Joel Dalhouse is part of the teaching department at JTL. Working as tutor manager, Joel is not only involved in the teaching of apprenticeship courses, but his role also includes management of the electrical tutor team and those teaching the fire and security apprenticeship course. We spoke to Joel to find out more about his career and his role at JTL.
Can you tell us about your career so far?
My father is an electrician and owned a business, so when I was younger it was usual for me to help out on jobs on weekends and during school holidays. It was therefore a simple choice for me to join the family business. As a result, I went on to do an apprenticeship and become a qualified electrician in 2000.
Eight years later, I was given an opportunity by City of Wolverhampton College to start teaching apprentices on electrical installation and electrical engineering programmes. In 2012 I was appointed as programme leader for the electrical team and later, I was appointed as curriculum manager for the construction department and remained in this role until I joined JTL as tutor manager in January 2019. This role at JTL particularly excites me as it really focuses on the electrotechnical industry, as well as providing the best possible training for apprentices and companies.
What are the best bits of teaching apprenticeships and what do you like the most?
There is no job more satisfying than teaching; helping an apprentice to develop their skills, instilling pride in the quality of work they produce and really pushing them to reach their full potential. My intention when teaching is to develop electricians and fire and security engineers who will not just be good enough for the industry but also as future leaders in the sector too.
What are some of the challenges within your role?
The biggest challenge is ensuring every apprentice is supported to enable them to reach their full potential. Work is only one aspect of an apprentice’s life and it is hugely important that we can support an apprentice through any personal challenges they may face too.
Another challenge is ensuring that we continue to deliver what employers need. Technology continues to make impressive strides forward and it is essential that we not only keep up but are ahead of the curve, so it’s important that apprentices have the skills to adapt to these changes.
The on-going Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone. However, JTL quickly set out a remote learning plan to maximise teaching and learning at the start of the pandemic, which resulted in over 3,000 learners logging on in the first two months to access 5,000 new learning resources. JTL also introduced structured pathways against units and modules, as tutor notes, weekly delivery staff webinars and tutorials.
Where do you get support?
JTL has a fantastic support structure in place to ensure we can deliver a high-quality provision. There are highly skilled tutors nationwide who work together to ensure apprentices get the best possible education. Additionally, industry leaders such as Legrand regularly deliver masterclasses to our apprentices about latest legislation and technologies, which is a greatly appreciated resource.
