A-level case study: Sam Tuttle, Lead Service Technician

  Posted by: electime      15th August 2024

“I am very happy I took the apprentice route and got into this industry. It means I will always have a job – but more importantly a long-term career,” he said.

“The block release worked well for me. For four years, I worked for three weeks and then had one week in college allowing me to gain both practical skills and theoretical knowledge in electronics. If I had gone down the university road, I would have come out with a massive debt and no trade qualification.

“As it is, I now have experience and qualifications to run important site jobs all over the country for companies like National Grid – plus I work with a great team. It feels like being part of a family.”

Dr Jon Hiscock, CEO, Fundamentals Ltd. discusses the role apprenticeships can play in opening opportunities for school leavers: 

“Those thinking about what to do after A-levels, should consider the opportunities that apprenticeships can unlock. Particularly in high-growth industries facing a skills shortage.

“For example, there is an enormous shortage of engineers – around 173,000 according to the IET. And the shortage is only expected to increase in industries like energy and electricity as the transition to net zero accelerates. Hundreds of thousands more jobs are being created in everything from wind and solar generation to energy distribution, storage and green hydrogen.

“Companies like ours are increasingly offering a wide range of training and apprenticeship schemes for A-level leavers, which combine paid work with on the job learning and further education. And there are multiple options for gaining engineering-related qualifications in technical schools and colleges.

“For those students who want an interesting career with good prospects, and have a leaning towards STEM subjects, an apprenticeship in engineering could be a great fit. It equips school-leavers with the skills and qualifications to develop a worthwhile career and contribute to the nation’s economic prosperity – and green agenda.”