Training The value of apprenticeships


This National Apprenticeship Week, new research from NICEIC has underscored the vital role of apprenticeships in addressing skills needs and building a strong foundation for future growth.


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ew research commissioned by NICEIC has highlighted challenges across the electrotechnical industry surrounding technical skills, recruitment and those starting a career in the industry. Given existing research around the industry’s skills gap, this reinforces the pressing need to build a strong talent pipeline through apprenticeships and training to ensure the industry continues to grow and deliver the necessary transformation of UK infrastructure. The research found over half (52%) of the electrical businesses that had recruited or attempted to recruit technical staff during 2024, found it to be a very difficult process. Moreover, of the firms not currently hiring apprentices, the admin involved (36%) as well as the difficulty of recruiting apprentices (17%) were cited as significant obstacles.


This points to concerns that the entire industry should stand ready to address, that the existing infrastructure is not doing enough to reduce labour market friction and connect talent with work. More also needs to be done to encourage fresh talent to enter the industry and support them through apprenticeships into technical roles.


Case study: NICEIC-certified business Playfords on their proud tradition of apprenticeships and bringing through fresh talent The business


Playfords is a Building Services Contractor with decades of expertise in electrical & mechanical services. This year, the company celebrates its 100-year trading anniversary. The Playfords story began in the 1880s when the company’s founder, Charles Playford was apprenticed to electrical pioneers, Baily, Grundy & Barrett. The business has been NICEIC-certified for over 50 years and its management team describe the company’s ethos as focused on continuous improvement, through a commitment to technical standards, training and development, and high-quality customer service.


Major projects


Playfords took on new investment in 2006, enabling it to take on major projects including a number of schools, hospitals and museums. The


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“More also needs to be done to encourage fresh talent to enter the industry and support them through apprenticeships into technical roles. “


company has also worked on projects at sites of national significance including complex upgrade works at the Royal Opera House as well as the restoration and refurbishment of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.


Apprenticeships


The company runs a successful program of taking on and supporting young apprentices, many of whom have progressed into permanent key roles within the business, after completing their qualifications. Two of its directors, appointed in 2024, Gary Dickinson and Phil Taylor, both joined the company as apprentices. The company sees apprenticeships as one of the proudest parts of its tradition, pointing to examples like Mick Newman, who started his five-year Playfords apprenticeship in September 1962 at the age of sixteen. Mick went on to work his way through


the business before retiring in 2015 as a contracts supervisor after 53 years with the company.


Advice to those pursuing a career in the industry


Playfords’ group operations director, Andy Downing says the business is always delighted to find new talent with a desire to be on site and learn the trade from experienced professionals. “When we find someone with an enthusiasm to learn and a desire to be on the tools, learning from experienced electricians on-site, we generally know we’ve found someone who will be with us for many years and go on to have a successful career in the industry.


“There are so many talented young people, especially school leavers, who may not be interested in further academic study and are looking for alternative routes. An apprenticeship in the electrical industry is the start of a long- term career which offers so many options and opportunities, including a pathway to management if that is something you are interested in pursuing. That’s something we see first hand at Playfords, with many of my colleagues here, who started as apprentices now in senior roles.”


March 2025 electrical wholesaler | 11


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