Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship appealed to me because it provided the perfect opportunity to continue learning while also giving me the opportunity to gain practical experience and earn a salary.

What made you choose Elkins for your apprenticeship?

I wanted to work as an apprentice at Elkins as I’d heard the company has a great culture and offers a supportive working environment. I firmly believe that working in a positive and collaborative atmosphere has helped me perform to the best of my abilities and contribute meaningfully to the work of the team.

Tell us more about your apprenticeship

I’ve been doing my apprenticeship in plumbing and gas engineering for coming up to four years now. I work with Elkins’ multi-trade department across various projects, undertaking all kinds of jobs. Day-to-day this can be anything from simple plumbing tasks to fitting and repairing cookers, boilers and much more.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Elkins?

Elkins is a family-run business and that is really evident when you work there. I like the sense of camaraderie that there is between everyone in the team. There is always someone on hand who is willing to help you and teach you something new, which makes it a great place to learn, and an ideal environment for an apprentice. I’ve learnt so much from the experience of those that I work alongside.

What do you get up to outside of work?

When I’m not working, I like to keep fit. I’m sporty and play a lot of football in my spare time. Plus, I’m currently training for a marathon.

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Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?

I didn’t really like classroom learning in school and felt I learnt more through hands-on practical experience. Through my apprenticeship, I met lots of new people at college and in the work environment, some of whom became my good friends. Choosing an apprenticeship was, by far, the best decision I ever made.

What made you choose Elkins for your apprenticeship?

I liked the fact that at Elkins you feel like part of a big family. Everyone is really welcoming and ready and willing to help you, if you need it. Over the years that I’ve worked here, the bond I’ve developed with my peers has continued to grow stronger and the supportive work environment has helped me to develop and progress in my career.

What subject was your apprenticeship in?

I joined Elkins as an electrical apprentice. My time was split between college, where I learnt the theoretical side of being an electrician, and working on-site, putting into practice what I was learning in the classroom.

How long was your apprenticeship? What did you do once it finished?

My apprenticeship lasted roughly five years; it was delayed by Covid, which put things back a little. Once it was complete, I became a full-time Electrician at Elkins, working in the maintenance department.

In the seven years I’ve worked at Elkins, I’ve continued to undertake training to develop my skills further. I’m interested in health and safety work, so I asked to take a Portable Appliance Testing course. I’m now the company’s dedicated PAT tester, which means I have responsibility for ensuring the safety of all our equipment. I have also been put forward to take a Testing and Inspection course, which will allow me to sign off work through our governing electrical body, NICEIC.

How did your apprenticeship prepare you for your current role?

Being given responsibility over my own work as an electrical apprentice, allowed me to develop technical and practical skills, as well as leadership skills, which have helped me make decisions about how best to progress with specific tasks. It also taught me team-building skills, which have motivated me to strive for success as part of team.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Elkins?

The best thing about working at Elkins has been the amazing people I’ve met, who have helped me in many different ways.

What do you get up to outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my partner and exploring the world by going on cruises, I also enjoy playing golf and socialising with friends, whether that’s going to the pub or to play football. My favourite hobby is carp fishing.

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Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I had just left sixth form and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in terms of my career. The idea of an apprenticeship appealed to me as I could get straight into work and gain experience, whilst still studying.

How did you find out about Elkins?

I first heard about Elkins through a friend of my mum’s. She was working at the company at the time and advised that they had apprenticeship positions available, so I decided to apply.

Tell us about your apprenticeship.

My apprenticeship lasted two-to-three years. I studied customer service and business studies, whilst shadowing the company’s Resident Liaison Officers across various project sites. Once I’d completed my apprenticeship, I was made an RLO at Elkins and given my own sites to run.

What were the benefits of doing an apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship was great preparation for my role as an RLO. I was able to learn the job in real-time, whilst also gaining practical experience. Having support from more experienced colleagues also really helped to build my confidence while I was still learning.

