Success stories
Reaping the rewards
British Gas believes investing in their staff is the only way to combat skills shortages in their industry.
About 500 of their staff are currently on Apprenticeships in Gas Installation and Maintenance.
What makes Apprenticeships such a great idea?
‘Industry must play its part, and rather than simply complain about skills shortages, it must make real investment, now, to boost the skills and productivity of employees,’ says Rod Kenyon, Director of British Gas Engineering Academy.
He says: ‘It is very common these days to hear companies claim that their people are their greatest asset, and that needs to be translated into action.’
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What works for British Gas?
To address the national shortage of qualified servicing and installation engineers, British Gas has invested in its own Engineering Academy.
At the Academy, trainees learn about the full range of domestic gas appliances and systems. During their 12 to 14-month course they will also have periods of work experience where they work alongside qualified engineers on real jobs.
At the end of their training, and if they are successful, they are awarded an N/SVQ in Gas Installation and Maintenance at Level 3.
British Gas successfully uses Apprenticeships to equip their staff with the skills they need to work confidently on their own. ‘The quality of the training is absolutely brilliant. We were taught in small groups of 12 so there was a lot of one-to-one teaching if you needed it’ explains Daniella Savery, who recently completed her Apprenticeship at the Academy.
‘I will now have a buddy for the next week, who will go out with me on jobs. After that I will be assessed again and then I am on my own.’
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