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Win a trip to Australia with the JIB Apprentice Exchange Programme

The JIB is offering one lucky apprentice the chance to spend six weeks living and working as an electrician in Brisbane, Australia. The JIB Skills Development Fund will cover the cost of flights, accommodation, wages and associated costs for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, where the winner will spend time with several contractors in the city. The apprentice will also visit the contractors’ association, union and leading training providers to get a better…

IET comments on reports of UK tech talent shortage

Dr Graham Herries, co-chair of Innovation and Skills at the IET, said: “It is a huge concern to see a talent shortage within our technology sector and employers need to recognise that they play a significant role in addressing the skills gaps that they face – by recruiting more apprentices and re-training existing staff, as well as utilising the apprenticeship levy to address demand. The importance of engaging with local…

WorldSkills contender meets WorldSkills winner!

NET hosted a very special lunch recently to bring together WorldSkills 2022 Team UK electrician Alex Rendall with past international winner Richard Sagar MBE, who won the electrical installation gold medal at WorldSkills 2009. The WorldSkills 2022 competition originally planned for Shanghai later this year has moved location due to the ongoing coronavirus situation in China, so NET thought it’d bring Alex a taste of Shanghai at the Hutong restaurant…

Once an electrician not always an electrician

Jake Green, technical engagement manager with Click Scolmore, one of the UK’s leading names in wiring accessories, talks about the different paths his career has taken since he first completed his apprenticeship back in 2012. Like many in the industry, a career as an electrician was my main focus during the three years that I undertook my apprenticeship at Bedford College under the NICEIC training programme. I started my apprenticeship…

SkillELECTRIC 2022 UK Finalists Announced

Congratulations to the Top 8 highest scoring competitors from the combined SkillELECTRIC 2022 national qualifying heats: Top row L-R: Andrew Horne, SECTTBrandon Campbell, College of West AngliaCraig Fairweather, Moray CollegeLiam Hilton, JTL Training Bottom row L-R Lyam Thorpe, College of West AngliaRobbie Neave, John NobleRobert Rae, Lotus Electrical ServicesTommy Adlam, Bridgwater & Taunton College All will now compete in the UK Grand Final taking place in November at Middlesbrough College…

Making the apprenticeship system simpler for employers, training providers and apprentices

A number of improvements and simplifications to apprenticeships will come into force from August 2022. Over the past 5 years apprenticeships have been transformed into a high-quality skills programme for learners and employers. Employers have created more than 640 standards to meet their skills needs, training is delivered by registered providers which are regularly inspected, and apprentices complete rigorous end-point assessment, so employers know that they are fully competent in…

Skills boost for local communities

The Open University to work with colleges to offer more high-quality higher and technical education. More people will benefit from high-quality higher education in their hometown as The Open University partners with further education providers to create more training to fill skills gaps and raise job prospects across the country. Under the scheme, announced by Higher and Further Education Minister Michelle Donelan on 25 May, The Open University will work with…