Apprentices get ‘Smart’ career start with local company

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Apprentice Employer - Smart Electrical
Rochdale Business Awards 2012

Littleborough company, Smart Electrical Engineers Ltd is ‘smarting’ with success after picking up the Apprentice Employer of the Year in the Rochdale Business Awards.

Smart Electrical Engineers, founded in 1996, is a family-run company that still believes in a traditional, attentive service across the North West. They work hard to combine a genuinely personal service with focused professional expertise.

With a broad based track record in the electrical industry, Smart Electrical Engineers specialises in the modernisation of occupied properties. 90% of their impressive £7 million turnover is generated in the social housing sector.

Margaret Sykes, a Director with the company, said that she was “really chuffed” with the award and “pleased and delighted” that their apprentice programme had been recognised in this way.

Speaking from their Featherstall Road headquarters, she told us that their were great benefits in employing and supporting apprentices as it kept the company “on its toes” and up to date with the very latest training requirements and working methodology.

“The real benefit for the company is that by the end of the 4-5 year apprenticeship, we are able to employ them as fully qualified electrical engineers brought up within the requirements and culture of the organisation. In every sense, they ensure the future success of the business and we are always delighted to see them progressing.

“Not everyone is comfortable with a classroom environment and one or two drop out but most of them work extremely hard and it is very rewarding to be able to help them to acquire skills and practical commercial experience.”

Most of the former apprentices, who come into the scheme from Hopwood Hall College or Joint Training Ltd, are offered full-time posts within Smart Electrical Engineers and go on to build successful careers.

Over 10 of their current employees are former apprentices.