Wired for success: Why apprenticeships are vital for business growth in the electrical industry

  Posted by: electime      17th September 2025

By Sophie Prigmore, Executive Operations Manager at Seen Services. Seen Services is a specialist electrical and security contractor based in Ware, Hertfordshire. Founded in 2015, the company have worked on high-profile projects including the Eurotunnel and Reading Green Park Station.

As a small business in the electrical industry, our greatest strength is our team. We know SMEs across the country – and across industries – are struggling with serious skills gaps. The Skills Horizon Barometer report from Skills for Life revealed earlier this year that 90 per cent were anticipating skills gaps within their business, with the biggest at entry level (32 per cent). But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Our people are the driving force behind Seen Services’ success. Our Founder, Bradley, set up the company in 2015, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience in the electrical and security installation industry. His leadership, industry expertise, and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions have built a strong reputation and long-lasting client relationships.

We welcomed our first apprentice in 2020 to help bridge broader industry skills gaps while also building strong pipeline of future talent for the company. Another motivator was Bradley’s passion for supporting the local community; apprenticeships allow us to provide people in the area with valuable career opportunities.

Our first apprentice is now a fully qualified Electrician with a Gold ECS card and still works at the company. In fact, every apprentice we’ve hired has continued to work at Seen Services, progressing into various roles across the business.

We are committed to developing the next generation of talent. That’s why we were so proud to be shortlisted as one the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers earlier this year.

Investing in electrical and business administration apprenticeships allows us to cultivate a skilled workforce; one that understands our high standards from day one and has a genuine passion for learning throughout their career. They also encourage collaboration across departments. Because we’re a small business, our projects are often cut across commercial, industrial, energy, and service sectors; different teams are involved from the planning stage right through to completion, using shared tools, meetings, and communication channels to stay coordinated. This joined up way of working not only strengthens project results but also builds a sense of accountability and pride across the organisation. We want our apprentices to get exposure to all aspects of the business, so they come away with strong teamwork skills and a clear vision on what they’d like to do next.

Our apprentices contribute to the productivity and growth of the entire business. Their presence helps boost morale and enthusiasm across the team, as they bring in fresh ideas and provide mentoring opportunities for existing staff.

The apprentices benefit from a structured and inclusive training programme where they receive the same opportunities as our fully qualified employees – something that’s really important to us to ensure they feel like a key part of the business from the moment they arrive. This includes access to industry-recognised certifications, ensuring they are well-prepared and confident on site.

In addition, they have access to our dedicated online learning portal to complete essential safety training, including Asbestos Awareness, Working at Height, and more – gaining certificates that are mandatory for site work. Our approach not only equips them with practical skills and qualifications; it also embeds them fully into the business and our culture as a company, setting them up for long-term career success.

Many of our apprentices have progressed into permanent roles, helping us fill key positions internally and reduce recruitment costs. Ultimately, apprenticeships have supported our growth by ensuring we have the right people with the right skills to meet client demands and deliver consistently high-quality work which sets us apart from our competitors.

We’d highly encourage other SMEs to explore the training and employment schemes available to them – whether that’s apprenticeships, T Levels, or even HTQs (Higher Technical Qualifications). There are so many options available to suit your business. To find out more and read guidance on how to implement these schemes into your organisation, search ‘Skills for Life’.