This week, JTL has been busy celebrating the 18th Annual National Apprenticeship Week, running from 10 – 16 February!
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is the biggest week in the apprenticeships and skills calendar, celebrating the importance of apprenticeships in shaping the future workforce and personal development.
This year’s theme, ‘Skills for Life,’ highlights how apprenticeships are key to unlocking lifelong career success. Whether our learners are just starting out in their career or looking to upskill, apprenticeships provide a pathway to gaining practical experience, building valuable skills, and achieving professional milestones that last a lifetime.
What’s been going on at JTL this week?
Employer and Apprentice Spotlight
Throughout the week, we’ve been hearing first-hand from our apprentices and employers talking about their own personal journeys.
Hear what our employers have to say…
The team at EE Thompson and Son have been partnered with us for decades, and they’re currently working on our brand new JTL training centre in Preston opening in March!
Their Managing Director, Stuart Thompson, was one of the very first cohort of JTL apprentices in 1989, and today EE Thompson and Son have two JTL apprentices working on the Preston site getting it ready for launch…
Stuart said:
“As a company employing JTL apprentices, we are delighted to be able to complete the electrical works for the new JTL training centre in Preston.
I want our apprentices that will attend the centre for years to come to look proudly upon the works and recognise that JTL apprentices of today have contributed a significant amount to the high-quality electrical installation that surrounds them in the learning environment.”
Chris Balmer, Operations Director at another of our long-standing employers, AR Power, shared with us what investing in apprenticeships means for their business, and how JTL provide the support needed to nurture talent and shape the future workforce…
Chris said:
“We believe in bringing apprentices in for the long-term good of the business. It has proved vital for us at AR Power and they’re colleagues from day one.
With JTL we know the apprentices are getting the full spectrum of support and notice a huge difference in confidence from when they start to when they complete.
It is both rewarding and valuable for the company as they generally stay with us beyond their apprenticeship.”
On Wednesday this week, we celebrated our incredible JTL apprentices!
Apprenticeships are so much more than just training – they’re gateways to unlocking incredible opportunities and building a bright future, particularly in the electrical and plumbing trades where you’re taking the first step in a lifelong career.
From hands-on experience to gaining valuable skills, apprenticeships provide a path to growth, career success, and personal achievement. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or changing direction, there’s so much to gain from an apprenticeship.
Hear it from the learners themselves…
Harry White is one of our fourth-year electrical apprentices. He is busy working on the build of our brand new JTL training centre in Preston with his employer EE Thompson and Son.
We caught up with Harry about the project, and what it’s been like working on the next JTL centre:
Harry said:
“I chose an apprenticeship as it’s a skill for life and presents so many different opportunities.
I enjoy coming to work because every day I’m learning something new.
Working on the build of a JTL training centre has been really enjoyable. It’s helped me to improve my skills and its shown me that JTL really care about the apprentices of the future with this new facility.”
We also caught up with a former electrical apprentice, Dammy Ajibade, who told us about his experience completing his apprenticeship with us…
Dammy said:
“Choosing an apprenticeship is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
What I think separates an apprenticeship is the hands-on experience whilst also gaining skills for life. It’s made me grow as a person and I’ve become more confident, better at problem solving and communicating more effectively.
Working with JTL has been amazing and the support I received whilst going through my apprenticeship was invaluable.
I’m glad my company works so closely with JTL, and I would definitely recommend them to everyone who is thinking of doing an apprenticeship.”
Their journey is just beginning, and we’re proud to be part of it!
Centre Events for employers and prospective apprentices
We’ve held exclusive open events in Telford and Oxford during National Apprenticeship Week, with more planned over the coming weeks.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore our facilities, learn more about our quality apprenticeships, meet the local teams, and share their thoughts on how we can better serve our partner employers.
Thank you to everyone who attended our events this week – it was great to see you there!
There will be more to come at our centres very soon, so watch this space!
📢 Spaces are limited – register now to secure your place at one of our upcoming events
🔗 Sign up via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jtl-14376476787
We also held a special event at JTL Ashford, where second year learners presenting their shop project tenders to a panel of esteemed judges. A great event with local employers and suppliers helping develop our apprentices.
Visits to JTL centres by Members of Parliament
We’re pleased to have welcomed MPs to a number of our JTL training centres as part of National Apprenticeship Week – Adam Thompson MP in Nottingham, Helen Grant MP in Maidstone, Sojan Joseph MP in Ashford, Luke Charters MP in York, Julie Minns MP in Carlisle and Shaun Davies MP in Telford. With more lined up in March and April.
Our senior leadership and frontline delivery teams have showed each MP around their respective centre, meeting apprentices and talking to them about their time with JTL and employment with local businesses; as well as highlighting the important policy changes JTL would like to see as an Independent Training Provider creating the workforce of the future.
Media coverage
We are excited to be joining the conversation in key news outlets – FE Week, the New Statesman magazine and Electrotechnical News, reaching new audiences to talk about what the apprenticeship sector needs to thrive.
JTL Chief Executive, Chris Claydon. has penned opinion pieces celebrating the contribution of apprenticeships to individuals and the economy, as well as the real challenges we face within the policy and funding landscape – Click below to read them!
New Statesman – Building Futures
Training the next generation – Electrotechnical News
Industrial Strategy fails without extra electricians and plumbers – FE Week
JTL colleagues take the conversation on the road
A number of our colleagues have been out and about presenting at careers and apprenticeships events in schools and colleges across the country, including in Enfield and Holly Hill Campus in London, giving insight into what an apprenticeship entails in building servicing engineering.
We’ve also been having important conversations with the Oxfordshire and Berkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) teams, and meeting more Parliamentarians at a packed Apprenticeships Fair in the House of Commons.
Until next time!
As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, it’s clear that the week has successfully highlighted the incredible impact apprenticeships have on both individuals and industries.
The various events and activities taking place here at JTL have brought together apprentices, employers, and educators to celebrate the value of hands-on learning and career development.
This week has not only showcased the opportunities available but also reinforced the importance of skilled workers in driving innovation and economic growth.
As we move forward, let’s continue to build on the momentum, support the next generation of talent and celebrate the power of apprenticeships!
