future vacancies with the best new talent in the industry.”
In addition to the work done at grass roots level which is supported by its investment in on-line sites and a growing presence on social media, JTL has been increasingly able to attract the interest of high calibre individuals looking to take up an apprenticeship, as opposed to the alternative of full-time educational studies. As the advantages of an apprenticeship compared with higher education become better appreciated, the charitable training company has been active in working with careers advisers so that they become aware of the many advantages of working in the electrical and other building services engineering trades.
“It is pleasing to have the assistance of Newey and Eyre senior management and those at branch level in supporting a drive for increased recruitment to our industry through the apprenticeship route,” said Caroline Turner, director of operations at JTL. “With employers reporting increasing confidence about the future, it is essential that there is better understanding that the apprenticeship route undoubtedly provides enormous benefits for both employers looking to expand their workforce as well as the young person seeking a rewarding career.”
As well as the support of an experienced, qualified JTL training officer working with both employer and apprentice, other incentives include a £1,500 grant from government to cushion employers’ training costs. JTL has seen an increase in its apprenticeship recruitment of over 11% in each of the last two years, largely driven by a reputation for outperforming national average achievement rates for those involved in the Level 3 four-year programme of combined work and learning.