APPRENTICE JACK SPEAKS UP ABOUT THE VALUE OF LEARNING A TRADE

JACK Head, an apprentice with Wiltshire company John Williams Heating Services, believes the skills he’s learned with his colleagues will set him up for life.

The 21-year-old joined the heating and plumbing specialist company over three years ago after completing a year’s college course in plumbing in his home town of Chippenham. 

As National Apprenticeship Week dawns (w/c Feb 6) Jack believes many young people would benefit from considering an apprenticeship.

“This was the right choice for me,” he said. “It has made me feel more confident, and has helped me learn lots of valuable life skills. You have to face the unknown every day but the more you face it the more confident you become. 

“I also like the security of earning money and having a trade and I’ve discovered I like that security!”

Jack has backed the national theme of this government-backed awareness week which is #skillsforlife 

“I knew university wasn’t for me. My sisters had gone and it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I didn’t really enjoy school much so this has set me up with the skills I need to have a successful career.”

Jack is one of six apprentices currently employed by company owners John and Debbie Williams. John was himself an apprentice and the couple always employ apprentices, many of whom stay in the business for several years. To date the company has employed 18 apprentices.

Debbie said: “Apprenticeships are vital to our business and industry. We need to be securing the pipeline to ensure there are well trained engineers to drive this ever-changing industry forward. Great training and support are important pillars of our apprenticeships, and we work closely with Wiltshire College to ensure delivery of training on site and in college, is well coordinated and structured.”

National Apprenticeship Week is now in its 16th year and is an opportunity to celebrate the value that young talent brings to the workforce. Companies up and down the UK will be celebrating their own apprentices during the week and recognising apprenticeship as a valued route to a fulfilling career and a viable alternative to higher education. 

John and Debbie are well known in Chippenham as the founders of John Williams Heating Services, a Worcester accredited installer and are registered with both Gas Safe and Oftec, the trade associations monitoring best practice. The company is based on the Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate. For more information visit https://jwheating.co.uk