How has your career progressed since and what are your future plans?

I first started with Elkins as an apprentice nearly 10 years ago and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot during my time working for the business. As well as my apprenticeship, I’ve gained my CSCS card and completed courses in first aid, asbestos, and various other subjects. Most recently, I gained a Site Management Safety Training Scheme qualification, and I’m hoping to progress into site management, when the opportunity arises.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Elkins?

I love working as part of the Elkins team. I also enjoy the fact that my role isn’t solely office-based, so I have the opportunity to go out on site, visit residents, and see the progression of our projects, from beginning to end.

What do you get up to outside of work?

When I’m not at work, I mostly enjoy spending time with my family.

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What made you choose an apprenticeship at Elkins? 

Prior to joining Elkins, I was working as a labourer on construction sites. However, I needed a new role, as the work wasn’t consistent enough for me. I’m 22 and have a young family, so it’s important for me to have a secure full-time position. I chose the apprenticeship at Elkins, as it offers me the opportunity to study towards a qualification, alongside working a full-time job. 

What subject is your apprenticeship in and what does it involve? 

I’m doing a multi-trade apprenticeship, studying towards a Property Maintenance Operative Level 2 qualification. My role involves working across all of Elkins’ repairs and maintenance projects, which has given me a great overview of the construction industry. My day-to-day work can include tiling, plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying, fencing and kitchen and bathroom refurbishments.  

What’s your favourite thing about your apprenticeship? 

My favourite thing about being an apprentice is getting to learn practically, whilst on the job. During my apprenticeship, I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside experienced tradesmen in many different areas of the business. They have taught me a lot, and the skills I’ve learnt have been invaluable to my studies. 

What are you hoping to do once your apprenticeship finishes? 

I’m really enjoying working at Elkins and I’m hoping once my apprenticeship is complete, I can continue working at the company as a multi-trade operative. 

What do you get up to outside of work? 

My life is quite busy outside of work, spending time with my partner and two sons. I also enjoy keeping fit and going to the gym whenever I can. 

During his time with Elkins so far, Dylan has been working mainly with three of our operatives, Matthew, Edmond, and Kyle, on new kitchen installations, larger two-person repair jobs and void works. He has received great feedback from the team: “Dylan has shown a very positive attitude with a desire to learn. With the experience he’s gained, he has been able to carry out basic carpentry and plumbing repairs, as well as decorating works, including filling and preparation.”

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Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?

I wanted to do an apprenticeship as I’m very hands-on and, in my personal opinion, it’s the best way to learn the job. Of course, you also get paid while you learn, so it’s a bonus.

How did you find out about Elkins?
I found Elkins through a charity called Youth Build, it’s a charity that helps young people like myself find employment and apprenticeships.

What subject was your apprenticeship in and what did it involve?

I did a Multi-Trade Apprenticeship, which was based around property maintenance repairs. This included tiling, plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying, fencing, bathroom and kitchen refurbs, and much more. It gave me a great overview of many different aspects of the construction industry.

How long was your apprenticeship? What happened once it had finished?

My apprenticeship lasted for around two years, and following this, I was offered full time employment at Elkins as a Multi-Trader Operative. Elkins provided me with a work phone/tablet for jobs. I’m sent out to jobs independently, or sometimes with another person if it is more complex, which helps me gain experience and build my confidence.

How did your apprenticeship prepare you for your current role?
My current role as a Multi-Trader is to fix or renew any bad or broken parts within domestic properties. My apprenticeship gave me plenty of experience carrying out this kind of work, as it was based around domestic repairs and disrepair works.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Elkins?

My favourite thing about Elkins is they are a very happy and helpful company, who go above and beyond to help and support you. There is always to someone to talk to, whether it is a work or personal matter. The culture is very positive, and they always try to encourage and uplift you. It is rewarding to be recognised when you have done good work – for example, if a customer rings in to say you have done a good job, the business will highlight this.

What do you get up to outside of work?

