A training provider is working to encourage more women into the electrical industry.
Rebus Training, based in Stoke-on-Trent, used its annual awards evening to highlight the achievements of its female learners – with the hope of encouraging more to come on board.
The event, held recently at Port Vale Football Club, saw the introduction of a new category of Female Apprenticeships Champion of the Year, which was won by Hertech Electrical Solutions, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
One of Hertech’s apprentices, Ellie Brown, won the First Year Apprentice Award.
Apprenticeships Manager Rhiannon Gibson-Munro said: “We want to champion women to get into the electrical industry as we see the value that diversity brings within the industry.
“The females we see coming through are incredibly hard working, passionate about their role and dedicated to putting the time and effort in to be the best electricians they can be.
“Our female apprentices have strong aspirations such as setting up specialist businesses that can support vulnerable persons or lone females who might not be comfortable accessing the services of male electricians.”
Rebus currently trains 185 electrical apprentices. Its awards evening brought together over 150 people to celebrate the hard work, progress and achievements of electrical apprentices and evening learners.
Awards were given to nominated apprentices in each of the four years groups, with an overall winner in each year, as well as to each of the two year groups for evening learners.
Last year’s overall winner Macy Isherwood, who was the first female winner of a Rebus apprenticeship award, enjoyed continued success by receiving the Third Year Apprentice Award.
Anne Edge, Apprentice Engagement Coordinator, said: “Currently research suggests that only between one and three per cent of electricians in the UK are female.
“At Rebus we currently train a small but growing number of female electricians. We acknowledge that there is a real challenge to greatly expand the number of women working on the tools and are committed to play our part to encourage and support females who would like to enter the electrical industry.”
Another new award for this year was Employer of the Year. More than 70 nominations were made by apprentices, with JPR Mechanical and Electrical Services, in Stoke-on-Trent, picking up the accolade.
A new Special Recognition Award was introduced after a number of apprentices opted to nominate a fellow apprentice. Bradley Collett, from Stoke-on-Trent-based Midlands Power Networks, won after being nominated for supporting two first year apprentices whilst continuing to excel with his own training.
Sam Bailey, from Stone’s Highpride Developments, picked up three of the 12 awards given out on the night, taking home the Second Year Apprentice Award, Employer-nominated Apprentice Award and the Overall Apprentice of the Year Award.
Other winners were:
Fourth Year Apprentice Award – Nathan Williams
First Year Evening Learner – Robert Collett
Second Year Evening Winner – Tomasz Marcola
Rebus Staff Member of the Year – Tutor Shaun Eardley
A raffle on the night raised £630, with the proceeds being donated to the Midlands Air Ambulance.
