What does an average day look like for you?

An average day for me consists of first and second fixing. This could involve metal work including unistrut and stud, running cables, wiring and glanding off armoured cables. My apprenticeship has consisted of installation mainly, therefore I have carried out work in factories and construction. 

What personal qualities do you think are important to do your job?

An example of a personal quality that is important as an electrician is good problem solving skills. This is essential as you will come across situations where will need to figure out how you’re going to wire certain fixtures or how to get containment in from point A to B. Another quality is good communication skills. You will need this when interacting with a diverse range of people including electricians and other tradesmen. It is most important when you are cable pulling as you will need to pull at the same time if it is a large cable and will need to notify one another if you come across problems and when enough has been pulled.

How did you first become interested in engineering?

I became interested in engineering and construction when I was at school in my D.T lessons. For my final assessment I made a desk from ply and pine wood and when I finished I realised that I enjoyed the satisfaction of getting from the first to final stage of making something. Whether it be constructing something from scratch or wiring apparatus now I still get that great feeling of satisfaction.

What has been your personal highlight so far?

My personal highlight would be glanding and terminating a 50mm armoured cable. This is because it’s something that I found hard during the first few months of my apprenticeship so when I did one at this size, it made me feel proud that I had made progress.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

I would recommend an electrical apprenticeship to someone as it is a good career if you feel like you are a hands learner and are interested in a physical career path. It is also good as you get to working alongside qualified electricians whilst gaining a qualification yourself. I would also recommend an apprenticeship as I think it is challenging and interesting work that will differ from day to day.

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