Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are in the news just now with a campaign under way to pressure the UK government into giving more financial support to businesses to employ and support apprentices. 
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Apprentices play a big part at Stirling Electrical Services, no doubt aided by the awards to myself and one of our current tradesmen being awarded regional apprentice of the years in the past, as we currently employ one and and will be starting the process soon for this Autumns apprentice intake.

The Scottish run apprentice scheme by SECTT is a very well run and slick organisation with every apprenticeship lasting around four years.

Yes that is four years to train to be an electrician and only then your experience and learning is just beginning. Four years!! yet there are organisations out there putting people through courses and then throwing them out into peoples homes and businesses after only a few weeks basic course, and thats not to mention the other tradespeople going around with a voltage stick, multi-meter and pliers getting stuck into all kinds of electrical work while also trying to carry out joinery, plumbing, tiling and painting work - yes we all know guys like that.

So it was interesting to read last weekend that our apprentices final exam - The FICA - Final Integrated Competence Assessment is changing from September this year. The exam will still take place over 2 days with the practical side of the exam largely unchanged but the exam booths will be upgraded and the theory side of the exam moving more onto a more computerised system.

This move is another example of the good way the apprenticeship scheme is run by SECTT and it also highlights the training and dedication required to become a qualified professional electrician - the most respected and trustworthy trade. 

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