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National Apprenticeship Week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.   

Becoming an apprentice allows people to increase their confidence, skills, knowledge and develop some incredible careers, but from a business perspective there are just as many benefits to employing an apprentice or using the apprenticeship route for training. The skills gap in the engineering industry is a challenge. Apprenticeships help fill the skills gaps, upskill and ensure a business is future proof and future ready.  

Building a pathway to success 

At JCA, we believe that nurturing talent and providing people with the skills and knowledge to excel in their careers is an important part of the company’s future success. Our apprenticeship programme provides a structured learning pathway. Apprentices attend college and are exposed to a structured programme of learning at work.   

We currently have seven apprentices across the business and are looking to grow that number with every year. Most of our apprentices start off on a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician programme at Level 3 and are based on our resident maintenance sites or a part of mobile maintenance teams.  This will provide them with a sound basis to progress later into the world of projects, design or to further develop their skills and technical experience as maintenance engineers. It is our aim to provide a variety of work placements for all the apprentices across healthcare, commercial and data centre sites.   

Each apprentice is assigned a mentor who provides support, career guidance and ensures that the right learning opportunities are available throughout the apprenticeship. On completion of the course, the apprentices will be awarded an industry recognised qualification in their chosen pathway and, where possible, allow them to move into permanent engineering roles. 

Meet some of our mentors

“The apprentice programme run by JCA is very comprehensive as it allows people of different ages, abilities and even stages of development to join the company scheme. 

At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital we have apprentices undertaking Electrical, Building Services and Design apprenticeships. Whilst working at the hospital the apprentices engage in work with their colleagues and buddies (designated engineer) to learn on the job training. All our apprentices are very involved in the hospital and will carry out the competent person training for each element of work.”

Brian Eaton, Engineering Manager at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Meet some of our apprentices

“I’m loving every minute of my apprenticeship with JCA. There is a nice balance between the college work and work on site.  I’ve been able to work with a wide range of amazing people from a variety of different sites and had the opportunity to get involved with lots of mechanical and electrical tasks. I am currently with the projects team based at Kao Data, learning how to build and manage the construction and fit out of new data centres. There’s so much I’ve learnt over the past few years and still a lot more to learn which I’m very excited for! Once I’ve completed my Level 3 apprenticeship course this summer, I plan to continue my learning further by doing a higher-level apprenticeship course with JCA.” 

Daniel, Building Services Apprentice 

“I’m currently an apprentice in the mobile maintenance division which allows me to gain experience from a variety of buildings and sites. I am really enjoying my apprenticeship which provides me with new experiences that will help me in the future. My college experience is also going well, and my tutors are happy with the progress that I am making.

My favourite tasks day to day include fault finding and, if there is a fault, trying to work out what the issue may be and how I could resolve it.

The apprenticeship networking events that JCA organises are great as they get all the apprentices together; whether it is a social event like go-karting or going to a generator farm to learn something new, it allows us all to get to know each other better and also see how we are getting on in our apprenticeships.”

Jake, Building Services Apprentice 

We are delighted to announce that JCA has been awarded two RoSPA Awards this year! 

We have won the Gold Award for Health which will be the 7th consecutive year that JCA has achieved this prestigious award. We have also been announced as the winner of the RoSPA Health at Work Award. This award considers a wide range of occupational health and wellbeing themes, including the identification, assessment, monitoring and prevention of health risks, occupational hygiene and wellness at work, including mental health and wellbeing. 

The RoSPA award is the UKs longest running Health and Safety industry award. It is internationally recognised with over 2000 entrants from 46 countries from all parts of industry. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice with the aim of ensuring that all workers get home safely to their families at the end of every working day.  

The specialist Health at Work trophy is presented to the UK-based entrant demonstrating the best management of Health at Work and a true and obvious commitment to the welfare of all its staff.  The submission for this extremely prestigious award consisted of the business having to evidence such areas as: 

• Providing access to staff to specialist occupational health expertise 
• Set corporate occupational health standards and targets, integrated as part of the business plan 
• The identification, assessment, prevention and control of health risks, prioritised and adapted to meet business and individual needs 
• ‘Wellness at work’ (particularly mental health), attendance management and staff rehabilitation 
• The communication of occupational health information, both internally and externally 
• Any specific activities which distinguish the organisations approach to health and work 

Dean Cocklin, Director at JCA said “RoSPA is internationally renowned and the ultimate symbol of achievement in safety and excellence, so to achieve the Gold Award and be the winner of the Health at Work award is a fantastic reflection of everyone who works for JCA. Not least the health and safety team and all delivery managers, supervisors and operatives who work as one team to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those that work for and with JCA”.

Congratulations and thankyou to everyone involved in this excellent achievement, which clearly demonstrates JCA’s continuing commitment to maintaining the highest standards in Health & Safety across the entire business.   

National Apprenticeship Week, now in its 17^th year, is an annual, week-long celebration of apprenticeships. The week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.  The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is “Skills for Life”.   

Becoming an apprentice allows people to increase their confidence, skills, knowledge and develop some incredible careers, but from a business perspective there are just as many benefits to employing an apprentice or using the apprenticeship route for training. The skills gap in the engineering industry is a challenge. Apprenticeships help fill the skills gaps, upskill and ensure a business is future proof and future ready. 

Building a pathway to success 

At JCA, we believe that nurturing talent and providing people with the skills and knowledge to excel in their careers is an important part of the company’s future success. Our apprenticeship programme provides a structured learning pathway. Apprentices attend college and are exposed to a structured programme of learning at work.  

We currently have nine apprentices across the business and are looking to grow that number with every year. Most of our apprentices start off on a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician programme at Level 3 and are based on our maintenance sites for example at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Kao Data in Harlow.  This will provide them with a sound basis to progress later into the world of projects, design or to further develop their skills and technical experience as maintenance engineers. It is our aim to provide a variety of work placements for all the apprentices across healthcare, commercial and data centre sites.  

Each apprentice is assigned a mentor who provides support, career guidance and ensures that the right learning opportunities are available throughout the apprenticeship.

Meet some of our mentors

“Jake and Jaime were assigned to the Kao Data MSD contract in December 2022. In my role as a mentor and line manager, I regularly liaise with Jake and Jaime as well as with their college to track their progress. I also provide advice, guidance and support. 

The Technicians at Kao Data like having apprentices on site and are always happy to help mentor and work with them. They have both been a really positive addition to our team.”   

Martin Woodrow, Operations Manager at Kao Data, Harlow

“The apprentice programme run by JCA is very comprehensive as it allows people of different ages, abilities and even stages of development to join the company scheme. 

At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital we have apprentices ranging from 17 to 28 and undertaking, Electrical, Building Services and Design apprenticeships. Whilst working at the hospital the apprentices engage in work with their colleagues and buddies (designated engineer) to learn on the job training. All our apprentices are very involved in the hospital and will carry out the competent person training for each element of work.”

Brian Eaton, Engineering Manager at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Meet some of our apprentices

Growing local talent 

At JCA we are committed to making positive contributions to the communities we operate in. We aim to provide apprenticeships and work placements at our organisation to develop individuals from those communities with on-the-job training leading to nationally recognised qualifications within our industry. 

This year, we have been involved in an exciting new STEM programme organised by Hertfordshire County Council, aimed at providing access to information about STEM careers to young people in education in North Herts. We are attending careers events, our apprentices are giving talks at schools and we’re also providing work experience for students from schools in the area.