Three Group SCS staff who started at the smoke control and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) company as apprentices are progressing well within the firm having completed their apprenticeships.
Luke Jones, Josh Parkhurst and Edd Wilkinson all did different apprenticeships that saw them studying at college as well as undertaking practical training at the company.
Luke Jones, Junior Controls Engineer
Luke, who is based at our factory in Dorset, completed his apprenticeship in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Bournemouth & Poole College) in summer 2018. During his apprenticeship, he built control panels at the factory. He has recently been promoted to the role of Junior Controls Engineer.
He said: “I found my apprenticeship to be an excellent learning experience. I’ve gained experience and skills that I don’t think I would have if I had gone the traditional academic route.”
He is really enjoying his new job and said: “My new role involves me doing all the testing, as well as helping with design and admin work. I like having the extra responsibility and the work offers new challenges to overcome.”
Luke has continued with his learning and is currently doing a two-year HNC in Engineering (Electronic Design), supported by the company.
Josh Parkhurst, Trainee Commissioning Engineer
Josh completed his apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering (City College, Southampton) this summer and was also based at our factory in Dorset where he learned about wiring panels. He is now a Trainee Commissioning Engineer working on our projects around the UK.
He said: “I knew I didn’t want to go to college full time. My apprenticeship was perfect for me as I could do college and work.
“After my qualification I didn’t have to find a new job – I’ve been kept at Group SCS. I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship.”
He added: “Ever since my first year when I was going out on site and giving engineers a hand even then I thought maybe I’d prefer it out and about.”
He said of his new role: “I’m out and about every day, learning more about the systems, seeing where the panels end up and what they do. I’m seeing them in a building with all the components connected. Even just in a month I’ve been in Birmingham, Cardiff and London, meeting new people.
“The other guys are really helpful, telling me what they are doing. I’ve learned a lot in a month.”
Edd Wilkinson, Controls Engineer (BEMS)
Edd completed a Trend apprenticeship at Eastleigh College which gave him a level 3 NVQ in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). He completed this in summer 2018 and received his certificates in November 2018. He is now a Controls Engineer (BEMS) working at our sites around the UK.
Talking about his apprenticeship, he said: “It took a while to get the necessary course criteria covered at work, but I am happy with the end result and believe the effort was well worth it.”
His role at Group SCS sees him travelling to a number of project sites.
He described his role saying: “I’m working mainly on commercial building developments in London and the West where I have been programming and functionally testing our BEMS panels following installation. I also spend some time off site working on software and documentation in preparation for up-and-coming projects.”
When asked how he was finding his Controls Engineer role, he said: “Fulfilling and challenging at times.”
Group SCS is a great believer in apprenticeships, knowing that they really can have a positive effect on individuals, businesses and the economy.
‘Vital part’
Operations Manager Macarena Machado said: “Apprentices are a vital part of the Group SCS team where we support them to develop their careers via on-the-job training and attending college on a weekly basis.
“Several of our Project Managers started with us as apprentices and have made their way up to managerial roles. We currently employ three apprentices in various parts of the business and are looking to take on another for our Cardiff office.”
If you would like further information about apprenticeships, please email Macarena Machado or visit our Apprenticeships page.
This story has also been published on the website of the Cross-industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF), which Group SCS is a member of. The CCATF is ‘a cross-industry initiative designed to increase employer engagement in apprenticeship training’. You can find out more about CCATF here.
