Three electrical businesses across Scotland will each receive £6,000 towards the cost of employing a first-year apprentice through a new industry funding initiative.
Campaigning trade body SELECT has partnered with Luceco Group to launch Powering Potential, a new initiative aimed at supporting small electrical businesses across Scotland with the cost of employing apprentices.
The country’s largest construction trade association has teamed up with the manufacturer to provide three SELECT member firms with grants of £6,000 each towards the cost of employing a first-year electrical installation apprentice.
The initiative was announced at the SELECT President’s Lunch on Friday, 25 September, amid concerns over the rising cost of training.
A recent SELECT survey found that high wages and low levels of employer funding were the biggest obstacles to recruiting apprentices.
Powering Potential will provide funding to employers in the east, west and north of Scotland, helping offset costs during the first year of training.
The first recipients are V C Electrical in Gullane, supporting apprentice Reece Michie; T Walsh Contracts Ltd in Ayr, supporting Thomas Shirkie; and A B Electrical Scotland Ltd in Aboyne, supporting Ritchie Pirie.
Each company received its funding at The Balmoral in Edinburgh from SELECT President Darren Crockett and Ian Hunter, UK Trade Sales Director at Luceco Group. Electrical equipment was also donated to the apprentices.
Sharon Miller, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “We are extremely grateful to Luceco Group for helping us make this meaningful investment in the future of our sector.
“Employers continue to tell us that rising costs are making it increasingly difficult to recruit apprentices, particularly during the first year when they spend significant periods at college, so this partnership is a practical example of industry coming together to find solutions.
“However, while this funding will make a difference to these three SELECT members it is only a fraction of what is needed and is not a replacement for proper funding across the board. If Scotland is serious about addressing skills shortages and growing the workforce of the future, increased support for apprenticeships from government remains essential.”
Ian Hunter said: “As someone who started my own career as an apprentice, I know first-hand the opportunities that apprenticeship training can create.
“Luceco is proud to support this initiative because we recognise the pressures many employers face when investing in new talent. Supporting apprentices is an investment in the future of our industry and a way of giving something back to the contractors who support our business every day.
“We hope this financial support will help remove barriers, create opportunities and encourage more young people to pursue successful careers in the electrical sector.”
Developed with support from the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), the scheme’s recipients were selected from SMEs and longstanding SELECT member firms with a track record of recruiting and developing apprentices.
The funding is intended to help employers meet wage costs while first-year apprentices attend college as part of their training.
The apprentices will also be invited to visit Luceco Group’s headquarters in Telford to learn more about manufacturing, product development and the wider electrical supply chain.
V C Electrical owner Val Chisholm said: “Running a business can feel quite lonely at times, so having this support and recognition from the industry means a lot and feels like a reward for the years of hard work, commitment and dedication that have gone into building the business.
“A big thank you to SELECT and Luceco Group for this support – it’s great to see the industry showing such a strong commitment to investing in the next generation.”
Apprentice Reece Michie, 18, said he was looking forward to gaining practical experience, developing new skills and working towards becoming a fully qualified electrician.
T Walsh Contracts Ltd owner Tony Walsh said: “The cost of taking on an apprentice is massive – in the first year they are in college for 17 weeks, which can make it unaffordable for some small businesses.
“In the current economic climate, any support is important and very much appreciated so I am extremely grateful for this funding. I feel strongly about the importance of taking on apprentices and this means a lot.”
A B Electrical Scotland Ltd owner Allan Beveridge Snr said: “This funding is an extremely welcome boost as it definitely feels like it’s becoming a tighter climate for electricians lately. It also feels like recognition for taking apprentices through their careers.
“There don’t seem to be as many apprentices on-site these days so need to do something to ensure we don’t end up with a shortage of qualified tradespeople.”
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Apprentice Ritchie Pirie, 17, added: “I’ve always wanted to be an electrician. I was supposed to start with another company last year but it didn’t happen so I’m excited to have this second chance.”
