A CONSISTENT high quality apprentice programme with leading training provider JTL has allowed Bromsgrove-based electrical contractor Barrie Beard to build a regional and growing national reputation for excellence.
Established in 1978, Barrie Beard is one of the few local employers in the Bromsgrove area to take on school leavers into full advanced apprenticeships to meet the skills needed to work on projects as diverse as the Olympics, universities, hospitals, the car industry and sports centres. Barrie Beard director Beard said: Warren “Without a strong apprenticeship policy we would not be able to build up our high skills base that has boosted the company’s rep- utation for quality throughout the country.
“We have kept on more than 100 apprentices in the last 20 years who have applied and diversified their skills that have enabled us to expand our business. Many of our long serving senior staff started as apprentices.”
Seven apprentices successfully passed in July and have all found roles in the company, which is establishing an outstanding reputation outside of the West Midlands working on some unique projects.
This includes the electrical design and installation for the stunning rebuilding of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier and providing all the electrical needs for the Olympic shooting events in Woolwich. This innovative installation will see much of the equipment re-used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The company has come along way since Barrie Beard and his wife Jackie branched out on their own in 1978 and were later joined by three sons Warren, Russell and Lyndon as the company grew over the years.
In the Midlands, projects have included the generator upgrade at Aston Villa’s ground and the design and installation of the electrical Peugeot’s new state of the headquarters in art Coventry as well as Worcester University’s National Pollen and Aerobiology Unit.
Barrie Beard’s successful expansion has now seen the company move into new purpose-built premises which is keeping appren- tices busy on the internal wiring in Worcester Road, Upton Warren.
Bromsgrove-based Ben Perry is the latest JTL electrical apprentice in his first year while fellow local Bobby Scott Walker is now in his third year.
Anthony Pask is their JTL electrical training officer who assesses on-site work and oversees all apprentices’ day release at Worcester Technical College to acquire a level three vocational qualification, which is the equivalent of two A-levels.
“JTL has two decades’ experience providing West Midland employers with high quality apprentices who are tomorrow’s high skilled operatives with a superb reputation for get- ting the job done. That’s why firms with a consistent apprentice recruitment pol- icy will keep winning repeat business, again and again,” Anthony said.
Barrie Beard is among a growing number of electrical and plumbing contractors throughout the West Midlands which interview and recruit from JTL’s approved applicant list of potential apprentices who have sat and passed a rigorous assessment exam.
“It can be a big step to take on an apprentice if you are a start-up or working on your own for a number of years, but JTL makes the process very easy by taking care of everything includ- ing college day release, site assessment and all relevant paperwork,” Anthony added.
With more than 8,000 apprentices deployed with- in 3,500 companies through- out England and Wales JTL, the leading work based learning provider to the building services engineering sector, has two decades’ experience providing high quality electricians and plumbers throughout England and Wales.
JTL receives government funding to cover all college and on-site assessment Above and left: The Barry Beard team includes keen apprentices. costs, mentoring and examination fees for 16 to 24- year-olds beginning advanced apprenticeships in electrical, plumbing, engineering maintenance and heating and ventilating trades.
Around 70 per cent of young people who start an advanced apprenticeship each year with JTL will accomplish it, compared to 50 per cent national average for work-based learning providers. For more informationon Barrie Beards, call 01527 875172. For more on JTL, visit jtltraining.com or call 08000 825308.