JTL opens £1m Thames Valley training centre
Electrical training provider JTL has officially opened its new Thames Valley Training Centre following a £1 million investment aimed at expanding electrical apprenticeship training in the region. The facility was formally opened by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, who visited the centre to meet apprentices, employers, and industry representatives. The centre has been redeveloped […]
Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2026 winner revealed
Apprentice electrician Gracie Donaghy has been named joint winner of the Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2026 after competing against more than 3,000 entrants from across the UK and Ireland. The 22-year-old from Bridgwater, Somerset, shares the title with apprentice stonemason Petra O’Flaherty, marking the first time in the competition’s history that two winners have been selected. […]
JTL Preston to host SkillELECTRIC competition heat
Electrical training provider JTL‘s Preston site is set to host a regional qualifying heat of the SkillELECTRIC competition on Thursday 14 May, bringing together apprentices, employers, and industry representatives for a day of skills challenges, networking, and sector discussion. Taking place from 10am to 3pm at the Preston training centre on Frenchwood Avenue, the event […]
MP visits JTL Eastbourne to meet apprentices and employers
Josh Babarinde MP visited JTL’s training centre in Eastbourne to meet apprentices, employers, and industry partners, as well as to discuss how apprenticeship opportunities can be strengthened across the region. Established over 30 years ago by the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Unite the Union, JTL is a not-for-profit Independent Training Provider delivering Level 3 electrical […]
Five apprentices make it to Screwfix final
Five electrical apprentices from across the UK & Ireland are celebrating after being named as top ten finalists in this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition. Each of the finalists fought off reported strong competition from more than 3,000 applicants from across the UK and Ireland, securing a place in the national final and the chance […]
Local partnership opens new pathways into electrical careers
West Nottinghamshire College and certification body and training provider NAPIT have formed a partnership to support entry into electrical and low-carbon careers across North Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The collaboration aims to create clearer progression routes into qualifications within building services, renewable energy, and low-carbon sectors. It will provide access to work placements, apprenticeships, and structured […]
TESP publishes insights into apprentice charge-out rates
Research exploring employers’ different approaches to charge-out rates for electrical apprentices was recently published by The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), a UK not-for-profit partnership promoting skills development and training standards in the electrotechnical industry. This latest piece of work was carried out to enhance the apprentice Return on Investment (ROI) calculations that TESP conducted in […]
SELECT says rising apprentice costs are crippling employers
At a time when Scotland desperately needs electricians to fulfil housing demand and net zero targets, the head of SELECT, Scotland’s largest construction trade body, has accused the UK and Scottish governments of undermining the electrical workforce of the future. Speaking ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2–6 March 2026), SELECT’s Managing Director Alan Wilson says […]
Employment Minister visits JTL Hull to meet apprentices
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Employment and MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, visited training provider JTL’s training centre in Hull to mark National Apprenticeship Week and meet apprentices and local employers to discuss how the Government can strengthen apprenticeship opportunities across the region. Established over 30 years ago by the Electrical Contractors’ […]
NICEIC launches apprenticeship job board, Connected Futures
NICEIC, a certification body for the UK’s electrical contracting industry, has announced the launch of Connected Futures, a dedicated apprenticeship job board designed to connect certified businesses with aspiring apprentices across the UK. With a pressing need across the sector to close the skills gap, expanding high‑quality apprenticeships and building a skilled workforce capable of […]