NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK: Tips from the trade
Posted by: electime 7th February 2023
To support National Apprenticeship Week, Electrical Times hears from team members at the specialist, multi-discipline engineering solutions business, BGEN. All former electrical apprentices, they share their advice on making it in the electrical world for those people thinking about making a career in the sector.
Name
Craig Cowley
Job title
Contracts Manager
When did you qualify as an electrician via the apprenticeship route?
2011
Why go down the apprenticeship route?
An apprenticeship for any skilled trade is the most beneficial route in my opinion. In an electrical apprenticeship, every day is a school day in the sense that you are always learning. There is a great balance of on-site practical work vs college-based theory. The timeframe for an apprenticeship is enough to ensure you have the right level of experience when you qualify. It also allows you to gain the knowledge, skills and insights from time served electricians.
What advice would you give someone thinking about having a career as an electrician?
Go for it! It is enjoyable and satisfying seeing the end product of your hard work. There are so many career paths beyond the installation aspect, so if you wanted to diversify, having the initial experience from the apprenticeship will give you the foundations needed to move into those fields. I can safely say it is the best decision I made.
