JTL launches Female Apprentice Network during National Apprenticeship Week
Posted by: electime 13th February 2026
The network was officially launched during National Apprenticeship Week, with its inaugural event held at JTL’s newest centre, London South, marking a significant step in the charity’s ongoing commitment to improving gender representation across electrical, plumbing and heating trades.
Despite growing demand for skilled workers, women remain significantly underrepresented in sectors such as electrical, plumbing and heating. JTL’s Female Apprentice Network has been established to provide a dedicated space for current and future female apprentices to build confidence, access peer support and engage directly with JTL on how training and progression routes can better support women entering and progression routes within the industry. JTL will be offering tailored mentoring for female apprentices, making use of its expert tutors and training officers, as well as a wealth of experience across the breadth of the business. From its quality and curriculum teams to finance and administrative support.
The launch event, Building Our Network, was delivered as a free, half-day session at JTL London South and marked the start of a 12-month programme. The network will include guest speaker sharing, recruitment opportunities, mentoring, career mapping workshops and CV clinics, giving learners practical tools alongside peer-led support. The launch event was attended by current apprentices, prospective apprentices, employers and industry representatives.
Dulcie Sanders, Delivery Team Manager at JTL London South, said: “The Female Apprentice Network is about creating a supportive environment where women can connect, share experiences and build confidence. From working closely with learners, we know how importance it is to have spaces like this where apprentices feel heard, supported and encouraged to see a long-term future in the trades.”
Millie Cox, Electrical Apprentice at JTL and employed with S&F Elec, said: “Moving from an all-girls school to working on construction sites was honestly quite daunting at first. Being surrounded by males both on site and during training was a real unknown, and I won’t lie it was challenging. But now I absolutely love what I do. I initially thought about beauty, but I’m so glad I chose to pursue an electrical apprenticeship instead. Having a trade for life feels incredibly empowering.
“The new JTL female apprentice network is exactly what girls like me need. Having that safe space to talk, get mentoring, and share experiences makes such a difference. If we can encourage more young women to see that any initial challenges are worth pushing through, and show them the amazing opportunities in the trades, that’s when we’ll really start to see change.”
Clair Bradley, Director of Operations at JTL, said: “Launching the Female Apprentice Network during National Apprenticeship Week sends a clear message about JTL’s commitment to inclusion. Apprenticeships are a vital route into skilled careers and initiatives like this help ensure women not only enter the trades but are supported to progress and succeed. This network is a practical step towards driving lasting change for learners and employers alike.”
National Apprenticeship Week provided a timely backdrop for the launch, highlighting the role apprenticeships play in opening up high-quality, well-paid careers to people from all backgrounds. For JTL, the Female Apprentice Network represents a tangible step towards building a more diverse workforce at a time when the UK faces critical skills shortages across construction and building services engineering.
JTL will continue to develop the network throughout the year and across the country, with more face-to-face events in the pipeline.
