Industry News

Blackpool firm welcomes new apprentices

BFW Management Ltd (Atlas) has announced two new additions to the firm after appointing Tom Amos as apprentice electrician and Charlie Allen as the new apprentice in mechanical engineering. The move follows the Blackpool-based business launching two new apprenticeship opportunities in partnership with Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC). Aged 17, Tom is fresh from leaving school earlier in the Summer. Tom has always had a passion to pursue a trade and…

No shocks in sparks’ salary survey

Electricians continue to lead the trades in pay, and they’re powering furthering ahead, new figures reveal. A spark’s average salary is £32,315, rising 5% on that posted for last year (£30,784), the 2019 Trades Salary Survey posted by TradeSkills4U shows. That’s the biggest rise among trades, although most have enjoyed significant pay hikes, the training body notes. Plumbers trail second (£31,055) and carpenters third (£27,236) then bricklayers, tillers plasterers, roofers…

Exmouth apprentice receives help from RGB

An apprentice electrician has won £250 to spend at the Exmouth branch of RGB Building Supplies to help him to build a kit of essential tools and accessories. In celebration of RGB Building Supplies’ employee and former apprentice Sarah Daniel winning the national BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) Young Achiever Award for 2018, the business launched a competition to support the next generation of tradesmen and women. Sarah had joined RGB…

Electric car revolution set to create over 1 million new jobs

Over one million new jobs are set to be created in the European electric car market by 2050, according to a new report from the European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE). The AIE study found that full electrification of the passenger car market across the current 28 members of the EU would generate 1.2 million jobs. These would largely be associated with the manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance of charging…

Women in Construction event opens up possibilities to the next generation

Local school pupils were given an insight into the roles women play in the construction industry at Kirklees College’s Women in Construction event on Thursday 29th November. The event showcased what options were open to women in this often male dominated environment and hoped to change the views of pupils who may want to pursue a career in this industry. Statistics show that by 2020 a quarter of the workforce…

Go Electrical partners with Blackpool & Fylde Colleges

Go Electrical Wholesale is working with Blackpool & The Fylde College to help students gain work experience. The new partnership will see electrical installation students from Blackpool and the Fylde College get first-hand experience within Go Electrical Wholesale branches to help them further develop their studies. Go Electrical Wholesale said they became aware of the challenges that Blackpool & The Fylde College were having trying to secure work placements for their…

Apprenticeships the answer to falling uni numbers

Many commentators have blamed high tuition fees for a growing number of young people applying for university, raising fears of a lack of social mobility. But Develop Training (DTL) points out that school leavers give other reasons too, including that they don’t enjoy studying or don’t think they have the necessary academic skills for university. The training company says that apprenticeships have the capability, not just to provide an alternative…