Skills for life theme for NAW2024

This year’s National Apprenticeship Week took place earlier this month and recorded increasing levels of engagement from FM service providers, clients and industry organisations

One of the most dynamic and appealing initiatives took place earlier this month in the form of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024, promoting the many benefits to individuals, companies and the commercial sector in general.

This year’s event revolved around the central theme of Skills For Life, further emphasising the value of apprenticeships.

One of the more absorbing details to emerge on the topic of apprenticeships over recent years is the sheer diversity of the courses now available.

While these were regarded as concentrating on the delivery of technical skills required within the delivery of hard FM services, they are now seen to include many other areas of work experience, including finance and accounting, marketing, cleaning and catering, among others.

Another consideration for modern apprentices is that they are able to immediately benefit from being paid for their efforts.

There have long been comparisons between students choosing to attend universities and gain degree qualifications with those embarking on apprenticeships.

Those in favour of the latter explain the benefits of avoiding building up large amounts of debt prior to starting to earn money, along with gaining early advantages through engaging with workplace activities.

This year’s NAW called on individuals, employers, training providers and communities to support those embarking on apprenticeships and encouraging those considering the options available to them.

There has been considerable levels of support for the initiative from the government, which is continuing to encourage higher numbers of young people to embark on apprenticeships to assist with the ongoing shortage of skilled workers within the UK.

National Apprenticeship Week

In addition to many FM service providers, this year’s NAW has been supported by other organisations such as Mid Sussex District Council, which published the results of its interview with trainee planning officer Peter Davies.

Having joined the council in August last year, Mr Davies found his apprenticeship provided “a great opportunity to gain experience whilst also furthering my education at the same time and to have support from the council”.

He had previous experience of planning administration working and this had fuelled his interest in the topic and his interest in becoming a planning officer and “start dealing with my own applications whilst also learning and once I have completed my Masters an opportunity to gain RTPI membership,” he stated.

His thoughts provide another highly relevant aspect of apprenticeships in that those embarking in them can continue their education, both during and after their training period finishes.

While some individuals find they are able to combine their studies with their training, others find that their courses help them to develop more interest in studying that then lead to additional learning within evening or day release courses.

When asked if he would recommend an apprenticeship to others, Mr Davies replies: “Definitely! It has been very beneficial learning whilst also working as they have both benefited the other and to further my progress.”

There have been notable additional levels of support provided to NAW by industry bodies, such as the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), which has also published interviews with those undertaking or having completed an apprenticeship in the building controls sector to find out more about their experience.

Cura Energy junior estimator Gareth Holvey is pursuing a building energy management systems (BEMS) Controls Engineer Apprenticeship Level 4. Describing his experience he says: “You’re in your workplace learning at the same time and Cura Energy gives me 20% of the time in the week to do bits that I need to do on the apprenticeship, whether it’s an assignment or some additional learning with an engineer.

“I would highly recommend this apprenticeship. It has given me the knowledge and skills that I need in order to achieve great things in this industry.”

Sontay deputy production manager James Barber completed an apprenticeship in electrical engineering and says: “During my apprenticeship I got to spend time in all the different departments across Sontay, which gave me a great opportunity to work my way through the company and lend help wherever it was needed.”

His thoughts are complemented by those of EON Controls support/ commissioning engineer Greg Smith, who was looking for a new career challenge. After receiving a recommendation about the building management systems (BMS) sector, he then signed up to a four-year apprenticeship scheme, which has seen him progress to becoming a qualified electrician and BMS controls specialist.

Mr Smith says: “I believe everyone has a skill that can be utilised and I really encourage anybody to be thinking about an apprenticeship to consider the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship Level 4. This will provide an entry level into an expanding field, and I look forward to perhaps working with you in the future.”

To further support young people pursuing a career in the building controls industry, the BCIA launched its Young Engineers Network in April 2022.

The YEN has been established to provide a forum for young BEMS engineers to share learnings and best practice and to help attract and retain young talent into the BEMS industry.

Further support for NAW 2024 has been provided for T Level apprenticeships in particular has been provided by the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), which spoke to three students currently pursuing courses to find out more about why their course appealed to them and hear about their experiences to date.

Vocational skills

T Level training is described as an alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and other courses for students. Equivalent in size to 3 A Levels, a T Level focuses on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships, says FETA. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days to provide valuable experience in the workplace, while employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

Intandem Systems T Level trainees Ethan-John Yates, Ariel Lusala and George Knight are all part of the team at the FETA member business.

While messrs Knight and Yates have enrolled on Building Services Engineering: Electrotechnical courses, Mr Lusala is taking a course in Engineering Design and Development: Manufacturing.

Mr Lusala states that he first heard about T Levels during a school assembly, where they were described as a cross between A Levels and practical learning. He was thinking of studying A Levels but when his college told him they also offered T Levels he began to consider them. He says: “Since I liked doing a bit of both I thought, ‘why not?’. I am now using the skills I learn in college in real life as well.”

Explaining his reasoning behind choosing a T Level course after completing his GCSEs, Mr Knight says: “I wasn’t originally planning on going into a trade but then I realised I was quite keen to do something challenging, a bit more hands-on and a bit more practical. I saw a brief overview of my course and it covered everything I’m interested in. So I gave it a go, I stuck with it and am now really enjoying it.”

Mr Yates describes how important his industry placement has been in helping him progress from full-time learning to the world of work. He says: “It helps us understand how a company actually functions, because we’re in the middle of it. Instead of being on the sidelines watching we’re treated like a member of staff so we can get a feel of what it’s going to be like in the future.”

All three students are now considered important members of the team at InTandem Systems, as technical support Hashika Pieris explains: “When we’re very busy there are a lot of last-minute tasks that we need to do, so when the students are in it is really handy as we can give them work quite easily and it helps us get the jobs done. On quieter days they can help out anyone individually –which is important just to make the company tick and it adds to their overall learning as well.”