If you have a question about an apprenticeship, click here Where could an apprenticeship take you? For someone starting out in a trade, the opportunities might go much further than they first imagine. In Episode 3 of Season 2 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, Jacob talks to Paul Whitter, Electrical Manager at Mountjoy, about his 33-year career with the company, the responsibilities that come with managing an electrical team and what he looks for when recruiting and developing the next generation of electricians. It's the final episode in our opening series of conversations with Mountjoy managers, exploring what employers expect from apprentices and how young people can give themselves the best possible start in their careers. From electrician to Electrical Manager Paul joined Mountjoy 33 years ago as an electrician, working his way through the business, gaining experience and additional qualifications before progressing to his current role as Electrical Manager. His career is a great example of how learning a trade can be the beginning of a much longer journey. While becoming a qualified electrician is an achievement in itself, Paul's progression demonstrates the opportunities that can become available through experience, further training and taking on additional responsibilities. Today, his role involves overseeing electrical work across Mountjoy, ensuring projects are completed safely, to the required standards, on time and within budget. More than just working with electrics As Electrical Manager, Paul has a wide range of responsibilities. These include maintaining Mountjoy's NICEIC Approved Contractor accreditation, ensuring electrical work meets the required regulations and safety standards, and overseeing compliance for planned preventative maintenance and the company's door entry team. He is also responsible for ensuring projects are delivered successfully, improvements are introduced and staff receive the training they need to carry out their work safely and effectively. It's a reminder that a career in a trade can develop into much more than the practical work someone initially trains to do. Management, planning, problem-solving, communication and leadership can all become important parts of someone's career as they progress. What does Mountjoy look for in an apprentice electrician? Recruitment and the development of apprentices are important parts of Paul's role. Mountjoy invests in bringing new people into the electrical trade, providing training and support throughout their apprenticeships to help them gain the knowledge, experience and qualifications needed to build successful careers. For anyone considering an electrical apprenticeship, understanding what an employer expects can be incredibly useful. Jacob's conversation with Paul explores the employer's perspective, including the importance of recruiting the right people, developing their skills and ensuring apprentices receive the support they need to progress. An apprentice isn't expected to arrive knowing everything about the job. The purpose of an apprenticeship is to learn, gain practical experience and develop the skills required to become qualified. But being willing to learn, taking training seriously and understanding the importance of working safely are all essential parts of developing a career in the electrical industry. Building a career, not just gaining a qualification One of the biggest advantages of an apprenticeship is the opportunity to combine learning with genuine workplace experience. For aspiring electricians, that means developing technical knowledge while working alongside experienced professionals and seeing how the skills they're learning are used in real situations. And the opportunities don't necessarily end when the apprenticeship finishes. Paul's own career demonstrates how experience and further qualifications can lead to greater responsibility, specialist knowledge and management opportunities. An apprenticeship can be the first step into a trade, but it doesn't have to be the final step in someone's career development. Hearing from both sides of the apprenticeship journey Throughout the opening three episodes of Season 2, WorkWise has been exploring apprenticeships from an employer's perspective. We began with Mountjoy Director and Owner Dan Carlin, who discussed the importance of attitude, reliability and a willingness to learn. We then heard from Charlotte Seymour, HR Talent Business Partner, about recruiting apprentices, helping them settle into the workplace and providing ongoing support as they develop. Now, Paul Whitter brings that opening series to a close by sharing the perspective of someone who has spent more than three decades developing his own career in the electrical industry and helping others build theirs. And next, it's time to hear from the apprentices themselves. Our student interviewers will return for nine new conversations with apprentices from Comserv, Airbus and Portsmouth City Council, discovering how they found their opportunities, what their jobs involve and where they hope their careers will take them. It's another chance to hear directly from young people about the reality of apprenticeships, the challenges they face and the opportunities available across different industries. 🎧 Season 2, Episode 3 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, featuring Jacob talking to Paul Whitter, is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Catch up with every episode and find out more about WorkWise at www.expressfm.com/workwise. If you have any questions about the podcast, apprenticeships or Mountjoy please send us a message.
