Electricians at Clarkson Evans are reaping the rewards of choosing a well-paid professional career after research proved they had better than average prospects of owning their own home.
According to the 2017 English Housing Survey the average age of a first-time buyer was 30 years, compared to recent survey findings at Clarkson Evans which revealed that a large proportion of the company’s electricians own their first home by the age of 25.
Thirty-seven per cent of 25 – 34 year-olds in England own their own home according to the national survey, compared to 68% of 25 – 34 year old electricians at Clarkson Evans.
Many former electrical apprentices at the company manage to buy their first homes within months of qualifying as electricians.
Team Leader and former apprentice Luke Brockman said: “I celebrated qualifying by saving a bit more money and then I proposed to my girlfriend and bought my first house so it’s going pretty well.”
Another former apprentice James Lennox, aged 25, has also just bought his first house with his girlfriend Ashley (pictured below).
“It feels pretty good to be fair to be owning my first house at such a young age. We’ve been saving for a couple of years while we lived at home as we didn’t want to waste money renting,” said James, who lives in Churchdown.
Site Supervisor Alex Pollard was 27 years old when he bought his first home. He said: “I’m very pleased because it’s difficult for people of my age and there aren’t many of them that can afford to get their own home.”
Long-term financial security is often cited as the primary reason why people change careers and decide to join Clarkson Evans as an electrical apprentice.
Time-served Site Supervisor James Clift, who recently received a long-service reward after working for 15 years at the company, admits that he became an electrical apprentice at Clarkson Evans when he couldn’t get a mortgage in his previous job.
“At this time of year there is a lot of pressure on students completing A-levels to rush headlong towards university because there’s a perception, often among parents, that this is the only way their children can secure a well-paid job,” said Nathan Evans, Managing Director at Clarkson Evans, himself a former apprentice.
“Our research helps to dispel this myth and illustrates that professional tradespeople can get on the housing ladder much quicker than many graduates,” he added.
Clarkson Evans will be exhibiting at the National Apprenticeship Show at Cheltenham Racecourse on 3 – 4 October.
In total, Clarkson Evans employs more than 850 staff across much of southern England, the Midlands and south Wales.
Apprenticeship opportunities at the company are advertised throughout the year with rolling start dates to coincide with future work predictions, for more information click here.