ATLAS continues to support apprenticeships

The Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists (ATLAS) was delighted to support this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, which focussed on how ‘Apprenticeships Deliver’ to the benefit of both employers and individuals.Taking place for the sixth time, the event was an overwhelming success with employers across the UK pledging to recruit over 13,600 new apprentices.

ATLAS members continue to develop the skills of their workforces by investing in apprenticeships delivered by the industry’s Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group with the support of CITB.

At the start of this year, a total of 25 candidates enrolled on 2-year apprenticeship programmes in steeplejacking and lightning protection engineering at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton. The apprentices are employed by ATLAS members including Central High Rise Ltd, Churchill Specialist Contracting Ltd, Delta Steeplejacks Ltd, Horizon Specialist Contracting Ltd, K2 Specialist Services (UK) Ltd, Nimbus Lightning Protection Ltd, Omega Red Group Ltd, P C Richardson & Co Ltd, Proteq (Northern) Ltd, Rafferty International Ltd, Sentinel Lightning Protection and Earthing Ltd, Stone Technical Services Ltd and Zenith SAS Ltd

Specialist access and lightning protection work require highly specialist skills and last year ATLAS members undertook an average of more than 2,300 hours of training. This commitment enables them to apply the latest skills, innovations and techniques to deliver the highest quality projects and it is a condition of ATLAS membership that companies are registered with CITB and their operatives have the appropriate CSCS or affiliated scheme cards for the jobs that they undertake on site.

ATLAS President Graeme Fisher said:
“ATLAS and its members recognise the value of apprenticeships in creating a competent and qualified workforce for the future as they give new entrants into the industry a great way of learning the specialist skills possessed by ATLAS members. This means that clients who use ATLAS members can be confident that they can undertake the full range of specialist access or lightning protection work to the highest quality standards.”

ATLAS is proud to be sponsoring the Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Engineer categories at the National Construction College (NCC) East Apprentice Awards which will take place on 25 July 2013.

For more information visit www.atlas.org.uk