Interview
10 minutes with... Chris Claydon
Chief executive at not-for-profi t, work-based learning provider JTL.
Off ering apprenticeships in the building services engineering sector across England and Wales, JTL serves approximately 8,000 apprentices and 3,800 employers.
Tea or coff ee? Coff ee. A white Americano, with one sugar.
Glass half full or glass half empty? I’m defi nitely someone with a ‘glass half full’ mindset.
Working from home or working from the offi ce?
I prefer to work from the offi ce, although my ‘offi ce’ is usually being on the road. I really enjoy being out meeting people and thrive being in a social environment. I’m often on the move for my job, whether that is travelling to meet with employers, visiting apprentices on-site or engaging with the JTL team.
How did you get started in this industry?
I have always had a passion for skills development, and prior to my current role at JTL, I worked for ECITB, which is the employer-led skills body for the engineering and construction
workforce. The expertise and knowledge I picked up in that role have been applicable to JTL. During my time as chief executive at ECITB, I had a similar focus in terms of bridging the existing skills gap in the sector, which is a key priority for the apprenticeships we deliver here at JTL. Before working at ECITB, I was in the military for over 30 years. I learnt a lot about leadership during my time there, as well as training and competency in regulated and high threat environments. Those skills have been directly applicable to my roles since.
What has been the highlight of your career?
I was delighted when I was appointed as chief executive of JTL, so that is certainly one of the main highlights of my career to date. The fi rst day of any new job can be rather daunting, but I was warmly welcomed by the team and meeting apprentices on-site on day one was a fantastic way to start the job. Having spent 30 years in the military, I had many proud moments in my
various roles. Two particular highlights stand out, the fi rst was Commanding Offi cer of three Regiment Army Air Corps, an attack helicopter regiment, and the second was when I led the team in the Ministry of Defence tasked with defeating the impact that improvised explosive devices (roadside bombs) were having on our forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
What have been some of JTL’s key achievements during 2023? This year has seen some great achievements from our team at JTL. We have had three young apprentices successfully reach the World Skills SkillELECTRIC fi nal, with one being awarded second place, which was a really proud moment for the team, as well as for the individuals themselves. Also, we won the award for ‘Best Large Learning Provider of the Year’ at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, which validated our commitment to creating equal opportunities for all apprentices. We have also reaffi rmed our training quality through the retainment of our Grade 2 ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted. Whilst we recognise that this is a key achievement, we are constantly reviewing where we need to invest and improve the quality of our training provision.
What are your key aims for JTL moving forward?
Moving forward, my key aim for JTL is to improve the quality of the learner journey and to ensure
26 | electrical wholesalerJanuary 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
