BCIA supports National Apprenticeship Week

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is supporting National Apprenticeship Week by speaking to people who are undertaking or have completed an apprenticeship in the building controls sector to find out more about their experience.

National Apprenticeship Week runs between 5^th-11^th February 2024 and presents an ideal opportunity for top employers and organisations to come together and showcase their offerings to thousands of candidates who are actively seeking an apprenticeship.

Gareth Holvey is currently a Junior Estimator at Cura Energy and pursuing a Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Controls Engineer Apprenticeship Level 4. Describing his experience he said: “You’re in your workplace learning at the same time and Cura Energy gives me 20% of the time in the week to do bits that I need to do on the apprenticeship, whether it’s an assignment or some additional learning with an engineer.” He added: “I would highly recommend this apprenticeship. It has given me the knowledge and skills that I need in order to achieve great things in this industry.”

James Barber completed an apprenticeship in electrical engineering and is currently Deputy Production Manager at Sontay. He said: “During my apprenticeship I got to spend time in all the different departments across Sontay, which gave me a great opportunity to work my way through the company and lend help wherever it was needed.”

When Greg Smith, Lead BMS Support/Commissioning Engineer at E.ON Controls, was looking for a new career challenge a friendly recommendation about the Building Management Systems (BMS) industry led him to sign up to a four-year apprenticeship scheme, which has seen him progress to becoming a qualified electrician and BMS controls specialist. Greg said: “I believe everyone has a skill that can be utilised and I really encourage anybody to be thinking about an apprenticeship to consider the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship Level 4. This will provide an entry level into an expanding field, and I look forward to perhaps working with you in the future.”

To further support young people pursuing a career in the building controls industry, the BCIA launched its Young Engineers Network in April 2022. The YEN has been established to provide a forum for young BEMS engineers to share learnings and best practice and to help attract and retain young talent into the BEMS industry.

BCIA Vice-President Stacey Lucas said: “The building controls industry is an exciting sector to be a part of and the next generation of engineers are going to be vital in delivering sustainable buildings that are crucial for our future. Apprenticeships offer a fantastic way to enter an industry and National Apprenticeship Week provides a great chance to find out more about the range of opportunities on offer.”