Fundamentals board member Geoff Baker explains why choosing an apprenticeship is a great way to start a career in engineering or technology – just as he did at the start of his own journey. A Past President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, his qualifications and memberships include an MSc, CEng, FIMechE, FIET and FRSA. 

How apprentices can get a head start in green energy careers

Thinking about what to do after GCSEs? Want a career with plenty of interesting jobs, opportunities for personal development, security and excellent rewards, in an industry committed to making the world cleaner and greener? Then it’s time to check out apprenticeships in the electricity sector.

Why electricity? Because it’s the key to a worldwide transition from fossil fuels to a sustainable future, making clean energy more affordable for everyone and tackling climate change.

Why an apprenticeship? Because there are thousands of new opportunities to get a head start in careers from engineering to administration, in a booming industry. Skilled apprentices are vital contributors to the country’s economic prosperity – and to the nation’s green agenda.

National Grid, for example, just announced it is creating 60,000 new jobs over the next five years to upgrade the UK’s electricity transmission system. Hundreds of thousands more jobs are being created in everything from wind and solar generation to energy distribution, storage and green hydrogen.

Opportunities for apprenticeships come in all shapes and sizes: straight from school, via colleges and after gaining degrees. Whichever route you choose, an apprenticeship will equip you with the skills and qualifications to develop a worthwhile career.

So, let’s look at the experience of four of our apprentices here at Fundamentals.

Lexie Stack, 17 – Business Administration Apprentice

Lexie joined us soon after her GCSEs in October, on an apprenticeship run by skills development specialists Multiverse in partnership with Cirencester College. She is working towards a Business Administration Lever 3 qualification.

 She said: “I am good at learning and want to make something of myself and develop my career, but the school-to-college route was not for me.

“The apprenticeship has been great choice. In the last few months, I have gained work experience in every department, from human resources and accounts, to engineering projects – learning about everything from business processes to health and safety and law.

“I am very fortunate to work in a company with a good teamwork culture and that is doing something good for the world. And I am getting paid!”

Sam Tuttle, 25 – Lead Service Technician

Sam spent a year working for a building company after his A levels, but they refused to put him through a trade apprenticeship, so he joined Fundamentals in 2018. He has now completed a four-year block release apprenticeship as an electrical technician and has recently been promoted to a lead role in one of our site engineering teams.

“I am very happy I took the apprentice route and got into this industry. It means I will always have a job – but more importantly a long-term career,” he said.

“The block release worked fine for me: three weeks working and one week in college, with pay. If I had gone down the university road I would have come out with a massive debt and still no trade qualification.

“As it is, I now have experience and qualifications to run important site jobs all over the country for companies like National Grid – plus I work with a great team, and I like the company’s values. It feels like being part of a family.”

Chelsey Taylor, 32 – Business Change Manager

Chelsey’s life so far is a perfect demonstration that the school-college-university path is not the only option for building a career. Far from dropping out when she left school early, she has always been a passionate believer in apprenticeships, personal development and hands-on learning.

Even before joining Fundamentals nine years ago as an office administrator, she had persuaded several previous employers to set up apprentice schemes for her to join.

At Fundamentals, her Multiverse apprenticeship has led to a BSc honours degree in data analytics for digital and technology solutions. And she persuaded us to create the Business Change Manager post specially for her.

“My role at Fundamentals is to enable the company to make maximum use of data to improve every part of its business, in an industry that where the challenges and technologies are changing faster than ever,” she said.

“I don’t do sitting in a classroom but when I am actually doing things, my brain wakes up. I love what data can do and I embrace change. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are such powerful tools. If you understand them, you can use them to make changes for the better.

“My career goal? I want to be the CEO of a technology company!”

Adson Cabrai, 26 – Data Analyst

Adson joined us in 2022 as a market researcher, after taking A levels in maths, further maths, physics and geography, then a degree in physics at Bath University. He has since completed an apprenticeship with us as a data analyst, using the Power Bi data visualisation platform.

“I did not know what I wanted to do after school, so I chose to do physics at university because I thought it would open the most doors for developing my career and moving up the ladder,” he said.

“The apprenticeship with Fundamentals has been really useful in developing my professional skills, including why data is important and how it can be used to help a business with everything from sales analysis and customer relations management to project management.

“The people aspect of the course has been just as important as the technical skills. I like the culture of the company: working with different teams in different departments, meeting with mentors and project managers, and taking part in workshops.

“I aim to keep developing my data analysis skills and use them to do even more in the future.”

Which apprenticeships?

I believe it is important that all apprentices become accredited with and join one of the major engineering institutions, such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) or the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Becoming an apprentice is the start of lifelong journey of Learning and Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and IMechE or IET will ensure your knowledge and experience is kept up to date in the rapidly changing world in Engineering and Technology.

The world needs a lot more trained engineers, technologists and manager – especially in the electricity industry.

This time last year we wrote about Seven Reasons to Choose a Career in Engineering. In 2024 it is truer than ever, so check it out.