Outside of work I practice Mauy Thai, which is a hand-to-hand combat sport, and I also take part in competitions. Most of all though, I love eating cereal and watching films!

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In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we sat down with our electrical apprentice, Trevor Franks, to find out more about how he came to work with us, what he has gained from his apprenticeship so far and his hopes for his future career.

Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?

I wanted to do an apprenticeship because it allowed me to work full time and gain valuable practical experience whilst carrying out my studies.

How did you find out about Elkins?

I heard about Elkins through word of mouth and recommendation. The business has a great reputation for offering training opportunities, and helping its staff progress with their careers, so I knew this was the right choice for my apprenticeship.

What subject is your apprenticeship in and what does it involve?

My apprenticeship is in electrical installation. My day-to-day duties involve upgrading electrical wiring systems in various domestic and commercial properties.

What do you like about working at Elkins?

My favourite thing about working at Elkins is the strong links the company forms with the communities it undertakes work in. You can really see the effort everyone puts in and the commitment they have to improving the local areas for the residents.

What are you hoping to do once your apprenticeship finishes?

My apprenticeship has given me a good foundation and knowledge of electrical installation, so I’m hoping I will be able to find employment as an electrician in the construction industry.

What do you get up to outside of work?

I’m quite active and enjoy climbing and trekking mountains. I also enjoy cold water swimming around the country, in waterfalls and the sea – I’ll do it no matter the weather!

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Since our partnership was established, we have had a number of success stories. In February 2020, we hosted our first three Building Pathways candidates, two of whom were offered full-time apprenticeships after impressing us during their trial periods. One candidate, Kyle Harris, recently completed his apprenticeship and is now a permanent Elkins employee, working as one of our Multi Traders. The other, Christopher Fearon, completed an initial two weeks of work experience in our Electrics department and is due to finish his apprenticeship very soon.

Not long after Kyle and Chris completed their initial placements, the coronavirus pandemic hit, which unfortunately put a hold on us welcoming any new candidates. Over the next few years, we continued to work with Building Pathways in different ways, delivering several workshops, shining a light on the variety of construction careers, and giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to potential new candidates in preparation for the time when restrictions eased.

We’re pleased to now be able to safely offer our work experience and apprenticeship opportunities again and recently welcomed Nicholas O’Kere for a two-week Multi Trade placement. Nicholas joined our Repairs and Maintenance team, carrying out a variety of different jobs so he could gain a well-rounded perspective of what the trade entails. In something of a full circle moment, he has been mentored by Kyle, who came to us through the same scheme three years ago. We also have another new starter from the scheme, Jamal Ali, who will be completing his Level 3 Electrical Apprenticeship with us.

Managing Director of Building Pathways, Philip Mills, said about the partnership: “We want to see resilient communities where young people, regardless of their backgrounds, can flourish through meaningful work. Through its support, work experience, mentoring and apprenticeships, Elkins has helped our candidates learn new skills and gain experience, setting a solid foundation for them to progress to full-time sustainable employment in the construction industry.”

We’re looking forward to seeing Nicholas and Jamal’s progress and supporting them in their future careers, as well as welcoming more candidates through the scheme later in the year.

Watch our Pre-Construction Manager, Julien Dixon’s, online talk for Building Pathways about the construction industry and the career opportunities available within it:

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We sat down with Ayesha Wright to discuss her career at Elkins, from starting out as a Resident Liaison Officer working on site, to her current role as our Social Value Manager.

How did you come to work at Elkins?

Back in 2012, I was a resident of Southwark and attended one of Southwark Council’s careers fairs. There were a number of contractors in attendance on the day, including Elkins, and I had the opportunity to meet and chat with some of them about the career opportunities available.

Elkins was looking for an apprentice Resident Liaison Officer at the time, as part of their commitment to Southwark Council to employ local people in the borough. When I was told about the ethos of the business and its traditional family values, I knew that it was a place I’d like to work. Clearly my instinct was right, as I’m still here 10 years later! While the company has grown significantly in that time, it has remained true to the values that first drew me to work here.

