Today marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week which 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.
Why it matters
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.
2025 was an incredible year for our JCA Apprentice Programme, and we couldn’t be prouder of the progress and achievements across the team. Right now, we have nine talented apprentices working through the Maintenance Operations Engineering Technician (MOET) programme within our Maintenance Division – and they’re making a real impact.
JCA Apprenticeship programme
Our apprentices split their time between learning and doing. Around 20% of their time is dedicated to off-the-job training – attending college, completing courses, and gaining new skills. The rest is spent hands-on in the workplace, applying what they’ve learned and building confidence on-site. Typically, apprentices attend college one or two days a week and spend the rest of their time on a maintenance site.
After three years of college and on-the-job experience, apprentices complete a rigorous assessment with an independent body to earn their official qualification.
Building connections and careers
One of the biggest benefits of starting a career through an apprenticeship is the network you build along the way. At JCA, we actively support this by hosting monthly Apprentice Days – opportunities to learn new skills, visit different sites, and connect with peers and mentors across the business.
This August, we celebrated a major milestone: our colleague, Dan successfully completed his MOET Apprenticeship! Dan has since been promoted to Trainee Project Engineer within our Projects Division and is working on the exciting Kao Data Data Centre build. He’s also continuing his development through a higher-level apprenticeship, studying for an HNC in Building Services Engineering at Southbank University.
Meet some of our apprentices
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.
Owen, Apprentice Engineer – I have really enjoyed working at JCA and have felt part of the team from my very first day. I joined the company in September 2025, and I currently work as a mobile Building Services Engineer, supporting the maintenance teams on site. Alongside my site work, I attend college, where I continue to expand my hands-on experience while also developing my theoretical knowledge across a wide range of subjects.
One of my favourite aspects of the role is identifying and fixing faults. This is where I feel I learn the most, as it allows me to both shadow experienced engineers and, with the correct training, carry out tasks independently. This hands-on problem-solving has greatly improved my confidence and technical knowledge.
As for my future, I am still exploring the path I would like to take. I have considered progressing into commissioning engineering, but as this is my first year, I am keeping an open mind. I am 100% confident that JCA will continue to guide and support me in whichever role I pursue in the future.
Manoli, Resident Fabric Technician – “I started my apprenticeship at the age of 24. I was originally hired as a fabric technician, a role that gave me my first real insight into building maintenance and the importance of day-to-day upkeep, attention to detail, and working safely within a live environment. While carrying out fabric duties, I became increasingly interested in the wider mechanical and electrical engineering systems within the building, which became a turning point in my career and motivated me to progress beyond my initial role into maintenance engineering.
JCA gave me the opportunity to progress into an apprenticeship as a Maintenance and Operations Engineer. This opportunity allowed me to gain hands-on experience with mechanical and electrical systems while continuing to work on a live site.
I’m now on my final year of the apprenticeship, with a strong focus on consolidating my skills and completing my training to a high professional standard. Looking ahead, my aim is to progress into a higher-level role, where I can continue to develop professionally, contribute more significantly to the organisation, and build a long-term career within JCA Engineering.”
Winter Careers Outreach and 2026 MOET recruitment
This winter, our apprentices are helping us inspire the next generation. We’ve launched a programme to engage with schools near our major locations, partnering with Stevenage Careers Service as part of their STEM initiative. Our apprentices will run workshops and careers talks to showcase opportunities in Building Services Engineering.
We’re already planning for our September 2026 intake! We’ll be recruiting for:
- Building Services Maintenance Operations Engineering (Level 3) Apprentices
- Building Services Engineering Degree Apprentices
- Fabric Technician Property Services (Level 2) Apprentices
Who are we looking for?
This could be your first job or a career change.
For Engineering Apprenticeships: A Levels or Level 3 qualifications (Maths A Level for degree programmes).
For Fabric Technician roles: Ideally GCSE Level 4+ in English and Maths (but not essential).
Most importantly, we want people with a genuine interest in engineering and a desire to build a career in Building Services.
Know someone who might be interested? Email recruitment@jca.co.uk for more details.
Find out more about our career opportunities >>>
