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TALENT OF TOMORROW APPRENTICES


TALENT OF TOMORROW Russell’s Story


When Russell left school, his fi rst job was as a fi eld engineer for a telecoms and data company. He enjoyed the work but felt there was not enough training provided for a career progression, so he decided that an apprenticeship would be the best option. He explained: “Electrical


work had always intrigued and interested me, and as I was working in cabling I thought training to be an electrician would be a good step forward.” Russell was successful in


obtaining an apprenticeship with a small electrical fi rm but the company had fi nancial problems and he was let go. He was delighted when


SECTT Training Offi cer Fraser Binnie put him forward for an apprenticeship with a business specialising in the new build domestic market and he got the job. But within 18 months, the pandemic had hit and the fi rm had to make nearly half of its 32 workers redundant. Did this make Russell


despondent? No, within two weeks he had a new job with


>>> Continued from page 41


defi nitely switched on. I’ve seen him out on site and he handles himself very well. I’ve already had positive feedback from his colleagues on a project at an insurance building in Edinburgh. “In fact, he’s working with Josh, who originally approached us from another company because he felt he was not getting the on-site training he required. He joined us fi ve years ago and he’s now a qualifi ed electrician and running his own sites. That’s what we like to do; develop our own people by bringing


Russell loves working with AKD in Edinburgh


AKD in Edinburgh. He said: “When I got made redundant for the second time I realised that I had to be proactive, so I joined a LinkedIn group for redundant apprentices and explained my experience and situation. I was also contacting other companies through social media and AKD replied to one of my posts. “I was speaking on the


phone with Managing Director Keith Groom within a few days of him contacting me and then I had an interview which was successful – so it all happened


pretty fast. I was impressed with Keith and the company; he seemed to be a very switched-on guy and since working there I have been very impressed with the professionalism of everyone – it’s like a well-oiled machine. “It’s great to be working on


new things and learning more tricks of the trade, like the work I’m doing on emergency lighting systems at the moment. And it’s good that the tradesperson I’m working with also gives me the independence to get on with


them through the ranks.” Another company that has taken on a redundant apprentice is SELECT Member fi rm MR Electrical, based in Edinburgh, with four employees providing domestic electrical services with some commercial work. Like a lot of owners of small companies, Michael Riley had always considered taking on an apprentice, but until now he never had the time. However, when he heard about Luke Dunn from SECTT Training Offi cer Fraser Binnie, he decided to help out. Michael said: “I thought it was a bit unfair how Luke had lost his job and


42 CABLEtalk OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020


projects after he has explained what’s needed to be done.” Russell has fi nished his


second year and now is looking forward to continuing his training at Edinburgh College to enter his third year of the apprenticeship. Russell added: “Losing your


job is just one of those things you’ve got to get over. In the grand scheme of things there will always be jobs for skilled tradespeople, so you’ve got to have a positive mindset and be proactive in looking for new opportunities.”


“T at’s what we like to do; develop our own people by bringing them through the ranks”


NAME:


Russell Cairns AGE: 20


POSITION: T ird year apprentice WORKS:


AKD Edinburgh HOBBIES: Football and kickboxing


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