What have you learnt during your time at Elkins?

I came to Elkins with no construction experience, in fact I had never even heard of a Resident Liaison Officer before! During my year as an apprentice RLO I learnt a lot about how the job works and also completed an NVQ level 3 in Customer Service.

I ended up working on site for four years, delivering a huge variety of different projects for Southwark and gaining a lot of technical knowledge. As an RLO, I was responsible for delivering community initiatives and, as a previous apprentice, I was often asked to accompany the Partnering and Apprenticeship Manager at school careers fairs and other events during this time. This is what first sparked my interest in delivering Social Value and made me keen to become more involved in this part of Elkins’ work.

In 2016, I was asked to join the estimating department at Elkins’ head office. I had no experience of procurement but was excited to learn about a different area of the business and keen to develop new skills. I soon discovered that much of what I’d learnt as an RLO was transferable to my new role, and I quickly progressed to become Bid-Coordinator, using the organisational skills I’d developed, which had been so essential in delivering projects successfully on site.

When did you start to get more involved in Elkins’ social value work?

In December 2018, the Partnering and Apprenticeship Manager left the business and, as I had accompanied her on many occasions, assisted in delivering community initiatives and had a good understanding of client KPI requirements, I was offered the opportunity to take on the position.

For some time, I carried out this role alongside my Bid-Coordinator role and this ended up evolving into a new position combining the two – Continuous Improvement Coordinator. As the company has grown and our capacity to take on more projects adding social value to our clients and local communities has increased, my role has expanded and evolved into my current position as Social Value Manager.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

My current role as Social Value Manager is the one I’ve enjoyed the most, not only at Elkins, but since I started my career at 16. I am genuinely committed to delivering meaningful social value, as I’ve seen and experienced first-hand the difference it can make. Being able to play a key part in opening up opportunities to local people that they may not have had otherwise (in the same way it did for me), and changing communities for the better, by improving local spaces and bringing residents together, is incredibly rewarding.

*The House of Commons Library’s ‘Women and the Economy’ paper

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What made you choose to do an apprenticeship?

I left school at 16; I didn’t really enjoy the academic environment so decided not to continue with further education. I always knew I wanted a job that was hands-on and didn’t involve sitting at a desk all day. My dad also has a background in construction, so you might say it runs in the family!

How did you find out about Elkins?

I actually applied for a job at Elkins straight out of school, but I was told I was too young for the position at the time. I decided to get some further qualifications under my belt, so I started studying Electrical Installation Level 2 at Lambeth College. In the summer break I took on labouring jobs to earn some extra money and gain work experience in the industry.

Then I came across Southwark Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme and decided to go along to one of the open days at their offices in Tooley Street. When I was there, I met the Elkins team, and it wasn’t long after that I started my apprenticeship.

What did your apprenticeship involve?

My Electrical Installation NVQ lasted for three years. I worked in the maintenance department and also did some work for one of Elkins’ sub-contractors to gain further electrical experience. Following the completion of my NVQ, I was pleased to be offered a full-time role.

Tell us about your current role

I’ve been an Electrical QS for around three years. I mostly work in the reactive maintenance side of the business – carrying out routine electrical testing alongside any repairs and follow up work required. I’m responsible for ensuring the safety, technical standard and quality of all electrical work carried out under my supervision. I have an apprentice working with me at the moment, who is training to become a qualified electrician, so it feels like I’ve come full circle!

What’s the best thing about your job?

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is training and supporting apprentices. It’s fantastic to see them learn and develop. Having been in their shoes it’s great to be able to pass on what I’ve learnt.

What do you get up to outside of work?

I’m quite an active person and enjoy being outside in the fresh air. I like socialising and playing golf with my mates and I’m also one of the coaches for Parkfield Panthers Wildcats, a local girls football team.

Find out more about our apprenticeships.

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