We spoke to Tim about how it is never too late to retrain, and he is a great example. At 65, Tim decided to do an electrical apprenticeship, and he is truly an inspiration to everyone!
Why did you apply for an apprenticeship?
In the summer of 2019, I came back to the UK from a 5-year overseas assignment in Singapore after my corporate role was made redundant. I was aged 60 and potentially could’ve retired. However, I decided that I still had the drive and desire to continue working. I really wanted my next challenge to be in an entirely different industry where I could learn new skills and continue to develop; and to do this in an environment that wasn’t office based! I had always been interested in Electrics (my father, father-in-law and son are/were Electricians!) so it seemed obvious that this would be where I would attempt to start my new career.
How has your experience with Steve Willis Training been?
Working with the Electrical Team at SWT over the three years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was naturally concerned that returning to more formal education, after over 40 years, I might struggle. However, the support I received from the entire SWT team, and my much younger fellow students, put me at ease and set me up for eventual success. SWT provides a safe, caring and supportive environment backed up with high quality campus facilities with modern classrooms and teaching resources as well as spacious well-equipped workshops. Most importantly though the Electrical Department is staffed by talented trainers who prepare their lessons meticulously and deliver content with expertise, humour and patience. As a mature student you truly appreciate the opportunity you are given to learn new skills from trainers who fully invest themselves in your success by unconditionally sharing their knowledge and experience. I also hope that in some small way I was able to affect the dynamic of the classroom by providing a sympathetic ear and words of guidance to the much younger students whenever they had concerns with their learning or indeed employment issues.
What has been the highlight of your apprenticeship (aside from passing 😊)?
My Apprenticeship has equipped me with the skills and confidence to work independently in the electrical industry however the highlight for me is People. The apprenticeship has given me the chance to meet and work with so many incredible people from a completely different walk of life to those I had previously encountered. From the amazingly talented SWT team and my fellow learners through to the multi trade construction workers that all are now a major part of my professional and social network.
What new skills have you gained through the apprenticeship?
A combination of SWT College study and on-site mentoring from my employer has provided me with a significant amount of technical and practical knowledge ranging from Electrical Science and Design thorough to the manual hand skills needed to create, maintain and amend electrical installations. You discover very quickly that Electrical work is not a prescriptive or necessarily repetitive process. Every situation you encounter is different and the problem solving and logical thinking skills I developed during the apprenticeship have been vital to me overcoming obstacles in the workplace.
What advice can you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
Be organised, be humble and respectful to everybody you encounter, be present and do the all the work requested of you. After all it is your career and SWT and your employer only want to maximise your potential and achieve the best outcome for you. If you are looking for an alternative to other full time study forms or a regular job then an apprenticeship is a really attractive alternative as you can combine work and study (whilst earning some money) and achieve a qualification that will provide you with a career/job for life.
Can you share a memorable moment or challenge you overcame during your apprenticeship?
Typically, it is rare for an apprentice to excel in all areas given they require disparate skills. I recognised that I was stronger in the Electrical Science and Design areas but less capable in installation techniques and fault finding. As I prepared for my biggest challenge, the AM2S End Point Assessment, I tried to be honest with myself and focussed greater attention on the areas where I was least strong. I believe this was the key to meeting the standards of the AM2S.
If you are interested in an apprenticeship, take a look at the apprenticeship programmes we run or contact our apprenticeship team
Call 01444 870 860 / 02392 190 190 or email them on apprenticeships@stevewillis.com
*SWT – Steve Willis Training Centres
