Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2017 | Page 31

APPRENTICESHIPS
ceremony, organised in Kensington by the
ECA following the interview process, was
made a real day to remember for myself, my
employer and my family. Not surprisingly,
winning the national ECA Edmundson Award
has been my greatest achievement to date.
Being recognised and awarded for the
success through my apprenticeship is the
highest accolade any electrical apprentice
can hope to achieve. It has surpassed the
expectations I had of my apprenticeship
and has given me great confidence in
progressing further through my career.
The prizes I was awarded for winning not
only included a state-of-the-art tool kit and
£1,500 prize money but also the opportunity
to represent the ECA when going on a study
trip with Schneider Electrical to Grenoble in
France. That’s an experience I am very much
looking forward to!
Can you tell us a bit about
what you’re up to now?
I am currently studying an HNC in electrical
and electronic engineering. I aim to build
on my current knowledge and build a more
in-depth understanding of principles and
design elements. I look forward to using
this to support me when undertaking
further responsibilities, working on site
and considering design aspects of a build.
The high school I attended – Ripley St
Thomas in Lancaster – announced at both
its awards and careers evenings that as
a past pupil I had gone on to become the
ECA Edmundson National Apprentice of the
Year, which has gone a long way towards
inspiring other young people there to
consider an apprenticeship opportunity in
the future.
I am currently working on a £6.5m
contract to deliver a new three-storey
teaching block, comprising lecture theatres
and teaching rooms on the existing
University of Cumbria, Lancaster campus,
where I am supporting project management
and overseeing areas of the build.
And in the future?
As an ambassador, I am proud that I can
be an inspiration to future apprentices and
trainees joining the electrical industry.
I aim to cover apprenticeship events
across the UK by promoting the positive
impacts and rewards it has brought
myself. I have learned the importance
of an apprenticeship, as it has given
me an opportunity to gain a nationally
recognised qualification, whilst allowing
me to ‘earn whilst I learned’, supported
me in becoming an essential part of a
team, building great relationships along
the way, giving me a platform to progress
from within an industry, along with many
other things.
JTL has given me incredible support
and excellent tuition throughout my
apprenticeship, making my vocational study
interesting and enjoyable, and helping me
to learn great skills that will be valuable to
me throughout my career.
‘As an
ambassador,
I am proud
that I can
be an
inspiration
to future
apprentices
and trainees
joining the
electrical
industry.’
I have an interest in renewable energy,
in particular the world’s first tidal lagoon
project backed by the ECA and Unite the
Union. I’m hoping to see the first tidal lagoon
in Swansea Bay, which will harness the
power of the tides by using hydro turbines.
The project is planning on providing energy
as early as 2022. Work is planned to begin
within the next year. And this first such
project will be followed by as many as
five other lagoons around the UK that will
eventually see between 8-10 per cent of
the UK’s energy needs being generated.
These schemes offer the potential creation
of over 22,000 manufacturing jobs, at the
peak of construction, 71,000 construction
jobs and offers a potential export market
valued at £70bn in tidal lagoon technology
and engineering to the UK. It’s a fantastic
opportunity for us all.
FEATURE
Harry with JTL
chief executive
Jon Graham.