Electrical Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3

As a JTL apprentice you’ll be in full time employment with a local company receiving a good wage from day one. You’ll spend time learning your trade by gaining hands-on-experience working on-site with your employer, as well as attending a JTL approved college or training centre to learn the theoretical knowledge you will need. The electrical contracting industry is part of the construction industry and therefore electrician’s are generally responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical services, both inside and outside buildings and structures such as houses, hospitals, schools, factories and shops etc.

However, in recent years we have seen the introduction of new and more sophisticated equipment and systems into our domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. Known often as Building Services Engineering (BSE), this can include the provision of all the electricity, gas, water and ventilation services within a building and it can be seen to broaden the skills and responsibilities required of an electrician.

Irrespective of the phrase used, the electrician’s job will vary and depend upon the type and range of work that the employing company carries out. However, all electricians will have a broad range of similar technical knowledge and practical skills to enable them to carry out their work safely and correctly.

Some of the things that an electrician apprentice will be expected to do are:

Install, maintain and repair electrical services (eg. lighting, sockets, fire alarms, emergency lighting & heating controls)
Work indoors and outdoors and be prepared to sometimes work at height
Be encouraged to work on their own initiative
Be prepared to travel away from home
Develop good working relationships with people
Read both building and engineering drawings
Understand wiring and circuit diagrams
Select (within limits) materials and equipment
Inspect and test electrical installations
Diagnose and rectify faults on a range of circuits and equipment
Write reports

As you can see, the job of the electrician is varied and interesting and can offer a challenging career. Consequently, the JTL training programme that you will be following as a electrician apprentice has been designed to help you by meeting and delivering training to these standards and expectations.

Electrical Installation Apprenticeships with JTL

There are many benefits attached to becoming an apprentice. When you are taken on as an apprentice, you can gain valuable first-hand experience of the industry you are interested in spending your career in, take a close look at how the industry works, learn on the job and earn whilst doing so.

An in-depth insight into the industry

During your time on the job, you will find out more about the skills employers are looking for and why they are seeking them out, earn real qualifications, enjoy valuable progression opportunities and boost your earning potential in the future. If you complete your training successfully, you can expect to enjoy a considerable salary increase. Another key benefit of apprenticeships is that you are often granted the opportunity to learn at a pace that suits you, and can gain the support of a mentor, assessor or JTL Training Officer throughout who will act as a primary point of contact.

Growing confidence and skills

As your apprenticeship progresses, you can become more independent, with your confidence growing all the time. You will also gain the opportunity to make connections with new people with similar interests and passions as yourself. Some of the most popular apprenticeships in the UK include engineering and manufacturing, health, public services, accounting and banking as well as electrical apprenticeships. In an electrical apprenticeship, you will get the chance to explore the world of the electrical industry in depth.

What happens during an electrical apprenticeship?

An electrical apprenticeship could be for you if you are fascinated about finding out more about how things work. During the apprenticeship, you will prepare yourself for a career in installing and maintaining electrical services. This can mean working with all sorts of things that are powered by electricity such as fire alarms, sockets and lights as well as various other devices, machines and electronic appliances. When you’re in an electrical apprenticeship, you work alongside experienced experts and specialists who can pass their knowledge onto you and help you build on your existing knowledge constantly.

Preparing for an apprenticeship

Some of the skills and attributes that you will require if your apprenticeship is to be successful include teamwork, problem-solving, using your own initiative, communication, creativity and reliability. You may require English and Maths GCSEs at 4 or Low 5 (C) or above, but you may be able to obtain them during your apprenticeship if you don’t already have them. As you will be dealing with the public during and after your apprenticeship, you will need outstanding customer service skills and a polite, friendly manner. You may not need a driving licence during your apprenticeship, but you may require this in the future due to the amount of travel involved in working as an electrician.