Leading Birmingham-based building services provider J S Wright has welcomed a House of Commons report suggesting that quality and not just quantity should be the focus for apprenticeships.
The Report by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee investigated the impact of the National Apprenticeship Service, current funding arrangements, and the quality of apprenticeships.
As an award-winning nationwide mechanical services supplier to the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors, J S Wright is highly committed to its apprenticeship programme.
Founded in 1890, the company has always relied on high-quality building services apprentices and over the past five years the number on its books has risen from 7 to 13 out of a current 100-strong workforce.
Divided equally between its Birmingham base and new offices in London, the trainees are given all the skills, training and confidence they need to meet the company’s exacting design, installation and maintenance standards.
The emphasis on personal development is such that apprentices routinely rise to director level and win major awards. Scott Ramm was recently named BEST Apprentice Plumber for London and the South East for 2012.
To boost the career paths of its apprentices, JS Wright launched The JSW Academy in 2007. One of its most successful initiatives has been an annual two-day outing to a factory for product training and problem solving followed by team building exercises at an adventure centre. This year’s outing, sponsored by two sub-contractors, was to Geberit UK and the Adventure Sports Centre in Warwick.
Paul Millington, JSW Academy Leader, said: “Our Academy encourages individual and collective responsibility and enables us to uncover the talent we need to drive our business forward. It also enables members in London and Birmingham to mix for when their paths cross again on major projects.”
Marcus Aniol, Managing Director of J S Wright, commented: “Quality apprentices are the bedrock of our business. Our young people are chosen for their enthusiasm and ambition and are encouraged to take an active and responsible role from early on in their training.
“In return they receive all the encouragement and support they need from specialist training providers and within the company to develop their careers. Almost all our apprentices go on to be real stars as plumbers, fitters, site foremen, contracts engineers or design engineers.”