Investing in the future

Way back in 1977, in the year of the straddle haircut and star jumpers, I started work as an apprentice electrician. By 2004 many things have changed.

I no longer have enough hair to fashion into any kind of style, my star jumper is history and somewhere along the line apprenticeships have assumed the prefix ‘advanced modern’.

NVQs, AM1 and AM2s are now the order of the day; wind-up, insulation resistance testers with needle pointers have given way to extremely accurate, digital read-out equipment which measures virtually anything; and installation methods have changed.

Fast fixing is very much in vogue. The short life expectancy of installations has seen a fair proportion of an electrician’s role become that of an installer of prefabricated and plug-in equipment, rather than as a creative thinker installing kit with a life expectancy of 20 years or more. That said, modern apprentices do not have an easy ride. If anything the academic and practical requirements have become more testing. The training of apprentices is government-funded and this leads to a long audit trail of checks along the way.

Some things, however, have not changed. The rites of passage for apprentices have remained constant. Being sent for glass hammers, left-handed screwdrivers, stripped paint, a quarter of volt drops etc are still everyday occurrences on building sites up and down the country – not that I ever fell for any of this!

I am pleased to say that these are regular occurrences on Longcross sites. It has always been part of the main board directors’ strategy of reinvestment back into the business to employ and train apprentices. This sentiment is echoed by the directors of the engineering division.

Modern apprentices do not have an easy ride. If anything, the academic and practical requirements have become more testing

Longcross Engineering can now boast 16 electrical and five mechanical apprentices at various stages of training, together with five qualified electricians who have served their apprenticeship with the company. It is a firmly held belief throughout Longcross that apprentices add value to the business. It is further rewarding to see shy school leavers become confident adults and competent craftspeople.

Each of Longcross’ apprentices starts their employed life with a one-week health and safety awareness course. Then, armed with a full set of gleaming personal protective equipment and shiny new tools, they enter into a four-year period of site experience and college life.

Weekly reports are filled in by each individual and sent back to their branch office – these detail the type of work in which they have been involved. From these reports the firm can ensure that the apprentices are exposed to a healthy balance of all aspects of their chosen trade. They are also monitored by an external training officer who acts as their mentor. The reports from these officers are also kept on file at each branch.

Longcross Engineering is committed to developing its apprenticeship programme and addressing the imbalance between the numbers of electrical and mechanical operatives that it takes on. It firmly believes in helping to sustain the m&e contracting industry by putting something back into it.

Although the odd individual may drop out along the way, I am happy to report that this is extremely rare. And, just in case you are wondering, I did see my apprenticeship through and qualified as an electrician. It was only my straddle that dropped out!