Electrical Testing Ltd. celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with official provider status

Bolstering its position as a responsible leader in the highway electrical contracts industry, Electrical Testing Ltd. has officially been granted government approval as a registered apprenticeship provider. 

Hot on the heels of recent news outlining the company’s plans to grow its training centre and scope of courses offered, this latest announcement marks another important milestone in ETL’s development strategy, and further demonstrates a long-standing commitment to the progression of the highways electrical contracts sector.

A serious shortage of skills in this highly specialised field is a challenge faced by ETL and the industry in general. Owning this official status as a government-recognised apprenticeship provider therefore not only answers the sector-wide urgent call to generate a new pipeline of talent but also helps ETL to future-proof its own growth plans.

The government’s apprenticeship levy initiative was introduced in April 2017 with the aim of transforming training and creating 3 million apprenticeships by 2020. According to the Department of Education, the number of people starting an apprenticeship has seen its first rise since the inception of this levy – a statistic which ETL hopes to positively contribute to.

“Nurturing talent and future-proofing – as far as possible – the advancement of the niche highways electrical sector has always been central to our long-term vision. Gaining official status as a registered apprenticeship provider is an important achievement for us, and we are excited to be part of this important nation-wide government-led initiative for apprenticeships and also being able to deliver our employer-led trailblazers to develop the country’s talent and inspire tomorrow’s leaders,” remarked Carl Green, Head of Learning & Development, ETL.

Springboard for success

In line with the company’s pioneering spirit, ETL will deliver apprenticeship routes that offer, importantly, both levels 2 and 3 under one roof. 

Green added: “Primarily, we will focus on providing Highways Electrical apprenticeships, as this specialised area has been lacking in new potential. By taking this approach, we are confident we will be actively contributing to the future progression of the Highways Electrical sector, upskilling deserving students and giving them a unique position from which they can springboard to further success. It will pay dividends not only for ETL and the participating individuals, but also for large companies that are levy-paying at the moment – and also opening up to smaller businesses across the UK in years to come.” 

ETL’s announcement comes at a crucial time for the highways electrical sector, with many organisations prioritising activities to attract, seek and retain new talent. 

The apprenticeship courses, led by a team of qualified in-house experts, will span two years, with students gaining both a technical certificate and NVQ at the end.

“Since the start of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017, a number of different avenues have become available to employers. To ensure the best experience, we urge employers to check first that the provider is registered and that it has both approval and capability to provide for all the necessary technical standards as required for apprenticeship levels 2 and 3.”

According to Green, ETL estimates a total of 10 cohorts will be trained over the next 2 years at its Acle-based training centre. Each cohort will comprise a maximum of 8 students who will each receive 4 weeks of training per year.

“Our long-term vision is to extend the apprenticeships into the wider Electrical Industry sphere: the potential and possibilities this presents could be game-changing for businesses across the UK,” concluded Green.