Age is no barrier as M&E specialist recruits adult apprentices

BUILDING services contractor Arc-Tech is providing opportunities for adult apprenticeships.

The business recently welcomed two trade apprentices, taking the total number of employees in either an apprentice or trainee role to 14.

Paul Shanks (45), from Pollok in Glasgow, has begun an electrical trade apprenticeship at Glasgow Clyde College after having been an electrician’s mate with the firm since 2016. He said, “On my first day, I was really nervous. I didn’t know what to expect because I hadn’t been in education for 26 years but when I got there and started meeting others, I realised everybody was in the same position as me. We’re in a group now and have set up a chat so we can help each other and so far, it has been very enjoyable.”

Paul has joined 2nd year adult apprentice Darryn Grant (29) and Andrew Hardie (32), who are both studying to become electricians.

Alan Rogers, Arc-Tech contracts director said, “We are very proud of our approach to skills development and training. It is crucial in our area of the industry to have highly-skilled labour as we want to provide the best service possible to our clients. With the adult apprenticeships, we don’t want to miss out on finding quality tradespeople just because of their age. We ultimately believe that this approach will benefit our business in the long-term.

“Paul, Darryn and Andrew, along with all of our staff members, are on board with us and our ethos in driving quality standards and that is why we have had, and will continue to have, success in the industry.”